Scientists at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School observed that male volunteers who drank alcohol (vodka mixed with orange juice) prior to smoking marijuana detected the effects of marijuana more quickly, reported more episodes of euphoria, and had higher levels of THC in their blood than did subjects who smoked marijuana without first ingesting alcohol.

The investigators concluded that alcohol might increase the absorption of THC, the active ingredient of marijuana, into the body, resulting in a higher high than is experienced when using marijuana alone.

• WHAT IT MEANS: Marijuana and alcohol are often used together, but little is known about why they are combined. The results of this experiment suggest that these two drugs are used to maximize the desired effects of the drug experience and so may explain the popularity of this combination.

The study was published in Volume (issue): 64 (2) 2001 of the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence by lead investigator Dr. Scott E. Lukas.