Whether you decided to smoke a blunt or fire up a bong, you may have experienced shaking after smoking weed. It probably doesn’t happen to you all the time, but you’re so confused when it happens to you or someone near you. We’re here to demystify the reason stoners shake after smoking weed and whether or not they should be concerned.
Photo: Unsplash
Why Do I Shake When I Smoke Weed?
There are actually many reasons why you may shake after smoking weed. The reasons we will explore are:
- Anxiety
- Using stimulants with weed
- Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) induced hypothermia
Anxiety
Even though weed may help feel less anxious, others aren’t quite as lucky. Some stoners may experience anxiety and other symptoms associated with anxiety such as shaking.
You’re more likely to experience anxiety if you’re using weed that is high in THC. As a matter of fact, according to Good Rx Health, high doses of THC can cause anxiety. Therefore, if your weed is high in THC, it may technically increase your risk of shaking after you smoke.
In case, you’re wondering, some weed products are more concentrated in THC than others. Good RX Health says, “Cannabis concentrates — like rosin, dabs, shatter, and wax — have the strongest THC concentration, ranging from 54% to 80%.”
Even if the weed isn’t super high in THC, eating too many edibles or smoking too much weed, especially if you aren’t used to that, may cause shaking.
Using Stimulants with Weed
Stimulants, according to the Drug and Alcohol Foundation, are a class of drugs that basically speed up messages between the brain and the body. Examples of common stimulants are coffee and nicotine. Stimulants also include meth and cocaine. As a matter of fact, weed may classify as a stimulant too.
When you combine weed with other stimulants you may end up shaking. Shaking is actually one of the negative effects of stimulant use anyway. If you find yourself having seizures, it’s best to see a doctor. Just to be clear, according to Recovery Village, weed is not linked to seizures. Weed has even been used to treat seizures. However, you may experience seizures using other stimulants.
THC-induced Hypothermia
THC-induced hypothermia is not as scary as it sounds. According to a 2008 animal study, “…..true hypothermia and hypoactivity as well as clearly diminished locomotor and temperature responses to all stimuli were only seen following the largest dose [of marijuana].” However, even at the lowest dose used in the study (0.5 mg/kg), there was a decrease in temperature.
THC’s impact on temperature is not just seen in animals. A 1996 case report pointed out that, “Animal and human laboratory studies suggest marijuana may cause hyperthermia.” The good news is that there haven’t been many life-threatening cases of marijuana-induced hyperthermia. As a matter of fact, as far as we know, there is one suspected case.
The 1996 case study presented the case of a man that went jogging on a warm day and ended up in the hospital with severe hypothermia. Tests showed that he only used weed and no other drug.
You may be wondering what THC-induced hypothermia has to do with shaking. Well, one of the signs that your body temperature has fallen and your body is trying to regulate it is shivering.
In addition to that, you may be at an even higher risk of hypothermia if you’re mixing weed with alcohol.
Better Health says that alcohol, “slows down the metabolism, so slows down internal heat generation.” This is especially important if you’re already in a cold environment.
It’s usually advised to seek medical attention if you are experiencing hypothermia.
How Do I Stop Shaking When I Smoke Weed?
Regardless of the reason, shaking when you smoke weed is believed to be harmless for the most part. But we know it may be scary and uncomfortable for some people. If you want to stop shaking when you smoke weed, here’s what you can do:
- Use strains that are higher in CBD– THC is often the culprit so if you opt for weed that is higher in CBD and lower in THC, you may reduce the risk of shaking.
- Try Delta 8 THC- Delta 8 THC is reported to provide the effects of delta 8 THC without anxiety. Therefore, if you suspect anxiety is causing you to shake after using weed but you need the other effects of THC, this may help.
- Don’t smoke cigarettes when using weed- Some stoners like to mix weed with ingredients that contain nicotine like tobacco. However, mixing both stimulants may make you shake.
- Opt for decaf- Caffeine is another stimulant that may cause shaking on its own but when mixed with weed could definitely increase the chances. Therefore, opt for decaffeinated coffee or decaffeinated tea.
- Keep warm- If you notice your temperature drops when you smoke weed, in addition to reducing THC, you can keep warm. Opt for a blanket and a cozy sweater. This is especially important if the external environment is cold already.
- Smell some peppercorns- According to Healthline, terpenes in peppercorns can counter the effects of too much THC. Therefore, you can sniff some black pepper for this effect. However, be careful, you may sneeze.
- Drink lemonade- Yes, really. Healthline also mentions that limonene, another terpene, can counteract the effects of too much THC. Limonene is found in, you guessed it, lemons! So lemonade could help you out when shaking.
Conclusion
If you find yourself shaking after smoking weed, there may be several reasons. Chances are non of them are life-threatening, however, you may find it unpleasant. Employ some of the methods we mentioned to reduce the shaking. However, if you feel like something is seriously wrong, don’t hesitate to seek medical attention.
