High vs Drunk: Which Experience Suits You Better?

Being high and being drunk feel different, and the differences go beyond the sensation itself. Alcohol and cannabis act on different systems in the body, carry different risks and fit different social settings. This guide compares them point by point, and where the evidence is thin, it says so.

How each one works in the brain

Alcohol interferes with the communication pathways in the brain. That can change mood and behavior and make it harder to think clearly and move with coordination, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Balance, speech and judgment typically suffer together as the dose goes up.

THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, binds to cannabinoid receptors of the body's own endocannabinoid system. The result is a different mix: altered perception of time, a shift in mood, a stronger appetite, and often a drop in short-term memory. Many people feel steadier on their feet when high than when drunk, but that is not the same as safe. Reaction time and judgment are still affected, so driving after either one is a bad idea.

Health risks compared

Toxicity

Alcohol is toxic at high doses. The CDC reported an average of six deaths per day from alcohol poisoning in the United States (an archived Vital Signs report, so the figure is from the period it covers). Heavy drinkers who stop abruptly can also go through dangerous withdrawal.

Too much cannabis is unpleasant rather than deadly in most cases: anxiety, a racing heart, paranoia, dizziness and vomiting, usually fading within hours. That is why edibles deserve extra care. They take longer to kick in, and people often take a second portion too early.

Long-term effects

Long-term heavy drinking is linked to fatty liver, hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer, as well as cancers of the mouth, throat and esophagus. The same NIAAA page notes that even one drink a day can raise a woman's breast cancer risk by 5% to 15% compared with women who do not drink.

For cannabis, the long-term picture is less complete, since decades of controlled research are missing in many areas. Smoking plant material irritates the airways. Vaporizing or edibles are generally considered lower risk for the lungs, though long-term evidence is limited. Regular heavy use can lead to dependence, with irritability, poor sleep and reduced appetite on stopping. Some studies link starting young and heavy use with a higher risk of dependence.

Dependence

Both substances can lead to dependence. Alcohol withdrawal can need medical supervision, while cannabis withdrawal is usually milder, but it is real and can make quitting hard. Neither is harmless just because it is legal or common.

The morning after

This is where most people notice a difference. Heavy drinking brings dehydration, headaches and fatigue the next day. Too much cannabis can leave you groggy, but a classic hangover is not part of the typical experience. Memory works differently as well: alcohol can cause blackouts in which whole stretches of the evening are lost, while cannabis mostly disturbs short-term recall in the moment.

Sex and intimacy

A 2017 Stanford study led by Andrew Sun and Michael Eisenberg looked at more than 50,000 Americans aged 25 to 45 and found that daily cannabis users reported about 20 percent more sex than people who never used it. The data are self-reported and show a correlation, not a cause, so it does not prove that cannabis improves anything. It does not support the idea that cannabis harms sex lives at the population level.

Which one is "better"?

It depends on what you want from the evening and on how you handle each substance. Alcohol has a long social tradition and is easy to dose by the glass. Cannabis is quieter and more personal, but its effect depends strongly on the strain, the dose and the way you take it. Strain labels are a weak guide to effect, but a mild strain at a low dose and a strong one at a high dose will feel very different, so choose deliberately. If you are curious about combining substances, read our article on cannabis and magic mushrooms.

Using either one more safely

• Start low, go slow. One drink or one inhalation, then wait 30 to 60 minutes. With edibles, wait at least two hours before taking more, because they can take that long to take effect.
• Do not mix them casually. Combining alcohol and cannabis can make the effects stronger and less predictable, and it is a common reason for a bad night.
• Drink water and eat something. Alcohol dehydrates, and cannabis can make you forget to eat.
• Do not drive. Both impair reaction time and judgment.
• Know the local law. Rules on age, possession and public use differ by country and change over time.

Medical Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Cannabis and its compounds (including CBD and THC) have not been approved by the FDA, EMA, or any other regulator as treatments, cures or preventions for any disease, apart from a few prescription cannabinoid medicines approved for specific conditions. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using cannabis for any medical condition.