A water-based drilling mud for use in cementing operations includes water, LASSENITE® pozzolan-based additive, a heavy-weight additive, a viscosifier, a dispersant and at least one of a set activator, a fluid loss control additive and a shale stabilizer. A method of using the same includes allowing a cement composition to mix with the water-based drilling mud and allowing the mixture of the cement composition and the water-based drilling mud to set.