As it becomes more popular, more people are wondering “can you get a hangover from weed”? If so, what are standard weed hangover symptoms and is there a weed hangover cure?
Make no mistake, ingesting too much marijuana can definitely lead to lingering side effects the next day. Whether or not you want to call this an “official” weed hangover is up to you. One truth though is that you cannot overdose on marijuana.
The answer to “can you get a hangover from weed?” is not black and white. It depends on numerous personal factors. So what causes weed hangover symptoms? A few different causes include: dehydration, lack of sleep, lack of eating, mental over-stimulation from the day before, and still being high.
To shed light on the issue, we’ll describe the most common symptoms and describe what you can generally do to cure them.
Can You Get a Hangover From Weed, Really?
As explained above, the answer is “yes”.
Unlike alcohol, marijuana doesn’t produce a toxic by-product during digestion. Nor does it result in vomiting several times in the night (unless you’re greening out), which seriously dehydrates your body.
People who smoke too much or intake too many edibles do sometimes report nausea, but it rarely lasts for hours the next morning like drinking alcohol does.
Some do report feeling more than a bit “blah” after smoking too much the night before. They may feel sluggish or like they can’t think clearly. They may also have other symptoms.
To make sure we’re all on the same page, read a few of the most common weed hangover symptoms below.
What Are Some Common Weed Hangover Symptoms?
Brain Fog
The most common symptom from smoking too much weed the day before is feeling like your brain isn’t quite firing on all cylinders. You may have trouble thinking deeply about something or recalling memories.
People also say that their general thoughts or emotions feel slightly dulled. Because of these symptoms, some refer to a weed hangover as a “haze-over.”
Tired and Sleepy
Another common symptom of overindulging the night before is a sense of sleepiness, or just a general lack of motivation. Even if you weren’t smoking the type of weed that makes you melt into the couch, that might be the only thing you feel like doing the next day. Low energy and the feeling of being tired isn’t the worst thing in the world, but it can affect your day.
Dry Eyes
Marijuana dilates the blood vessels in your eyes, and smoking a lot can make it worse. Combine this with the nightly “cleanse cycle” your eyes try to perform, and you have a recipe for bloodshot eyes or significant gunk in the morning.
Dehydration
Marijuana doesn’t dehydrate your entire body, but it can halt the amount of saliva your mouth produces. As a result, you may wake up with a dry mouth. You can also have a scratchy throat, especially if you were smoking weed through a joint, blunt, or bong. A soar throat is much less likely to occur if you consume marijuana from vaping or eating edibles.
Headaches, Nausea, Sensitivity to Bright Light or Loud Noises
A very small margin of people report feeling traditional alcohol hangover symptoms, especially after indulging in edibles. These symptoms can be made worse by brain fog, dehydration, and sleepiness.
It is important to note, weed hangover symptoms are much less debilitating than alcohol hangovers! For the large majority, you can still go about your normal day even with a haze-over.
What Causes a Weed Haze-Over?
There are a couple of causes behind the weed hangover symptoms…
The most obvious cause is that you consumed way more cannabis than you should have the day/night before! Strong edibles and smoked concentrates have a long half-life, which means they take a while to leave your body.
One Vice writer even describes being stoned for five straight days after drinking a bottle of THC-laden personal lubricant!
In addition, eating edibles or smoking right before bed can mean you wake up still feeling the effects of marijuana. You also notice the effects more because you don’t expect to feel that way right when you get up.
Speaking of which, getting poor sleep can also contribute to a classic haze-over. Certain strains of cannabis help you fall asleep faster, but they can also interfere with your deep sleep cycle. Combine that with staying up late or altering your sleep schedule and you have a recipe for waking up in a fog.
If you drank alcohol in addition to using marijuana the night before, you are probably going to wake up thirsty. Dehydration symptoms increase as your eyes and throat dry up while you sleep.
Finally, there’s a compelling theory that smoking a lot can tire your brain out. Cannabis works by affecting our endocannabinoid system and it depends on certain chemicals and mental stimulation to make us feel high.
We can exhaust these systems after smoking a lot, hence why your tenth joint may not affect you as much as your first. When you wake up with weed hangover symptoms, these can be a sign that your brain needs to recharge.
Luckily, there are plenty of cures for you to try…
Best Methods for a Weed Hangover Cure
If the answer to “can you get a hangover from weed?” is “yes,” then there must be options for a weed hangover cure.
Here are a few things you can try to relieve your worst weed hangover symptoms:
- Get out of bed and move around. Sitting still will keep your metabolism functioning at low levels, making you feel sleepier, lazier, and more in a fog.
- Drink lots of water. Ideally, you put a glass of water on your nightstand and sip on it before you go to bed. You can also wake up and chug this water later, nipping your haze-over in the bud.
- Take a safe stimulant, like caffeine. Just like a normal hangover, some coffee or tea can wake you right up!
- Get some exercise. It may be the last thing you feel like doing, but moving around will help your body clear out excess THC and boost your metabolism. Aerobic exercise is ideal, but a brisk walk and some deep yoga stretching can work well too.
- Eat something healthy. Unlike a drunk hangover, your body won’t appreciate grease or starch after smoking too much. Instead, get some healthy fats from fish, nuts, or avocados and combine them with something light, like a healthy salad or soup. This will help you metabolize any lingering THC and also give you energizing vitamins.
- Smoke some hair of the dog. It may seem counterintuitive, but smoking a bit of pot can perk you up. This works well with high-CBD strains that counteract THC’s effects as well as energizing weed strains that fight fatigue. Just don’t overdo it!
The Best Weed Hangover Cure Is Not Overindulging
The real trick to not getting a haze-over is to be careful in the first place. Many people smoke far more weed than they need to for medical relief or even recreational enjoyment. They also tend to smoke late at night, which can interfere with their sleep cycle.
Remember, combining weed and booze in excess is never a good idea either!
But if you find the right weed strains and avoid smoking more than you need to, you have a recipe for a great time with no risk of a haze-over.
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