12 ACTIVITIES YOU SHOULD NEVER MIX WITH THC

You use cannabis recreationally or medically because you believe it’s safe. And it mostly is, especially compared to alcohol and most prescription medications. But like any substance, cannabis is safest when you use it responsibly: avoid over-consuming or don’t mix it with other impairing substances nor binge-drinking.

Why?

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabis’ main psychoactive compound, causes intoxicating side effects. It can significantly impair your perception, coordination, and judgment, raising your risk of accidents or poor decision-making. That’s why you should avoid certain activities while under the influence of THC, as your impaired state can endanger both you and others. 

The riskiest of these activities include:

1. DRIVING ANY VEHICLE

Besides affecting your perception, THC can slow your reaction time, making driving under its influence extremely dangerous. Whether you’re piloting a car, bike, scooter, tractor, or plane, the risk is real. It’s especially hazardous in operating heavy machinery, low-visibility, or other high-risk conditions where split-second decisions matter most. 

According to the American Journal of Public Health, the number of fatal car accidents involving cannabis users rose from 9.0% in 2000 to 21.5% in 2018.

2. PERFORMING SAFETY-SENSITIVE TASKS OR JOBS

Avoid doing tasks like manual labor, practicing trades like law or medicine, operating heavy machinery, using power tools, high-heat materials and environments, handling explosives or volatile substances, welding, glassblowing, or performing electrical work while high. These tasks require full focus, precision, and alertness, all of which are qualities THC can impair. Even if you don’t hurt yourself, you could harm others or make costly, potentially irreversible mistakes.

3. WORKING AT HEIGHTS

Even if you’re an experienced cannabis user, the effects of a high THC dose can still be unpredictable. For this reason, you shouldn’t get high before working at dangerous heights, such as cleaning windows or repairing roofs. 

While working on a ladder, scaffolding, or lift, THC may trigger anxiety or paranoia, causing you to panic and do something dangerous. It may also impair balance and coordination, making you accident-prone.

4. HANDLING FIREARMS OR USING WEAPONS

Guns and blades are dangerous in sober hands, and even more so in the hands of intoxicated individuals. The euphoric effects of THC can lower impulse control and impair judgment, increasing the risk of reckless or harmful behavior with weapons. For this reason, don’t go hunting, plinking, or engage in other activities involving weapons while high.

Reddit user, BoredDude216, said it best, “You think you’re practicing proper safety, but you’re high so you probably aren’t and just don’t realize.” 

Keep in mind that federal law still prohibits state-registered medical cannabis patients from possessing or buying firearms and ammunition.

5. JOB INTERVIEWS

Some people use cannabis before job interviews to calm their nerves and boost their confidence. However, depending on the strain and dose, it may leave you red-eyed and sedated or animated and chatty. 

Neither of these impressions will work in your favor, especially if you’re hoping to get the job. If you must use cannabis before an interview, try a CBD-dominant strain that doesn’t contain enough THC to cause significant impairing effects.

6. MAKING MAJOR FINANCIAL OR LEGAL DECISIONS

One wrong financial or legal decision can derail your life, so don’t make those calls while under the influence of THC. Don’t fill out loan applications, bet large sums of money, make large purchases, buy or sell crypto, or sign any form of contract while high. Wait until you’re sober, so you can think clearly and determine whether that decision truly serves your best interest.

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7. EXTREME SPORTS

Cannabis may help some people focus, but that doesn’t make it a good idea before engaging in extreme sports that require split-second decisions and sharp reflexes. Even a slight impairment can slow your reactions and increase the risk of serious or even fatal injury during such activities. Examples of such sports include skydiving, skiing, snowboarding, skateboarding, bungee jumping, rock climbing, kayaking, bouldering, or diving.

READ: New Study Suggests Cannabis May Not Affect Driving Ability in Patients

8. COOKING OR ANY ACTIVITY INVOLVING FLAMES

High-THC cannabis may cause couch lock and forgetfulness while you’re under the influence. Both of which are dangerous states to be in when working with fire and heat. Yes, we get it: food tastes amazing when you’re high, and the urge to cook something delicious can be overwhelming. 

But that craving isn’t worth the risk of forgetting something on the stove and accidentally setting your kitchen on fire. There may be a few exceptions for the already most experienced and serious home cooks, but not recommended for cannabis beginners or most people.

If you need more convincing, check out these Reddit stories from folks who made the mistake:

• Midiblye: “I caught my kitchen on fire at 4 am trying to make fried pickles. I screamed at the top of my lungs thinking I needed to get my 3 roommates who were all home at the time out and call the fire department. Not one of them responded and one of their rooms was attached to the kitchen. I got the fire out despite the fire extinguisher being in the dumbest place (right above where the fire was blocking me from getting to it) and there was little damage other than having to paint our ceiling and scrub the shit out of the stove. It was terrifying at the time but I laugh because all of my roommates heard me scream none of them moved. Maybe that’s fucked up but it’s definitely the most “exciting” thing that ever happened to me while stoned.”

• Ughfuckdudethisis: “Last weekend I got stoned and tried to make bacon! it caught on fire and I yelled for my friend while trying to get the fire extinguisher. A couple minutes after I got the fire out my friend walks into the kitchen saying “there was a fire? why didnt you yell?””

• Jigglyman901: “One time I tried making spaghetti while high and I somehow managed to set the noodles on fire…”

9. POSTING ONLINE

The internet never forgets. So, before posting that tweet that seems so hilarious or sage while high, wait until you’re sober enough to vet it. 

THC can cloud your judgment and make you feel overly confident about ideas that, in the moment, seem like pure genius. Don’t be like Kanye West who posted anti-Semitic tweets while intoxicated.

10. CARING FOR AN INFANT

Caring for an infant or toddler requires your full attention, and you likely can’t give that while under the influence of THC. Cannabis may help you feel more relaxed and patient when taking care of kids, but it may also dull your awareness, making it harder to respond to emergencies or sudden needs.

Then there’s the risk of you becoming careless with your stash, and your ward finding and eating it. Lastly, if you’re a breastfeeding mum, using cannabis is out of the question, as THC passes through breast milk and potentially affects your baby’s development.

11. MIXING WEED WITH OTHER SUBSTANCES

Mixing weed and alcohol can intensify the effects of both, leaving you far more wasted than anticipated. While that might sound like fun, it’s actually problematic because your impulse control will drop dramatically, and you’re more likely to black out. 

The same goes for combining THC with other impairing substances like painkillers, benzos (benzodiazepines), sedatives, and other prescription meds. Such combinations can amplify sedation, impair memory, and in some cases, dangerously slow your breathing or heart rate.

12. ENGAGING IN RISKY SEXUAL BEHAVIOR

While high, you meet someone attractive and soon after you start fooling around. Sounds like a fun night, but engaging in casual sex while high is risky for several reasons, including lowered inhibitions. The euphoria from THC can make you more open-minded or impulsive, which might lead to poor decisions like having unprotected sex or skipping important safety conversations.

It also impairs your judgment and awareness, making you more likely to misread consent or miss critical red flags. That’s a big deal because misreading consent can lead to sexual assault accusations and jail time. Ignoring red flags leaves you vulnerable to being taken advantage of or worse.

In summary, while THC offers certain therapeutic benefits, it’s best to avoid using it before engaging in tasks that require quick reflexes or a clear mind. The same goes for activities that might trigger anxiety or paranoia.