Cannabis Science

How to Get Rid of a Weed Hangover

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If you’re feeling hungover after a smoke sesh, you’re not imagining things. Hangovers aren’t just for margarita nights. Stoners can confirm that weed hangovers are very real. Before we get into how to get rid of a weed hangover, let’s chat about the scientific evidence we have about their validity. 

Photo: Unsplash 

How do we Know Weed Hangovers are Real?

While there haven’t been many studies on weed hangovers, there are some studies worth examining. 

In a 1985 study titled, “’Hangover’ effects the morning after marijuana smoking”, the participants experienced hangovers after using weed that was 2.9% delta 9 THC. The study stated, “The findings suggest that marijuana smoking can produce residual (hangover) effects the day after smoking”. 

A 2015 review referred to the “hangover effects” of marijuana. The review spoke about weed hangovers in adolescents and stated that they may feel the effects for at least one day after use. The writer also mentioned that there can be subtle effects up to one month after. 

In addition to that, a 2017 study reported that participants complained of a marijuana hangover. It was described as, “a foggy, non-alert feeling in the morning”

What are the Symptoms of a Weed Hangover?

Wondering if you’re suffering from a weed hangover? According to Medical News Today, you may experience:

  • Dry mouth and eyes
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea
  • Lethargy
  • Headaches

However, symptoms can vary and so can the duration of the symptoms. Some of these symptoms are reported by marijuana users shortly after using weed such as the dry mouth and dry eyes.

There is also a chance you may just be experiencing the effects of weed and not a true hangover. The amount of time you feel the effects depend on many factors.

 For example, your tolerance, the amount of weed you use, and the method can impact how long you feel the effects. So you are more likely to feel the effects of edibles for a longer period of time than a blunt. The average time to feel the effects of edibles is 6-8 hours but there’s a possibility you could feel it for a longer period. 

Common short term effects of weed use include:

  • More sensitive to things like light and sound
  • Anxiety
  • Nausea
  • Hunger
  • Relaxation 
  • Euphoria  

In addition to that, if you combined weed with alcohol it could lead to a hangover and may be difficult to determine which substance is causing it. 

How to Cure a Weed Hangover

Want to get rid of a weed hangover? When it comes to curing a hangover, it’s best to try and treat specific symptoms. For example, if you’re really fatigued, maybe opt for some extra sleep if possible. 

In addition to that, you can also:

Hydrate

According to Medical News Today, keeping hydrated can help with dry mouth symptoms. Hydration is especially important if weed was combined with alcohol. That’s because alcohol is notorious for causing dehydration due to it being a diuretic.  

In addition to that, hydration can help with headaches. Medical News Today also mentioned that if you’re dehydrated, you may want to skip the coffee. 

Use Eye Drops

If you’re experiencing dry eyes, you can opt for an over-the-counter eye drop. Here are our eye drop recommendations for stoners. 

Keeping hydrated can also help with dry eyes. 

Eat

If you’re experiencing nausea, Medical News Today suggests eating small frequent meals. Generally, eating a healthy meal should help to ease some of the symptoms. So opt for food that is low in added sugar and salt. 

Grab a painkiller

If the headache is interfering with your day, you can always opt for an over-the-counter painkiller. Painkillers you can consider include acetaminophen such as Tylenol or NSAIDs like Advil. 

Make a cup of tea

Tea can help make you feel better in more than one way. Green tea can provide you with caffeine to help you feel more energized. In addition to that, tea can help with nausea. According to Healthline, the following teas can relieve nausea:

  • Ginger
  • Camomile 
  • Fennel
  • Honey lemon
  • Fennel
  • Peppermint
  • Liquorice 

How to Prevent a Weed Hangover 

Preventing a weed hangover is probably better than curing it. According to Medical News Today, the only way to prevent a weed hangover is by using weed in moderation. The article stated that no other method has scientific proof that it works. 

A study about low-risk cannabis use suggests:

  • Using low potency THC weed products
  • Opt for non smoking methods
  • Avoid high frequency use

The most obvious way to prevent a weed hangover is to avoid using weed. However, if you don’t want to go that route naturally, you can opt for some experimentation. That means paying attention to what strain, amount, method and any other variable doesn’t leave you with a hangover and sticking to it. 

Conclusion

Wondering how to get rid of a weed hangover? Treat your individual symptoms. For example, if you’re having a headache, take a painkiller or if you’re nauseous, drink some tea. The best way to prevent a weed hangover is to avoid weed. However, you can opt for lower-risk method of consumption and experimentation to see what best works for you.

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About Trevann

Trevann is Stoner Rotation’s Jamaica-based lead writer for the Science section of our cannabis blog. She graduated with honors receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular Biology from the University of West Indies, Mona. For the last three years, she has covered some of the biggest questions around cannabis and health underpinned with research from supporting studies, medical journals and scholarly articles. Got something on your mind? You can reach her at [email protected].