Waking up with a hangover after a night of drinking is one of the worst feelings. This experience can have you clutching your stomach and vowing to never consume that much alcohol again. In this case, you may assume you’re safe to swap out your alcohol habit with cannabis to avoid hangovers. But will that work? Can you get a hangover from weed?
Many people have experienced symptoms they classify as a “weed hangover,” while others question if it even exists. The truth is that it’s possible to experience residual effects the morning after smoking marijuana. But is it as bad as an alcohol hangover? Let’s find out the best weed seeds and the best canadian seed banks.
What Does the Science Say?
Let’s start by exploring the scientific research on the subject. The earliest study is from 1985, where researchers gave 13 participants either joints or placebos. Then, the subjects were tested with behavioral tasks such as free recall, time production, and card sorting. When the participants were tested after sleeping, the scientists noted those who smoked cannabis the night before had a more difficult time with the time production tasks.
Another study came out in 1998 involving 10 participants who were given a single joint. Not surprisingly, the researchers found that the hangover effects from smoking one marijuana cigarette were minimal.
Most recently, a 2005 study analyzed how weed hangovers affected workers. The outcomes showed hangover-like symptoms and cognitive effects in cannabis users at work. These effects can intensify with more frequent use.
From a scientific standpoint, a weed hangover is certainly possible, but it’s not as well understood as an alcohol hangover.
What Causes a Weed Hangover?
Most instances of weed hangovers are simply the effects of a lingering high. Cannabis use can impair some cognitive functions and short-term memory, which can feel like grogginess, brain fog, or fatigue.
Consuming edibles may make it more likely to experience weed hangover symptoms the next day. This is because edibles take longer to metabolize in the body, resulting in longer-lasting effects.
Overconsumption is a risk factor in causing hangover symptoms, but dosage looks different for each person. Cannabis effects differ widely due to tolerance, strain, body chemistry, and THC content. One person’s medicinal dose may be too much for a casual smoker. When in doubt, start with a low amount and take it slow.
Does Weed Dehydrate You?
One common misconception about cannabis is that it causes dehydration. This belief stems from the fact that marijuana causes dry mouth, also known as cottonmouth. However, dry mouth is simply a lack of saliva, not a result of dehydration.
So what causes dry mouth? This symptom occurs when THC binds with glands in the mouth, temporarily shutting down saliva production.
While there is no scientific data to show cannabis causes dehydration, it’s never a bad idea to stay hydrated while smoking. Drinking water can also help alleviate symptoms of a hangover.
Alcohol vs. Cannabis Hangovers: What’s the Difference?
There are some common symptoms between alcohol and weed hangovers, including:
However, an alcohol-induced hangover is quite different from the residual effects of cannabis. Body aches and raging headaches are more common with alcohol hangovers. Additionally, alcohol can cause dehydration, unlike weed. One unique symptom of cannabis hangovers is dry eyes.