How To Prevent and Remedy Weed Hangovers

Marijuana and Hangovers - Seriously? You might be surprised, but yes, marijuana use can give you a hangover! 

If you have ever woken up with fatigue, a headache, a dry mouth, or nausea after a night of smoking marijuana or eating edibles, then you have experienced a weed hangover. Other names for it include green flu, stone-over, or foggy bottom.

Fortunately, marijuana hangovers are not as severe as alcohol hangovers and with a few simple tips, you can manage and remedy the after effects quite well.

Read on to learn how!

Can Weed Give You A Hangover?

The majority of us are aware (some firsthand) that excessive overconsumption can cause a hangover but can marijuana consumption cause a hangover?

Yes, marijuana consumption can indeed cause some negative residual effects the day after use.

Although scientists are still studying the phenomenon, many cannabis users report waking up with lingering symptoms after a night of heavy consumption. 

But are weed hangovers the same as alcohol hangovers? Not really.

Weed hangovers are less severe compared to alcohol hangovers or other party drugs. Alcohol hangovers come with more severe symptoms due to dehydration and your body processing the alcohol. They can lead to intense headaches, nausea, and even withdrawal symptoms like shakes, fatigue, and diarrhea if you have consumed a lot.

On the other side, symptoms following excessive marijuana use may include:

• lethargy

• dry mouth and eyes

• difficulty concentrating or brain fog

• headache

• fatigue or grogginess

• mild nausea

Why does this happen? 

Everyone processes cannabinoids differently, but there are several factors that could make a weed hangover even more likely:

• using high-THC strains or concentrates

• eating too many edibles

• smoking or vaping late at night

• mixing cannabis with alcohol, known as crossfading

• having a low tolerance to cannabis

• not staying hydrated before or during your session

• going to sleep immediately after getting very high

Even though a weed hangover is not as serious as an alcohol hangover, it may still be annoying enough to affect your work, school, or simply enjoying your morning. One question that can come to your mind might be, "What can I do to get rid of this feeling?"

More on that in the next section.

What Can You Do to Bounce Back Faster From a Weed Hangover?

More often than not, weed hangover symptoms will go away on their own. There is no method we can say for sure will be an immediate fix, but worry not, there are still things you can do to speed up the process of recovery

1. Stay Hydrated

THC and heavy smoking sessions dry you out, which is why cottonmouth and dry eyes are two of the most common weed hangover symptoms.

So start your day by drinking plenty of water. If you are feeling especially sluggish, consider drinks containing electrolytes, such as coconut water or an oral rehydration drink, to help replace fluids and minerals.

2. Eat a Nutritious Breakfast

After a long night, your blood sugar may be lower than usual, which can contribute to fatigue, shakiness, and difficulty focusing. A balanced breakfast provides your body with the energy it needs to recover.

Good options include:

• eggs with whole-grain toast

• oatmeal topped with berries and nuts

• greek yogurt with fruit

• an avocado toast with eggs

• a fruit smoothie with protein

Foods rich in healthy fats like avocado, nuts, seeds, and eggs help keep you feeling satisfied while your body clears lingering cannabinoids.

3. Try CBD to Balance Out Lingering THC

 Take a CBD oil or tincture.

Wait, add more cannabis to fix the cannabis? Unlike THC, CBD (cannabidiol) is non-psychoactive, and it acts as a negative allosteric modulator at the CB1 receptor. In plain terms, CBD can blunt how strongly THC binds to that receptor, which takes the edge off lingering effects instead of adding to them.

4. Get Moving - But Keep It Light

Gentle movement can increase circulation, improve alertness, and help shake off some of the morning grogginess. A short walk outside also gives you the added benefit of fresh air, which many people find refreshing after a heavy cannabis session.

Consider activities like:

• a 15- to 30-minute walk

• gentle stretching

• yoga

• light cycling

• easy mobility exercises

If you are feeling dizzy or unusually tired, rest is the better choice.

5. Refresh the Senses with a Cold Shower

Take a shower. A cold shower especially will help you feel more awake by stimulating your senses and increasing alertness plus it will help reduce feelings of grogginess after a poor night's sleep.

6. Treat the Symptoms

• If you have a headache, an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen may help, provided it's safe for you to take and you follow the directions on the label.

• Artificial tears can relieve uncomfortable dry eyes.

• Sugar-free gum or lozenges may help stimulate saliva and reduce dry mouth.

• If you are experiencing mild nausea, sipping ginger tea or chewing a small amount of grated ginger may help settle your stomach.

7. Give Yourself Time to Rest

Sometimes the best remedy is the simplest one.

Sleep gives your body time to finish metabolizing THC while allowing your brain to recover from a disrupted night's rest. If you have the opportunity, taking a short nap or simply relaxing for a while may help improve alertness later in the day. Also avoidi mentally demanding tasks for a few hours to make recovery easier.

How to Prevent Future Cannabis Hangovers?

Since you have learnt that it is possible to have a weed hangover, the next question is: Can you stop it from happening? The following are simple habits that you can follow to reduce your chances of experiencing the next-day symptoms.

• Be mindful of the dosage, especially when it comes to edibles. Start with a low dose and wait for a minimum of two hours before popping in more as cannabis edibles are usually long to react and are the leading cause of overconsumption.

• Drink water during the session. Drinking plenty of water before, during, and after the use of cannabis can help minimize dry mouth, headaches, and fatigue.

• Be mindful of the strains you choose. If you wish to wake up fresh and energized, you should look for strains that are higher in limonene or pinene instead of myrcene, which is often associated with more sedating effects.

• Do not mix cannabis with alcohol or too much caffeine. Mixing cannabis and alcohol, referred to as crossfading, can increase the level of inebriation and the chance of having a bad morning.

• Do not inhale deeply and holding smoke in longer. deep inhalation or prolonged breath-holding does not help in the absorption of THC and only exposes your lungs to more smoke and irritants. Learn how to inhale weed properly

• Choose to use cannabis earlier in the evening when it's possible. Giving your body a longer time to process THC before going to bed may help lessen the grogginess in the morning.

• Know your limits. If you have not used cannabis for a long time or are trying out a new product, begin your dosage with a lower amount to reduce the possibility of getting a weed hangover.

What Do Studies Say About Weed Hangovers?

Unfortunately, because cannabis is still a Schedule I drug in the US, it hasn't attracted much formal/dedictaed research on marijuana hangovers, so most of the information reported appears to be more anecdotal. Also, most of the research we found is either old or limited.

1985 Study: Evidence of Subtle Next-Day Effects

One of the earliest studies examining marijuana hangovers was published in 1985. Researchers recruited healthy male participants who smoked either a cannabis cigarette or a placebo before completing a series of cognitive tests that evening and again the following morning.

Although the participants didn't appear severely impaired the next day, researchers observed subtle changes in their perception of time. Those who had smoked cannabis tended to overestimate how much time had passed compared to the placebo group.

The researchers concluded that while marijuana's next-day effects were relatively mild, they appeared to exist and could potentially influence tasks requiring attention and judgment.

Because the study included only a small number of participants and consisted entirely of men, the findings can't be generalized to everyone.

1998 Study: Minimal Morning-After Impairment

A later study published in 1998 reached a slightly different conclusion.

Researchers evaluated regular cannabis users after they smoked marijuana over one weekend and a placebo over another. Participants completed several behavioral and subjective assessments the following mornings.

Unlike the earlier study, researchers found little evidence of significant next-day impairment. Most participants returned to their normal performance by morning, leading the authors to suggest that any lingering effects were likely small and short-lived.

One possible explanation is that the participants were experienced cannabis users, meaning their higher tolerance levels may have reduced the severity of any residual effects.

The study highlights an important point - not everyone experiences marijuana hangovers in the same way.

2013 Study: Medical Cannabis Users Reported Morning Grogginess

Researchers publishing in 2013 examined patient experiences with medical cannabis, including both the benefits and unwanted side effects.

Among the effects reported by some participants was a feeling of being "foggy" or not fully alert the next morning after cannabis use. This description closely matches what many recreational users refer to as a weed hangover.

The study relied on self-reported experiences rather than controlled laboratory testing, meaning it cannot prove that cannabis directly caused these symptoms. However, it provides additional evidence that morning grogginess is an experience shared by at least some cannabis users.

The Takeaway?

Taken together, the available evidence suggests that weed hangovers are real for some people, although they are generally milder than alcohol hangovers. The most commonly reported next day effects include:

• Brain fog

• Fatigue

• Grogginess

• Dry mouth

• Mild headache

• Difficulty concentrating

However, researchers still don't fully understand why some people experience these symptoms while others don't. Factors such as THC dose, method of consumption, sleep quality, hydration, metabolism, and individual tolerance likely all play a role.

As cannabis becomes more widely legalized and studied, future research will hopefully provide clearer answers about what causes cannabis hangovers and the most effective ways to prevent them.

Medical disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you experience severe or persistent symptoms after using cannabis, consult a qualified healthcare professional.

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