People enjoy smoking cannabis for a variety of reasons. Some find it helps them to manage health conditions (be they physical or mental) whereas others simply enjoy the mood-boosting, high-creating properties of the plant.
No matter why you smoke marijuana, though, the side effects of smoking too much before bed are pretty universal: a weed hangover.
Having a hangover from smoking weed, otherwise known as being stoned-over or over-baked) isn’t a pleasant experience, and if it’s never happened to you before, it can feel disorienting and alarming.
Don’t worry, though. There are some simple ways to get rid of your weed hangover and start feeling fresh again soon, and we’re going to be sharing our tips in today’s guide.
Weed Hangovers: What Are They?
Most of us associate hangovers with consuming too much alcohol, so it may come as a surprise to find out that weed can cause hangover-like symptoms, too.
However, despite limited research, smokers of cannabis commonly report feeling a combination of side effects the morning after, particularly if they have smoked for the first time or have smoked more than usual.
Although it’s referred to as a ‘weed hangover’, the feelings you get after overdoing it on the Mary Jane won’t be exactly the same as those we associate with an alcohol hangover.
Instead of the pounding headache, severe dehydration and intense nausea many of us have experienced after a night of heavy drinking, a weed hangover presents with some (or all, if you’re unlucky) of the following symptoms:
A feeling of grogginess or fatigue despite having had enough sleep
Cognitive difficulties such as brain fog and poor concentration
A mild to moderate headache
Nausea
Dryness of the mouth and eyes
How To Cure A Weed Hangover
As you can see from the list above, a weed hangover isn’t quite as rough as an alcohol-induced hangover. Nevertheless, these symptoms don’t feel great, and if you have things to do, you can’t afford to just lounge around in bed until they wear off.
So, how can you get rid of a weed hangover?
Drink Water
If you have a weed hangover, you most likely feel dehydrated. The simplest and most effective thing to do in this situation is to drink lots of water.
This will also help with the dry feeling you might have in your mouth or eyes (see also “Do Edibles Make Your Eyes Red?“), and if you have a headache, staying hydrated will also help to alleviate this.
You might find that confusion or brain fog also eases up once you’ve rehydrated your body and brain (see also “Rehydrate Weed“).
Take A Steamy Shower
The last thing you might want to do with a weed hangover is get out of bed and take a shower, but it will help you to feel more refreshed and awake.
Additionally, if you smoked a lot the night before, your airways might be irritated and you might even have a cough. Taking a hot shower will allow steam to enter your airways and help to clear any mucus.
Eat A Balanced Breakfast
Just like with a regular hangover, eating a filling but healthy breakfast will speed up your recovery.
Try to avoid eating a lot of ‘comfort food’, even though it will probably feel tempting. Instead, you want a balanced breakfast made up of whole carbohydrates, lean protein, and healthy fats.
This could be something like avocado and egg on wholemeal toast, or a protein smoothie with protein powder, fruit and yogurt.
Treat Your Headache With Painkillers
Sometimes, even after you’ve drank water and eaten a balanced breakfast, that pesky headache can stick around. In this case, it’s absolutely fine to take over the counter pain relief as long as you adhere to the recommended dosage.
Try to remember when you take each dose in case you need to take a second dose later.
Most over the counter painkillers need to be taken at least 4 hours apart, with no more than 8 pills being taken in a 24-hour period, although this can vary depending on the exact medicine and how much is in each capsule.
Combat Fatigue With Caffeine
If you’re still feeling really tired and groggy after your water, shower and breakfast, you can try to boost your energy levels with a cup of coffee.
Avoid going overboard on the caffeine since this in itself can cause side effects such as rapid heart rate, nausea and headaches. However, a cup of strong coffee will help you to feel more like yourself if you have a weed hangover.
Try Peppermint Or Ginger Tea For Nausea
Nausea is a less common symptom of a weed hangover, but it can sometimes accompany other symptoms. If you’re feeling unwell after smoking a lot of weed the night before, either peppermint or ginger tea can help to settle your stomach.
When Are Weed Hangovers a Problem?
The occasional weed hangover shouldn’t be a huge cause for concern, but if you’re getting them all the time, it probably means you’re smoking too much on a regular basis.
This can be a sign that you’re using cannabis as an emotional crutch.
If you’re smoking so much cannabis that you have a weed hangover every other day, for example, or you’re finding that your weed hangovers are interfering with your daily life, it’s worth evaluating your relationship with marijuana and reaching out for help if you feel you can’t cut down by yourself.
Final Thoughts
Weed hangovers are usually fairly mild, but they’re still annoying.
Luckily, you can help them to go away faster by rehydrating yourself and eating nutritious food. Taking a hot shower, drinking coffee, taking over the counter pain relief and drinking ginger or peppermint tea can also help to alleviate the symptoms.
If you’re regularly getting weed hangovers, try to limit yourself cannabis consumption and stay well-hydrated while smoking, which are the best ways to prevent these side effects.
Remember that there is no shame in seeking help if you feel that you may have become dependent on or developed an unhealthy relationship with marijuana.
Hi, I’m Zack Finch and I work as a Budtender for a Health & Wellness center here, in sunny California. I have been using marijuana recreationally for around 6 years now, and have many a time enjoyed the benefit that weed has to offer.
Whether you’re looking for informational guides about edibles, vape oil, CBD, how to roll a cross joint, the best blunt wraps, anything you can think of, I’ll cover it here.
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