If you drink too much alcohol, the hangover is pretty much inevitable, and there’s not a great deal you can do to stop it. But many people also experience a phenomenon known as a weed hangover. Why does this happen?
Weed has quite a different impact on your body, and for some people, it very rarely has the impact of leaving a hangover, so what is the reasoning behind it? Is there anything you can do about it? We explore more about weed hangovers below; what are the hangover symptoms, what you can do to prevent it, and what you can do if you already have a weed hangover.
What Causes a Weed Hangover?
Most studies have shown that weed does not have a profound enough lasting effect of causing a hangover. At least, not in the same way as some other substances. However, anecdotally we know that these “hangovers” do exist. Ultimately, the reasoning is that the symptoms of a weed hangover come from overconsumption. Like virtually everything in life, you can have too much of a good thing.
The body needs to metabolize the weed, and the brain fog feeling that you might experience the following day can come from the body struggling to do so in a timely manner. So, when you wake up the next morning, you may have a lingering high, or you might feel a bit groggy and generally run down the day after smoking marijuana. It’s a good idea to stay low with your dosage to start with so that you will know your own tolerance levels.
Cannabis Hangover Symptoms and How to Treat It
Some people will be reading this article because they are feeling rough after consuming cannabis. This is not unusual, and you’re probably desperately seeking ways in which you can start to feel a little brighter.
When consuming cannabis, you can work up your tolerance levels. Start lower and gradually build up. Smoking pre rolls is one way to make sure you know how much you’re consuming to not go overboard.
Typical Symptoms of a Weed Hangover
- Fatigue
- Dry eyes
- Brain fog
- Headaches
- Dry mouth
- Mild nausea
Any lingering effects of cannabis hangovers are usually gone in a few hours, but there are things you can do to tackle those hangover effects and the feelings of brain fog and fatigue, being tired, nauseous, or having a headache.
How to Alleviate the Weed Hangover Symptoms
- Take a nap
- Eat healthily
- Stay hydrated
- Take a brisk walk
- Take a cold shower
- Drink some caffeine (with plenty of water)
You can give yourself a little boost by adding some caffeine to your routine; a CBD coffee or even an energy drink might help you to feel better after an evening of smoking marijuana.
Be healthy, make sure you eat the right nutritious food, and consume a lot of water. You need to be nourished and give your body the right fuel to work through your hangover.
Don’t be afraid of some exercise in this state; increasing the heart rate can help you feel normal again and get out of your malaise. Follow your exercise up with a cold shower, and this can help you wake up and feel much more fresh, ready to tackle the day.
Weed Hangovers vs. Alcohol Hangovers
It can be hard to differentiate between a weed hangover and an alcohol hangover. They actually share quite a lot of the same symptoms and impact your body in the same way.
Both can cause you to feel nauseous or to get headaches, for instance. One great piece of advice is not to mix the two, as you can end up feeling the effects of both alcohol and weed as your body tries to metabolize them.
Undeniably, more research is needed to explore exactly what is causing the marijuana hangovers and how much of this is down to overconsumption and the tolerance levels that different people have. If you’ve never experienced this type of hangover before, it’s easy to compare it to an alcohol hangover.
Does Cannabis Cause Dehydration?
This is one of the common misconceptions about smoking cannabis. It can feel like it has caused dehydration when it really hasn’t. This is because of the feeling of “cotton-mouth” many people experience. This can happen with both alcohol and weed. The substances can inhibit the salivary glands in the mouth and prevent them from creating as much saliva to lubricate the mouth.
This isn’t a nice feeling, but it is nowhere near as dangerous as dehydration, so the two shouldn’t be confused. Alcohol does cause a level of dehydration, and it is important to try and combat this. The cottonmouth feeling can be combated by sipping water, which will also help you stay hydrated.
There is one indirect link. If you’re consuming weed, you may forget to stay properly hydrated, or even worse, consume alcohol at the same time. Instead of risking this, try to make sure you drink plenty of water and don’t go over the top with your cannabis consumption.
Conclusion
Some of the best things you can do regarding weed hangovers are actually done the evening before. Avoid alcohol or anything that will harm your body in the first place, and try to give yourself the best chance to recover overnight.
Some people never experience any weed hangovers, so you may be one of the fortunate ones.