Does Weed Help with a Hangover?

We’ve all been there, maybe even after ringing in the new year. You wake up after a night of drinking with a pounding head, cursing yourself for that last round. So you drink some water, order a greasy breakfast and, if you’re a cannabis consumer, maybe wonder whether reaching for your grinder would help.

It’s one of the most common questions budtenders hear. Here’s an honest look at what people report, what research does and doesn’t say, and how to be smart about it.

The Short Answer

Cannabis won’t cure a hangover, and there isn’t solid research on using it for one. Some people say a small amount helps them feel more comfortable the morning after: they report less queasiness, more appetite or just feeling more relaxed. Others find it makes them feel groggier or more out of it. Water, food, rest and time are still what actually get you through a hangover.

Effects also vary a lot from person to person. A strain that feels just right for one person can feel too strong for another, depending on dose, tolerance and how the cannabinoids and terpenes in that product interact with your endocannabinoid system (ECS).

Learn more: the endocannabinoid system and what gets you high: THC or terpenes?

What People Say About Cannabis the Morning After

Queasiness

Nausea is one of the most common hangover symptoms. Cannabinoids have been studied for nausea in other settings, and some people report feeling less queasy after using cannabis. That said, cannabis can also make some people dizzy, and heavy, long-term use is linked to a condition that causes severe vomiting (cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome). If you’re vomiting or can’t keep fluids down, skip the cannabis and focus on rehydrating.

Feeling Tense

Some people say cannabis helps them relax and take the edge off when they feel rough. Cannabis is being studied for headaches, but the research is still early. For a hangover headache, water, food and rest are the proven basics.

Mood

Alcohol affects brain chemistry, and the day after can bring “hangxiety,” a low, anxious feeling. Some people find a low dose of cannabis relaxing; others find THC makes anxiety worse, especially at higher doses. If you’re prone to anxiety, go very low or skip it.

Interestingly, cannabis research has taught us a lot about anandamide, one of the body’s own endocannabinoids, named after the Sanskrit word for bliss. Researchers now think anandamide plays a role in “runner’s high,” which was long credited to endorphins.1

Read more: Working Out High: Gym Weed Tips

Appetite

Getting some food in your stomach helps after a night of drinking, but a hangover can kill your appetite. Cannabis is well known for causing “the munchies,” which is why some people reach for it before brunch.

Sleep

Alcohol disrupts sleep, and some people use cannabis to nap off a rough morning. Strains people describe as relaxing are often myrcene-forward. Learn more in what are terpenes in cannabis?

Be Smart About It

• Don’t mix it with more alcohol. Combining alcohol and cannabis can make you much more impaired than either alone.
• Start low. A hangover isn’t the time to try a new, strong product. A small dose is plenty.
• Hydrate and eat. These matter more than anything else.
• Don’t drive. You may still have alcohol in your system the next morning, and cannabis adds to impairment.
• Watch your medications. If you took pain relievers or other medications, check with a pharmacist about combining them with cannabis.

Does Weed Give You a Hangover?

It’s possible to feel a sort of “weed hangover” after using too much cannabis. It’s not the same as an alcohol hangover, but it can include grogginess, brain fog, headache and dry mouth, especially after high doses of THC. If you overdo it, our guide on how to sober up from weed can help.

Best Way to Avoid a Hangover

Cannabis won’t cure a hangover. The best way to avoid one is to drink responsibly, alternate drinks with water, or skip alcohol altogether.

This article is general information, not medical advice.

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Sources

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306453021000470?via%3Dihub