A risky mix
Many people use tobacco and cannabis together. This can make quitting either one harder. Learning how they affect each other can help you plan your quit, handle cravings and pick the supports that work best for you.
How people use both
Some people:
Roll cannabis with tobacco (spliffs).
Wrap it in tobacco leaves (blunts).
Smoke one after the other (“chasing”).
Over time, the 2 habits often become linked. Using both usually means smoking more overall, which increases health risks and makes quitting harder.
Key facts about tobacco and cannabis
1. How common is it to use both?
- About 30 per cent of people who use cannabis in Canada mix it with tobacco (Canadian Cannabis Survey 2022).
- Most common methods: spliffs, blunts and chasing.
- Using both usually increases how often people smoke.
- Social settings can make mixing feel normal.
- The link between tobacco and cannabis makes quitting one harder.
2. What it does to your body
- Causes more coughing, wheezing and mucus buildup.
- Raises your risk of chronic bronchitis and lung irritation.
- Exposes you to more cancer-causing chemicals.
- Reduces your lung function faster over time.
- Puts extra strain on your heart and blood pressure.
3. How it affects quitting
- Makes quitting cannabis harder if you still smoke.
- Cannabis use can trigger tobacco cravings.
- Quitting both together is often more effective.
- Withdrawal symptoms may be stronger when quitting both.
- Success with 1 quit can help you quit the other.
4. Tips for quitting both
- Spot your triggers for each habit and for using them together.
- Try nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to ease cravings.
- Switch to cannabis forms that do not involve smoking.
- Seek counselling that supports dual quitting.
- Join a support group where people understand dual habits.
- Use different tools for different cravings.
5. What youth should know
- Starting young makes mixing more likely.
- Young brains are more affected by both nicotine and THC.
- It’s easier to get hooked long-term when you start young.
- Peer pressure can lead to dual use.
- Youth need support that speaks to their reasons for using.
Ready to quit?
You do not have to figure it out alone.
Quitpath gives you free coaching, tools and quit aids to help you leave tobacco and vaping behind. If you’re also quitting cannabis, we can help you make a plan that works for you. Need extra support? We can also connect you with Mental Wellness and Substance Use Services.