Weed Vs. Caffeine: Which Is Better For Energy
Mix Both For Even Better Experience!
Traditionally, a cup of coffee—or tea for some—is the preferred way for most people to wake up and feel energetic after sleep.
However, more people are discovering the benefits of using weed for energy. Whether it’s smoking a sativa strain first thing upon waking or popping an edible in the morning, it might seem counterintuitive at first, but weed does have truly energizing qualities that can be beneficial for fighting sleepiness and laziness.
Caffeine
Caffeine, typically in the form of various types of coffee, is an affordable, safe, and accessible way to wake up. It works by blocking the adenosine receptors that reduce fatigue and increase alertness. Drinking coffee also triggers adrenaline and dopamine production, giving a sustained boost that often lasts for hours.
The caffeine in coffee is so effective that it works wonders in helping you stay awake. This is why it’s the trusted drink for people of all ages upon waking. However, some individuals are prone to jitters, anxiety, and energy crashes with caffeine because they are simply more sensitive to caffeine.
Weed
For users seeking an energizing or uplifting high, sativa strains are highly recommended. That said, the way weed works is highly dependent on the dose, strain, and the individual. We all respond to cannabis in different ways, but sativa or sativa-dominant strains are the most popular choice for anyone who wants an energy boost.
They work by activating the brain’s CB1 receptors, which release dopamine and other neurotransmitters that boost creativity, motivation, and focus. If you find that sativa might have the opposite effect on you, that’s again because it affects individuals differently. Finding the ideal high with weed requires experimenting with various strains, and even consumption methods. Vaping or smoking weed results in a much faster onset, while edibles can take 20 to 60 minutes to take effect.
Terpenes also play an important role in the effect of a strain. If you are looking for strains to invigorate or wake you up, look for limonene, terpinolene, pinene,
When you find the right strain to help energize you, it is often a highly cerebral activity. The mental stimulation is clearly felt; this is often why creatives enjoy smoking weed. It can even lead to a feeling of being switched on, and cannabis can help clear writer’s block as well as other creative mental blocks.
How To Combine Weed And Caffeine
You don’t always have to choose one or the other: yes, you can combine cannabis and caffeine.
In fact, the two make such a lovely pair - enthusiasts have been mixing them for a very long time now. The alertness from caffeine, combined with the euphoric high from weed, gives you a one-of-a-kind experience that certainly helps start your day on a mellow, positive note. For seasoned users of either, they enjoy the balanced high this gives, and often prefer it to taking each substance individually.
Since caffeine blocks adenosine receptors, and cannabis activates the CB1 receptors, they often amplify each other’s effects. When done in the right dose and with the ideal strain, the effects are pleasant and synergistic. Be careful not to overdo it, or it may be overwhelming.
If you’re new to mixing weed and coffee, always start with a small THC dose and a modest amount of coffee. Choose sativa strains, or hybrids that are heavy in sativas - especially those with limonene or pinene terpenes.
Take note of how your body reacts before increasing the dose of either. The timing may also impact your overall experience: coffee before weed usually boosts creativity and improves your mood, without getting you too sluggish. On the other hand, weed before coffee may result in a smoother experience since cannabis relaxes you while caffeine prevents sedation.
Dose control is important, too. Since you are combining two stimulating substances, keep the doses of both low to moderate. Too much of either or even both can lead to anxiety, paranoia, lethargy, or the jitters.
Safer Alternatives To Energy Drinks
Whether you choose weed, caffeine, or both, just be sure to avoid caffeine in the form of energy drinks.
Energy drinks are notoriously dangerous and can even be fatal because of the abnormally high caffeine content. They contain much more caffeine than a regular cup of coffee, resulting in a high heart rate, tremors, high blood pressure, heart rhythm problems, and even seizures in extreme cases. Consuming energy drinks for long periods of time can cause serious stress on the heart and can even cause death.
Furthermore, energy drinks also contain other ingredients such as yerba mate, guarana, and similar plant extracts which also contain caffeine. This means you’re actually getting much more caffeine than the amount advertised on the label.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, just one can of an energy drink contains as much sugar as drinking several sodas. This can lead to blood sugar spikes and crashes, weight gain, fatigue, and a higher risk of developing heart disease and diabetes.
Conclusion
Weed, caffeine, or both are natural and safe ways to energize yourself mentally and physically. Just be sure to avoid energy drinks!
There’s no right or wrong answer when deciding which of the two is better. If you are looking for mental alertness for productivity, as well as sustained alertness for study or work, caffeine may give you the right boost of energy. On the other hand, if you are looking for an uplifted mood, creative work, or social energy, a stimulating strain of weed might be just what you need.
CANNABIS FOR CAFFEINE OR TOGETHER, READ ON...
