According to the Huffington Post, “California has the oldest and largest marijuana market in the country, bringing in $1.3 billion a year.” Consequently, drug rehab centers such as Miramar dot the coast of California in places like Irvine, and an increasing number of people are checking in for marijuana abuse. While it may seem to be a lucrative industry, the effects of this drug can be extremely dangerous, especially when combined with alcohol.

Psychology Today (PT) explains that drinking before smoking can lead to a condition called “greening out,” which refers to the negative effects of marijuana use. PT explains that a person can become “pale and sweaty, feel dizzy with ‘the spins’” and feel nauseous.

On the other hand, Medical Daily cites a study by Northeastern University which explains that the antiemetic effect of marijuana “makes it more difficult for the body to vomit.” This is extremely dangerous because vomiting is the body’s natural way of preventing alcohol poisoning and death.

Drug rehab centers in Irvine and elsewhere often treat patients who have experienced near-death experiences related to drug and alcohol abuse. And according to Medical Daily, using pot and alcohol together “can make [an] individual drink beyond their tolerance.”

Overall, these two drugs are harmful separately, but when combined can be deadly. As California’s pot industry continues to grow, users could ultimately be risking their lives.