Yeah…that feeling is long gone by the next morning and is replaced with that horrible feeling we all know too well. That scratching, grating, painful discomfort in the back of your throat.
We are all familiar with the unfortunate reality of a sore throat after a wonderful night of smoking marijuana. It can also come with a raspy voice and a continuous cough.
However, is marijuana smoke the cause of these nasty symptoms (see also “Does Smoking Weed Cause Acne?“)? In this article, we will explore whether smoking marijuana can cause a sore throat, and what you can do about it if it does!
Can Smoking Cause A Sore Throat?
Yes, smoking marijuana can indeed cause individuals to develop a sore throat! Many people will place blame on the strain of weed that was smoked the night before.
But honestly? It does not really matter what type of cannabis you smoked in the grand scheme of things. What matters, is the smoke.
Smoke is the common denominator among all of the weed strains, and is the main cause of a sore throat and other symptoms after a night of getting high (see also “How To Boost Your High“).
For some people, the symptoms of a sore throat develop after repeated smoking throughout the night. For others, a sore throat can come on after one or two drags.
But it’s not just people who smoke marijuana recreationally that experience these symptoms. People who smoke marijuana for medical reasons may also suffer from these symptoms.
Why Does Marijuana Smoke Cause Sore Throats?
But how exactly does marijuana smoke cause a sore throat? Well, when a person smokes, chemicals from the smoke, along with tar are taken into the body, and the particles from these chemicals will result in a dry mouth and a sore throat.
It is not a good idea to continue smoking once you develop a sore throat because you risk irritating it further.
However, getting a sore throat while smoking does not mean you need to give up cannabis forever. There are many things you can do to relieve your sore throat symptoms!
How To Relieve A Sore Throat After Smoking Marijuana
Here are some helpful ways to relieve your sore throat and other symptoms caused by marijuana smoke (see also “How To Cure Sore Throat From Vaping“).
Drink Plenty Of Water
Drinking water is an excellent way to relieve a sore throat. When you smoke, you dehydrate your own mouth by drawing and drying out the moisture necessary for the tissues.
This causes the throat’s healthy lining to become stipped and more susceptible to irritants such as smoke. So, to relieve this pain, you should drink water!
It is also a good idea to drink water before you smoke as well to ensure there is plenty of moisture in your mouth.
Avoid Eating Spicy Food
When you have a smoke-induced sore throat, spicy food is a big no-go zone.
Yes, you have been smoking weed so yes, you may have the munchies and yes, that may result in you wanting to devour your favorite curry or spicy jalapeno and cheese poppers, but trust us, if you want that throat pain to go away, stick to foods of the milder variety.
And, it’s not just spicy food you need to avoid. You should also avoid certain spices, such as nutmeg, which will irritate your throat further.
When you want to eat food, you should eat something soothing, ramen or soup are both great options here (Also check out Why You Can’t Eat Without Weed?)
! And, if you feel like a sweet treat, nothing can be more soothing for your smoke-induced sore throat than ice cream!
So, before smoking cannabis, make sure your refrigerator and freezer are stocked with all of your favorite, non-spicy foods.
Gargle A Salt And Water Solution
Salt in warm water is an excellent way to tackle a sore throat and is a solution that has been used for generations. This method may not taste the best (certainly nothing like your favorite ice cream) but it does the job and does it well.
All you need to do is add 1-5 tablespoons of salt to a boiled water solution and stir until the salt has dissolved.
Mix the solution with some cold water and then gargle for around 30 seconds before spitting it into your sink, and then gargling another. Do this a few times and then wait for the relief to fill your body!
Drink Tea
On top of drinking water, you can also drink some herbal teas to help relieve your sore throat. Chamomile tea is excellent for throat pain because it contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that will help to repair tissue.
Peppermint tea is also excellent for relieving sore throat pain because it contains menthol, which is a soothing agent and a fantastic decongestant.
You can even opt for a classic British breakfast tea, adding honey for extra throat-pain relief. Black tea contains tannins, compounds that reduce inflammation to help soothe irritated throats.
Alternatives To Smoking Marijuana
Sometimes, no matter what we do, our throat pain can persist and we may become sick of marijuana smoke (see also “Can Smoking Cause Chest Pain?“). However, that does not mean you need to give up marijuana altogether.
On the contrary, there are many alternative ways to take marijuana which means you don’t need to inhale smoke and feel those awful side effects.
Instead of smoking, you can try vaping CBD, or taking edibles instead (see also “How To Recover From Edibles“). Either way, you are far less likely to experience smoke-related throat pain and you can still enjoy all of the wonderful benefits cannabis can offer.
Final Thoughts
Marijuana smoke is often the culprit causing your sore throat. This is because inhaling smoke dries out the moisture in your mouth which allows smoke chemicals and tar to irritate your throat, causing you pain and discomfort.
To relieve this pain, you can do many things, including drinking water or tea, gargling salt water, and eating soothing foods like ice cream while avoiding spicy foods.
Alternatively, you can avoid smoke by consuming cannabis in a different way.
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.
What are you waiting for? Become a bud buddy and dive in now!
