So you sneak off when nobody notices, body spray in hand, come back and try to act as sober as possible. And just for all your efforts to be greeted with:
You’ve been smoking, haven’t you?
And what’s given it away? Those red, bloodshot, glassy eyes. Unless you can get away with wearing sunglasses inside, there’s not exactly much you can do about it either. So, you may be thinking well, what if I don’t smoke it?
And it’s a fair thing to wonder – there are so many different ways to consume cannabis now. One of which being edibles (see also “How To Recover From Edibles“).
Do edibles make your eyes go red as well? Or can you dodge that distinctive feature by scoffing down a brownie or two? Let’s find out.
What Are Edibles?
Okay, so let’s take a look at what edibles actually are. As the name suggests, they are products that you can consume – products that are edible.
Food, essentially. Now, there are actually a few different kinds of edibles. You’ve got THC edibles, CBD edibles, and THC/CBD combi edibles.
THC and CBD are both naturally occurring compounds that are found in cannabis, and both can be used to affect and relax the body.
The main difference between them is that THC will induce a high while CBD isn’t intoxicating.
When it comes to creating edible items that contain these compounds, you can get your hands on just about anything.
Brownies, candy, chocolate, gummies, cookies, and even drinks and supplements. You name it, you can probably find it.
Do Edibles Cause Red Eyes?
The answer to this question lies in which kind of edible you’re going for. The quick answer is that CBD edibles won’t cause red eyes. But if you want to get high with THC edibles, there’s no dodging those red eyes (see also “How To Get High“).
The long answer looks something a little like this.
THC is the root cause of those red eyes so it doesn’t really matter which way you consume it – you’ll still get the same effects.
THC is known to have an effect on the blood vessels in your body. This is because your blood pressure is lowered which results in your blood vessels dilating.
Since we all have loads of tiny little blood vessels in our eyes, when they all start to dilate, they cause that bloodshot red post-smoking eye.
So no matter which way you opt to consume your marijuana, be it smoking, edibles, vapes, bongs, or anything else, you can not avoid those red eyes.
Is It Dangerous To Get Red Eyes?
You’ll be happy to know that it isn’t dangerous to have THC-induced red eyes. Nothing major is likely to happen.
However, if you are already somewhat accustomed to smoking, you’ll know that you do experience some mildly uncomfortable side effects.
Smoking can cause dryness in a few different places in the body and that includes your eyes. They can become irritated, puffy, and uncomfortable when they are dry, but this will pass once you stop smoking.
Of course, there is always the possibility that other factors are causing irritated eyes. For example, you should not be getting red eyes from CBD edibles.
If you are it may be worth booking a visit with a local medical professional.
How To Treat Red Eyes?
If you’ve consumed cannabis and you’ve got red eyes that are hurting or you’re just trying to hide then here are some preventive measures that you can take in the future.
Reduce The THC Intake – Potentially not for everyone, but the matter of the fact is, the less you smoke the less red your eyes will be. If you’re looking to avoid red eye then you might want to consider smoking or consuming less.
Stay Hydrated – Consuming cannabis can cause dehydration, especially to both the mouth and eyes. Drinking lots of water helps balance this out a little and will help reduce eye dryness and irritation.
Use Eye Drops – Eye drops that are made specifically for dry and red eyes can be used to reduce the appearance of ‘post-smoking’ eyes and they may help with irritation. You should always use caution before using eye drops – follow all instructions and don’t overuse them.
Cold Compress – Red eyes are more noticeable because they are puffy. Placing a cold compress on your eyes can help reduce that puffiness and irritation that makes the red eyes stand out even more.
Final Thoughts
So, all in all, if you’re looking to get high and consume THC by chomping away at gummies or brownies, you’re still going to come home with those puffy red eyes that are a dead giveaway that you’ve been smoking.
This is because it isn’t so much about the method that causes red and irritated eyes but the THC component itself.
For as long as you are consuming, smoking, vaping, or inhaling THC, you’re going to come away with red eyes.
The only exception to this case is if you are consuming CBD edibles in which the component doesn’t cause your eyes to dilate.
Now, obviously other than those red eyes letting everyone else know what you’ve been up to they can actually be pretty annoying.
Sure, there is no evidence to say that it’ll cause any lasting damage but it’s still pretty uncomfy to have dry and irritated eyes.
So if you are consuming THC, especially on larger levels, ensure that you’ve got plenty of water to drink and potentially even use a cold compress or some eye drops to help calm some of that irritation.
As always, ensure that you smoke safely and responsibly. Your safety should come above all else. Stick within your limits and ensure that you are prepared before you start smoking!
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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