Is A “Weed Hangover” A Real Thing And Why Does It Happen?

Weed hangovers, or “stone-overs”, are unfortunately an unpleasant side effect of consuming weed. But not everyone experiences a hangover from weed, and everyone’s experience is different. The experience is also much different than the familiar hangover from a night out drinking. A weed hangover is not just an urban myth, over-consumption of cannabis might lead to an uncomfortable experience the next morning.

Even if medical cannabis is by now well established, hangovers from too much weed are real. There is no such thing as a weed hangover cure. If you wake up feeling groggy, you’ll need to employ some of the suggestions below and wait it out. But, if you are looking to use weed for a hangover induced by a night boozing, then read on for details on using cannabis to soothe a severe hangover.

What are the Symptoms of a Weed Hangover?

Studies show that the residual effects of cannabis consumption are what lead to still feeling not-quite-sober the next day. The residual effects commonly include:

• Cognitive impairment
• Delayed response time
• Grogginess
• Fatigue
• A headache
• Dehydration
• Congestion

What Does The Science Say About A Hangover From Weed?

During one study, the researchers subjected volunteers to a full battery of tests after smoking two joints. Researchers then subjected the participants to the same tests the next day to see whether the weed had any lingering effects.

The tests included heart rate monitoring, a subjective rating of the drug’s effects, a circular lights task, serial addition, and subtraction, as well as digital recall tests. On the second day, users exhibited no symptoms of an increased heart rate, nor did they report any subjective effects of cannabis.

However, participants did exhibit some symptoms of a weed hangover on the second day of testing. Test subjects showed impaired performance on the arithmetic and digital recall tasks, in other words, they experienced cognitive impairment and delayed response time. Thankfully though, the performance impairments were much less significant than the researchers recorded during the previous day.

The results proved that marijuana could impair cognitive performance for up to 24 hours after consumption. Waking up with a fuzzy, groggy feeling is one of the main symptoms that those experiencing weed hangovers report.

A second study demonstrated how the hangover effects of cannabis are indeed very different from the acute effects of alcohol consumption. The findings of this second study conclude smoking cannabis can produce residual effects the day after smoking. Many people who claim to experience weed hangovers cite physical symptoms too: fatigue, congestion, and dehydration are all commonly reported.

Can You Prevent A Weed Hangover?

The good news for chronics is that it’s quite simple to prevent or reduce the next mornings’ cannabis hangover. Just like with alcohol, moderation and hydration are the two critical elements of a happy wake-up call the next day. But there are a few other suggestions which can help reduce any residual hangover from cannabis you might experience.

Moderate Consumption

One study suggests that consuming cannabis in lower doses may not cause users to experience any adverse side effects the day after consumption. If you don’t usually smoke weed every day, try consuming in moderation to avoid that challenging next-day experience.

Drink Water

Drink plenty of H2O before, during, and after you participate in a smoking session. This will help combat dehydration, one of the most commonly experienced side effects of cannabis consumption. THC is also fat-soluble, which means your body stores the THC metabolite in fat cells. Drinking a lot of water on a daily basis can help to flush the THC out of these cells, helping to get it out of your system faster. While this isn’t going to cure you in the short term, long-term hydration may prevent excessive THC metabolite storage in your fat cells.

Microdosing

Microdosing cannabis provides all the great medical benefits of THC without the effect of feeling “high.” Many physicians argue that medicinal cannabis should provide relief from your symptoms without any high at all. Choosing to microdose will most certainly help you avoid a weed hangover the next day since you won’t get stoned in the first place.

Choose Your Source Wisely

The quality of cannabis, as well as the strain you choose to consume, can have significant effects on your high. Third party laboratories frequently find residual pesticides and fungicides on both recreational and medical cannabis. These toxins may lead to you feeling a little “off.” Seek out strains grown organically or try switching to a different source of buds with demonstrated lab results.

Choose Your Method Wisely

Although there aren’t any scientific statistics on what methods of smoking, eating, or vaping weed triggers a more severe hungover the next morning, the method of consumption is worth considering. Many cannabis enthusiasts will report that edibles often leave an unwanted lingering effect the next day. Edibles are often more potent than smoking and have a prolonged high. Dabs, another concentrated method of consuming marijuana, might also trigger a weed hangover. If you aren’t used to concentrates, be careful as they pack a big punch if you go overboard.

Don’t Drink and Smoke

If you are already drinking alcohol, and someone passes a joint around the party, say no. Smoking weed and drinking at the same time often pushes people over the edge of intoxication. Cannabis tends to increase alcohol blood levels, making you feel much more intoxicated than you did before you toked. Do yourself a favor and avoid mixing, you’ll thank yourself the next morning.

On The Flip Side, What About Weed For Hangovers?

But maybe your problem isn’t a hangover from weed; perhaps it’s an alcohol-induced hangover. Are the rumors true? Can you wake and bake and feel better if you drank too much the night before? Of course, researchers aren’t stumbling over themselves to study this issue, but many people report relief from a severe hangover by lighting up the next morning.

The most common symptoms of an alcohol hangover are:

• Nausea
• Dehydration
• A headache
• Vomiting
• General Inflammation

Alcohol is a natural diuretic, leading to symptoms of dehydration and headache. It’s also technically a poison. When consumed in high levels, alcohol leads to a biological rejection by your body. While weed might not cure dehydration or alcohol poisoning, people report it makes the symptoms that much easier to handle.

Cannabis is a known anti-inflammatory agent. It’s also a powerful treatment for severe levels of pain. These medicinal properties naturally come in handy if you’re suffering through an alcohol-induced hangover. Finally, a good wake and bake might help to reduce the chance of vomiting, settle your stomach and avoid excessive nausea. After all, cannabis is used as a co-therapy to chemotherapy for these characteristics specifically.

Next time you wake up and regret the decisions from last night, grab a glass of water, light up the bong, and relax. Smoking weed might not cure your hangover, but it will surely help you feel better and reduce the severity of the symptoms.

The Bottom Line on Weed Hangovers

Unfortunately for the chronics of the world, weed hangovers are real, and they can sometimes be unpleasant. If you ask us, you can’t compare it to an alcohol hangover. You just have to know your limits and cannabis will be super safe. I smoke weed everyday and have 0 problems getting up early in the mornings. With a little moderation and hydration, you can likely avoid some of the most challenging effects when you wake up the next morning.  Steer clear of dabs, edibles, and other potent concoctions if you aren’t used to their effects, and don’t mix intoxicants in the same evening.

If you are using weed for hangover cures, the anecdotal experience seems to support its benefits. Science will inevitably catch up with real-life reports in the near future, but in the meantime enjoy a gentle wake and bake to make your alcohol-induced hangover better.