One negative side of alcohol and other drugs is the hangover effect they produce the morning after consumption. What about cannabis? Can you get a weed hangover?
I personally never associated weed with hangovers. In fact, ‘lack of hangover’ was always something positive I attributed to weed. But, it does seem some people may experience hangover symptoms after smoking or otherwise ingesting THC. It got me curious. So, I did some research.
Don’t forget to let me know what you think in the comment section at the end of the article.
Are Weed Hangovers Real?
I wanted to start by checking on any scholarly research papers. There is actually a surprising body of work on the topic. I thought with all this research I could easily find out if weed hangovers were legit.
Unfortunately, the various research papers don’t all agree with each another. I’ll quickly go over a few of the studies and their outcomes.
Studies Claiming Weed Hangovers Are Real
- Chait et al. (1985) – The is the earliest, and perhaps the most famous and cited, article about the subject. The article established much of the precedence for the ‘weed hangover’. This articles states, “The findings suggest that marijuana smoking can produce residual (hangover) effects the day after smoking.” Remember the name Chait (author of this article). This name is going to come up again shortly. For now, let’s move on.
- Heishman et al. (1990) – Five years later this study was published by the Nation Institute on Drug Abuse. They to found cannabis could produce a hangover effect. They state, “These preliminary results suggest that marijuana can adversely affect complex human performance up to 24 hours after smoking.”
- Wadsworth et al. (2005) – This study aimed to look specifically at how weed hangovers affect someone at work. They tested some unique variables (cognitive performance, mood and human error), and also found that cannabis can create a hangover. This study states cannabis can create “a ‘hangover’-type effect which may increase with frequency of use.” So, this article suggests the hangover effect increases among habitual smokers.
With all these papers you would think it’s an easy call. Well, I’ve only given you half the story.
Studies Claiming Weed Hangovers Are NOT Real
- Chait, L.D. (1990) – Remember I told you not to forget the name Chait? Here he is 5 years after publishing his now famous study, but this time he’s claiming cannabis does not give you a hangover. He performed the same basic study (with a few updates), and concluded, “No evidence of residual subjective intoxication was found, and most of the behavioral tasks and mood scales were unaffected the morning after.”
- Fant et al. (1998) – This study was very similar to the Chait 1990 study, and both studies drew the same conclusion. The articles states, “The residual effects of smoking a single marijuana cigarette are minimal.”
How do you decide who’s right when the researchers are divided? Chait can’t even agree with himself.
Screw the Studies?
Honestly, how reliable are these studies anyways? For instance, Chait’s first study involved only 13 participants. His second only had 12 subjects. Is this sample size really enough to get accurate results? Another limitation is the fact that the studies mostly used mild doses (or self-report – eww). Most of the studies are on shaky ground, but I’m not saying we should completely throw them out.
I personally know people who claim to get a hangover feeling after smoking weed so I believe it’s real. Let’s talk about the symptoms.
Symptoms
From now on I’ll be using research studies, as well as, more anecdotal evidence from personal experiences and reports around the web. If you’ve experienced a symptom that isn’t listed please let me know in the comment section.
Physical Symptoms of Weed Hangovers
Physical symptoms weren’t covered much in the studies. One reason could be because the amount of cannabis administered by the researchers was too low to really cause many physical symptoms. Again, I personally never get a hangover feeling, but different people are going to have unique experiences.
Here is a list of some symptoms that have been reported:
- Headache – This is perhaps the most experienced physical symptoms. The headache is typically very mild and goes away on its own.
- Nausea – Nausea from cannabis is almost never as debilitating as nausea from an alcohol hangover. Again, this symptom typically doesn’t last longer than a few hours.
- Lack of Energy / Fatigue – Some people experience a drained feeling and a lack of motivation. It’s kinda one of those things you gotta snap out of.
- Irritated Eyes – Red and itchy eyes are a common symptom for people who are stoned, but it may also happen to people the morning after smoking. Start with eye drops. If all else fails blame it on allergies like the rest of us.
- Congestion – This is typically your body’s reaction to the smoke. It will usually decrease with continued use.
- Dehydration – This often comes in the form of dry mouth. Make sure to drink some water. I mean, it’s good advice for life in general – not just for getting stoned.
I’ll get to the causes and cures in a moment, but first I want to talk about the cognitive symptoms.
Cognitive Symptoms of Weed Hangovers
Cognitive symptoms primarily affect mental processes. These types of symptoms were the primary interest of the researchers. Below are some of the symptoms outlined in the research. I added links to studies that haven’t been previously mentioned in this article.
- Shortened Attention Span – Pope et al. (1995)
- Difficulty with Psychomotor Tasks (motor skills that involve high levels of cognitive thinking) – Pope et al. (1995)
- Short-Term Memory Loss – Block & Ghoneim (1993), Heishman et al. (1990), Pope et al. (1995)
- Difficulty Performing Math – Block & Ghoneim (1993), Heishman et al. (1990)
- Difficulty with Verbal Expression – Block & Ghoneim (1993)
All of these symptoms were considered mild and only experienced by a small percentage of participants.
That covers most of the cognitive symptoms. One symptom not mentioned in the studies would simply be the feeling of still being high in the morning. Kind of a foggy mind type of thing. This is commonly a feeling described by those who have weed hangovers.
What Causes a Weed Hangover?
The same smoke session may leave 4 people just fine, but 1 person ends up feeling a bit blah the next morning. The cause can vary greatly, and it could be more than one factor working against you. Here are some of the common causes:
- First Timers – If you’re trying cannabis for the first time, or even trying a new method (e.g. first time taking dabs or edibles) you may experience some residual effects in the morning. These effects should die down if used more frequently. Make sure to take it easy.
- Smoked / Ingested Too Much – This can happen to a beginner smoker or even veteran tokers. Consuming too much cannabis is probably the #1 reason why people report to get weed hangovers. Again, take it easy.
- How You Consume – Depending on if you smoke, vape, or eat an edible may have different effects on you the morning after. Also, if you smoke then how you smoke matters as well. For example, joints, blunts, bongs, and hand pipes may all affect you differently. Switch up your method of consumption the next time
- Cannabis Quality – The quality can certainly have massive effects on your high which I wouldn’t doubt could follow some people until the next morning. If possible, try switching up your source to see if a different batch of cannabis helps mitigate any hangover feeling. Here are a few common quality issues that may cause a weed hangover:
- Curing – The is the process of drying the cannabis. It has to be done in a proper way over the necessary amount of time. Most often you’ll see under-cured buds when someone is trying to push the product out too soon.
- Residual Nutrients – Most growers are using some sort of nutrients. The common practice is to flush these nutrients out using lots of water a few weeks before harvesting. If not flushed properly, then the chemicals from the nutrients could cause some side effects.
- Pesticides,Fungicides, etc. – This is similar to the nutrients. If the grower is using pesticides and fungicides that are toxic then you could be smoking some chemicals in addition to your herb.
If you are experiencing weed hangovers then these items are the things you should be changing up to make them stop.
This is a decent list, but I’m sure there are more out there. If you know of any additional causes let me and everyone else know in the comment section.
How to Cure a Weed Hangover
There really is no magic. Most of the physical symptoms can be taken care of the same way you would normally take care of it. That is, treat a headache the same as you always would. Drink plenty of water, and take it easy if possible.
The good news is, it’s unlikely that your weed hangover is going to last very long. It’s mostly a matter of making yourself comfortable while you wait it out. I wish I had a better answer for a cure, but that’s all I’ve got. Let me know in the comments if you have any good cures or remedies for weed hangovers.
Final Thoughts
Everyone is different so everyone is going to experience different effects. In the end, I think there are some people who experience weed hangovers, but they tend to be mild. They also seem to affect a rather small portion of smokers.
Weed hangovers are seemingly nothing in comparison to the hangovers you get from alcohol and other drugs.
If you enjoyed this article then you may like some of my other articles. Try Can Weed Go Bad? + Storage Tips or maybe Can You Eat Raw Weed & Get High?
Thanks for reading. Don’t forget to drop me a comment below.
I only ever get what I would call “weed hangovers” when I smoke some sativas but not all. I never get this problem with indicas though. I usually get headaches and I’m irritable once the high wears off
That’s a really interesting observation. Thanks for sharing!!
hey! we have the same name! anyways, i was feeling a weed high as well and was concerned. def dont like the feeling… shower really helps! also, thanks for all the great tips and information!
when u reply to yourself and say hey we have the same name to make it feel like ur having a conversation when really you just have split personalities smh
But..but that wasn’t me, I swear
This is a good observation. I only have access to illegal weed and so provenance is doubtful. Symptoms include headache for a day and major irritability for 3 days. When in Denver i was recomended Coreleone Kush. Mostly indica hybrid. Worked like a dream. no symptoms. Legal weed with knowleadgeable vendors is the answer
Hey, had a question, so I tried it for the first time, I did about six puffs, like an idiot I thought it was a regular cigarette. I went home and all of a sudden I thought I was freaking dying. I jumped in the cold shower, sucked on lemons, starting drinking a ton of water. They all helped tremendously but each time it hit me again. I just calmed myself to sleep. Next day I slept until 4 in the afternoon and the symptoms began again, I had no appetite and I decided to hit the gym, it’s going on the 2nd day after and it’s not as bad as that night but anxiety is coming and going, how to deal, any advice?
Same thing is happening to me.
Please tell me is this is not any serious complication
I’m having a weed hangover right now. I can tell you it’s a real thing.
I smoked a pretty strong type pf weed last night at midnight and now it it’s 7pm the next day and I’m still feeling stoned. On the physical level I’m feeling very relaxed and at certain moments I feel so relaxed that it almost feels like I’m about to have an orgasm (yeah it’s that good of a hangover), some moments I get muscle spasms as when I am high in the first hour after taking a puff r two.
On the cognitive level it’s kinda weird. I feel detached from reality, as if i was in a dream, and my short term memory is very short haha. I do something then two minutes later i can recall it as a very distant memory, like something that I did ages ago or in another dimension in this world.
I’m also slow and have to make efforts to focus. It’s not very practical or fun going to work in that state of consciousness.
The symptoms seem to be getting better as the day is passing but at certain moments they seem to go back to being intense again. It’s like I’m drifting in and out of this state of consciousness.
Weird indeed!
I’m trying not to panic. I know it will go away once the THC leaves my body completely so I’m trying to enjoy it while I can.
Bro I have too same feeling but I am not able to get normal evenafter seven days
Please tell me how you have cured it.
Hey
Hey Mike! How are you?
I’m facing the same problem
I would say that a good coffee and a shower is a must. Will fell better and awake.
Good call! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you
I was searching for something like this, I’ve sometimes had the foggy mind after 3~4 days that I smoked a little bit. One reason could be that I only have shitty illegal weed
I hope legalization comes to your area soon 🙂
I’ve noticed that if I smoke more than one or 2 blunts a week, I’ll get a ‘weed hangover’ but I think it’s more the tobacco in the wrap, or the taste of the flavor. Also metal pieces will have the same effect (headache, wicked cotton mouth, nausea). Swapped over to joints and I got myself a glass piece and I haven’t had an issue since!
Interesting. I’ve never been a fan of metal pipes – I could see how they could mess with your system. I’m glad you found a solution. Thanks for sharing 🙂
i have insomnia, indica helps….. no “hangovers”.
but I get slight headaches and loss of appetite…. with sativa…
That’s interesting, because you’re not the first person who has mentioned this. Thanks for sharing! Your shared knowledge can help someone else figure out why they may be getting a hangover. Cheers!
I currently use which give me terrible cottonmouth
The short term memory loss is what bothered me and I no longer smoke when I have work the next day. On the other hand I hear weed is a good cure for headaches!
Good luck all.
And flushing is the most important step, then curing. Two places with no place for shortcuts.
So true! I hate when I get improperly dried or cured weed. They spend months growing a plant, then decide to cut corners just to get it out a week or two early – SMH.
I kind of did some research on my own I found its most common in people with low immune system with that being said its not uncommon in those with a strong immune system I lift weights and smoke on a daily I use pot to relieve pain and I just love the feeling but the next day if I get pot hangovers my chest hurts I only smoke pot but my whole body aches and on top of that I get an insane migraine I also found out from friends helping me that its also how smoke joints and blunts are more common to give you pot hangovers than bowls I believe its the amount of smoke taken in as well as what else produces smoke
If u take the the end piece off of a blunt the smaller end and look closer u realize it has more of a thickness to it I also found its wat turns ur lips black and I believe this effects if u get pot hangovers
I have a lot of stoner friends and most of them agreed with me they get less of a hangover if they get one at all after taking this piece is taken off
I hope this helps u at all -friendly neighborhood pot head (smokie)
Great information. Thanks! It could also be the tobacco in the blunt that is causing the headache. People who don’t smoke cigarettes may be sensitive to the nicotine in the blunt.
I have been having maigrane for 3days after smoking marijuana and a little alcohol please what could be the possible cure ?
Feeling a wangover the day after taking 10 too many hits, after already having a wangover from the day before. Using a vape with sativa. Feeling spacey, huge loss of mental capacity, loss of nerve feeling, just don’t really feel like I’m all here. It feels like my body’s doing its own thing and my brain isn’t really thinking at all. If this makes sense, my brain is controlling my body movements and my body is moving, but I’m missing the part where I feel like I’m fully in control (don’t really feel the muscle movements). It’s already been 22 hours, will update when back in control. lol
When I first started smoking, I would mostly smoke joints with friends and smoke way too much. For the next 1-2 days my head would be kinda foggy like I was still kind of high without the feeling good part. I recently started smoking again, but I’m actually vaping now. I first started off with a cartridge with a 70% thc sativa, and would still get high hangovers even though I was only taking 4-6 hits. I then started vaping an Indica with 30% thc and for the first time, I wouldn’t get hangovers. I also bought a herb vape and I would get nasty headaches even halfway through being high. When I first started getting headaches they could last 3-4 days. I soon learned if I vape my Indica cartridge it immediately took my headache away. I no longer use that dry herb vaporizer. I think it all depends on what you smoke, how much you smoke, and what you smoke from. I’m not a heavy user. I just like to get high and I’m good off a few hits and I’ll be done for the day. I do notice if I try to stay high for a while and keep vaping when I’m coming down from a high, I still get hangovers. I have tried another high end herb vaporizer as well, and have not gotten headaches from it, even when smoking the same type of herb from the same batch. Just change your variables until your high hangovers are no more, and stick with it!
I read this page cause last night I smoked 6 blunts with 4 people in rotation and at least a gram in each. I’ve been tired/drained, a little dehydrated, and have a persistent but minor headache
I am an old fart, & I’ve smoked pot for 50 years .
Pot today can be 10 or more times as strong as was back in the 1960s
I get ‘hangovers’ now– sometimes including nausea
(& –rarely ) throwing up too– & my body chemistry gets unbalanced)
To alleviate this,
I drink up to an ounce of ‘dill-pickle-juice’.
It’s a big help as are chunky pasta-sauce items. These seem to correct my body PH level.
I think ‘Pot’ use- changes my body balance toward the ‘base’ not the acidic.
(check your own ph level–)
Works for me, Happy Smokin’ !
I get a hangover every single time i smoke. My preferred method is my beloved bong. I’ll usually rip one bowl per session, sometimes 2. I try not to smoke on worknights though because i am useless the next day. I am completely fatigued and lethargic. I feel like i was up all night, like my sleep was not rejuvenating at all. Dragging my ass around at work, can’t think, I’m not sharp as i need to be, my memory is worthless, can’t multitask (my job is a fast paced environment). There is also no point in going to the gym as i do every day after work since i just walk around in a fog. I typically get to the gym approx 20 hours after blazing and still i suffer. Even on weekends i would have to worry if i have plans the next day before i smoke. It’s ridiculous. The only thing i find that helps me is waking up the next morning, I’ll drink 1 or 2 cups of water, and read in bed for a bit until i fall back asleep. After this approx 2 hour nap, i wake up feeling mostly normal. I’m not sure why the nap helps more than a good night’s sleep, no matter how many hours i get. Problem is, i don’t have time for this on work days, so i can’t smoke every night. Fml!!!
Why me?? Oh God, why me? Why does mary jane do me like this? Lmfao! Seriously tho, so not cool Mary.
I have terrible weed hangovers. I feel lethargic and numb the next few days. I get horrible panic attacks because I am naturally anxious and the dizziness that comes with the fog just scares me. I am thinking of quitting weed altogether.. It really sucks but I can’t keep living with the weed hangovers.
I’m worried I might be experiencing extreme hangovers and wonder what y’all have to say about it. Smoking at bedtime, followed by a near impossibility to wake up, come into my body, stay awake, get moving. I can go back to sleep an endless number of times and sleep an endless number of hours if someone doesn’t force me awake. Are they related? If I skip a few nights I don’t see much of a difference but I’m a life-time smoker so maybe it takes longer to exit my system…..? My goal is to wake up when I need/want to wake up. Right now I can’t seem to wake up and stay awake at all.
I’ve got a hangover right now: I smoked two bowls last night, which was way too much. I think that the hangover, as with alcohol, is mostly because I’m dehydrated: weed makes me pee a lot, and I was too stoned to listen to my body’s signals telling me to rehydrate. All that said, I took some Tylenol, and it cut the headache and nausea in half. I’m drinking some tea, and I have some coffee brewing (in my experience, there isn’t anything that caffeine doesn’t help). I used to drink to the point of hospitalization, and alcohol withdrawal is 1000x worse than this.
I drink marijuana preparation (bhang) four days prior and my head was still feeling heavyness, my throat feel thristy for five- six hours after getting it
I eat weed nd I have been having headache and chest pain for d pass four month now some times is hard for me too breath and I have gone for X-ray my hearth nd lungs is fine please what can I do I have been like this for d pass four month now I can’t even go out
I’m a “late-in-life” smoker. I started with vaping and I really enjoy it. I’ve noticed that, depending on how much I inhale, I can either be still stoned in the a.m. or I wake up with a medium headache and that “foggy” feeling. I find a cocktail of Vitamin C, Advil and a huge glass of OJ and chilling on the couch does the trick for me.
later
Another symtom is shortness of breathe i get it all the time after i wake up from pot
One factor is strangely missing: sleep! It’s my experience – and that of others – that smoking shortly before bedtime can have an adverse effect on either your ability to fall asleep and/or the quality of your sleep itself. This impacts some more than others and maybe the strain of weed plays a role as well (I imagine lots of THC keeps the mind awake).
I smoke weed to get to sleep and I find it greatly improves sleep quality too. I think there is evidence that shows it improving circadian rhythms.
I get these intense flushes and dizziness episodes that last about 2 seconds but makes me feel like I’m about to fall to the floor. They only occur when I move my head or eyes quickly which probably means it has something to do with interrupting the function of the balance integration centre in the cerebellum.
If anyone has specific advice on how to overcome this please share!
My daughter has a condition called POTS (postural orthostatic tachacardia syndrome) that causes her heart rate to double every time she stands up and keeps her in a state of dizziness. She is advised to move slowly when changing positions and to drinks lots and lots of water. Can’t hurt to try!
I get really mild weed hangovers that last about an hour or less, certainly not worth considering putting a stop to smoking.. usually a cup of coffee and a small amount of moving around cures any signs of hangover.
I have similar symptoms for the past three days especially during the days kick off. Please suggest the ways to fed rid of it
I had only smoked once before I had a full edible this past Saturday around 8:00 PM. It’s now Monday and I can barely function. I can’t stay awake, I can’t concentrate. I don’t feel as thought I have full control over my body. I just need this feeling to go away. I spent ALL of Sunday sleeping and still nothing.
Blow backs on lambert lights is the way to go…gets you twisted for few seconds then like a flick of a switch totally normal again, no grumpy pants no headache no blood hangover.. it’s like a breath of fresh air
I’ve been smoking weed on an off for 30-40 years. When I was younger I never got hangovers after heavy sessions – but then I can say the same for alcohol. Now after a heavy session of either I have to allow 1- 2 days recovery. With weed, as others have posted above, I get a feeling of lethargy, lack of motivation, tiredness, irritability and difficulty with complex tasks. I’ve gone for long periods not smoking at all because it’s too high a price to pay. However some hangovers are not as bad as others and I suspect the hangover has a lot to do with the quality of the weed, the method of ingestion and what you eat and drink. I try to drink a lot of water. I also take supplements like guarana and muira puama which help pep things up a little. I haven’t tried vaping but I’m interested in trying this – seems to me like it’s more natural and there are fewer variables – eg you’re not taking in umpteen unknown combustion byproducts. Also like the idea of being able to regulate more accurately what you’re taking in.
I smoked weed 2 days ago and still have this hangover.
I really can’t do difficult things and can’t multitask.
If I try to I get this strange feeling.
It feels like I’m not in control over my body, my body is doing its task by itself like my brain isn’t telling it to.
Whenever this happens I get short term memory loss. Can’t remember shit.
I’m feeling the same right now it’s been 2 days and going it goes away quickly.
Same here I feel the same way and it’s been 3 days have you found a way to get rid of it
Hi, how are you now, and how long did it last for??
I feel exactly that way right now .how did you get over it it’s been 2 days now feel fine sometime and all of a sudden feel like I’m not in control
I ate weed and after some time I was behaving like different and the hang over is still on me after some days how can I cure it
My friend And I thought it was a fun idea to take 3 10mg edible candy Bars each I made a mistake and had 3 ciders when I was high out of my mind. It was my first time ever having an edible and haven’t had any cannabis for over a year. I consumed it Saturday at noon 4 days after on Wednesday I’m still feeling really foggy I really hope this does not last any longer, i’ve tried working out and taking showers sort of helps out but doesn’t cure my fogginess. It has effected me at work as well. If anyone has any tips on how to speed up the process of sobering up please let me know. Thanks!
How Did you treat it…
so i ate an edible for the first time and 5 days now my body has been feeling weird my eyes feel like their shutting down and i have trouble sleeping do you think it will fade away or should is see a doctor
Did it go away? I have a hangover 10 days after smoking (I’m a beginner). The first 10 days I didn’t feel anything and now I have this hangover for 4 days. I don’t know what to do
I smoked a bowl and it made me gay any help you can give me?!
I got too high and now I am in terrible hangover. And I have to go to work in 2 hours…
A hot shower and hot coffee always does the trick for me. I smoke only sativas and almost every day. I think this happens because sativas give me so much energy and I just overdo it and wear myself out. I don’t see it as a hangover more of a side effect of being over productive. Eucalyptus oil usually helps me snap out of it as well. Hope that helps someone! And great article by the way. I appreciate all the citations.
I used to be able to eat 25mg edibles and just get a lil Buzz, not a full blown high, on occasion (I have the Kushie brand watermelon rings) right before bed and drift off to sleep. I don’t like being high, it gives me anxiety. But the past two times i ate the exact amount and product, it got me pretty high and left me with a hangover. I couldn’t fall asleep for hours, woke up and my body is all achy and my brain is all foggy and I feel tired and just want it to go away. Been feeling like this all day. Its almost 5pm. Not sure what’s going on here.
Weed is ridiculously overdosed these days. Even a small amount leaves me depressed and irritable the next day and feeling like I was run over by a bus while I slept. Damn the growers who stopped producing pleasant cerebral sativas and give us no choice anymore but monging depressing indicas.
Amazing information. I’d have to say I only recall getting a weed hangover once, and that was the morning after my first time smoking. I only remember it because I had a lack of appetite which went against everything I ever heard about weed, it never really occurred to me that it could of been a hangover until recently when I discovered I wasn’t the only one who had experience similar situations. Thank you so much for sharing this.