By Green Rush Daily, Refinery29
Much like everything else in life, weed comes with positives and negatives. And if you’re new to the weed world, you should know that marijuana can come with some side effects — both good and bad. Some of those side effects, such as euphoria and getting the giggles, are enjoyable (and maybe even part of the reason you're smoking in the first place). But there are also more serious symptoms, including anxiety.
[post_ads]Knowing about the possibility for those side effects beforehand will, with any luck, make it less startling to experience any of them. And maybe you'll even take the chance to make a paranoia-busting plan before partaking.
Ahead, we’ve compiled a list of some common side effects that you should know about — and how to avoid and deal with them.
A version of this article originally appeared on Green Rush Daily.
Refinery29 in no way encourages illegal activity and would like to remind its readers that marijuana usage continues to be an offense under Federal Law, regardless of state marijuana laws.
Anxiety
Many people who have tried cannabis have reported anxiety as a negative side effect. But others find that cannabis helps relieve their anxiety.
How can both be true? It's all about your dosage. Cannabis affects your “fight or flight” reactions. In the right amounts, it delays your body's response so fear doesn’t have a chance to manifest. However, in large doses, THC can cause paranoia and trigger anxiety.
If you're someone who frequently experiences anxiety while high, you can try to avoid it by opting for strains low in THC or high in CBD. These tend to be better for alleviating stress.
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Cotton Mouth
Another common side effect of ingesting cannabis is "cotton mouth." The effect is caused by THC, which means it doesn't just happen when you smoke — even if you eat an edible, you can still get cotton mouth.
About 70% of your saliva is produced by glands under the floor of your mouth, and these glands contain both CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors. When you consume THC, it binds to these receptors, and the lines of communication between the glands and the nervous system are shut down.
As a result, saliva is not produced even when your mouth is completely dried out. So be sure to keep water nearby and stay hydrated.
Euphoria
One of the more pleasant side effects of cannabis is the euphoria. This is what most people trying to “get high” are aiming to feel. Like anxiety, this is a psychological change experienced after consuming weed.
The change comes about when THC causes the release of dopamine. Dopamine, one of the brain's chemical messengers, can elevate your mood.
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Munchies
If you get hungry after eating a pot brownie or smoking a J, you're not imagining it: There’s science behind the munchies.
For instance, recent research found a link between normal human metabolic processes and marijuana. When you consume THC, it interacts with your body’s endocannabinoid system, triggering and interfering with the release of various hormones. One of those hormones is leptin, which tells your brain when your stomach is full or empty. So endocannabinoids released after consuming THC may send the message that you have an appetite even if you’re full.
On top of that, a 2014 study published in Nature Neuroscience found that THC operates on receptors in the brain’s olfactory bulb. That means that weed increases your sensitivity to smell and taste and explains why people feel their food tastes better after getting high.
Pizza is certainly the classic choice, but you don't have to go all out — avocados, nuts, and dark chocolate can be a more nutritious way to help satisfy those cravings.
Red Eyes
This one is so common that a cartoon of a stoner without bloodshot eyes would feel incomplete.
Most people assume that redness has to do with smoke drying your eyes out. But you don't have to be smoking weed to get red eyes — one potent edible will do it too. That's because it's the THC in cannabis that's really responsible: It decreases blood pressure, which causes blood vessels and capillaries to enlarge in an attempt to make up for the lower pressure. The result is that your eyes look much redder than usual.
That's why it's a good idea to keep eye drops (e.g. Visine) on hand to reduce that redness.
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Short-Term Memory Loss
When you’re really stoned, you’ll run into times where you forget what you’re talking about mid-sentence. Consumers of cannabis have been stereotyped as stupid because they may fail to remember things a sober person has no trouble with.
One study found people who smoked pot daily for five or more years had more trouble remembering words than those who never smoked. Other studies have confirmed the link between cannabis consumption and short-term memory impairment.
However, as a study published in 2010 found, those who opt for strains high in CBD are less likely to experience memory impairment.
Munchies
If you get hungry after eating a pot brownie or smoking a J, you're not imagining it: There’s science behind the munchies.
For instance, recent research found a link between normal human metabolic processes and marijuana. When you consume THC, it interacts with your body’s endocannabinoid system, triggering and interfering with the release of various hormones. One of those hormones is leptin, which tells your brain when your stomach is full or empty. So endocannabinoids released after consuming THC may send the message that you have an appetite even if you’re full.
On top of that, a 2014 study published in Nature Neuroscience found that THC operates on receptors in the brain’s olfactory bulb. That means that weed increases your sensitivity to smell and taste and explains why people feel their food tastes better after getting high.
Pizza is certainly the classic choice, but you don't have to go all out — avocados, nuts, and dark chocolate can be a more nutritious way to help satisfy those cravings.
Red Eyes
This one is so common that a cartoon of a stoner without bloodshot eyes would feel incomplete.
Most people assume that redness has to do with smoke drying your eyes out. But you don't have to be smoking weed to get red eyes — one potent edible will do it too. That's because it's the THC in cannabis that's really responsible: It decreases blood pressure, which causes blood vessels and capillaries to enlarge in an attempt to make up for the lower pressure. The result is that your eyes look much redder than usual.
That's why it's a good idea to keep eye drops (e.g. Visine) on hand to reduce that redness.
[post_ads_2]
Short-Term Memory Loss
When you’re really stoned, you’ll run into times where you forget what you’re talking about mid-sentence. Consumers of cannabis have been stereotyped as stupid because they may fail to remember things a sober person has no trouble with.
One study found people who smoked pot daily for five or more years had more trouble remembering words than those who never smoked. Other studies have confirmed the link between cannabis consumption and short-term memory impairment.
However, as a study published in 2010 found, those who opt for strains high in CBD are less likely to experience memory impairment.
Sleepiness
You may have noticed smoking too much can make you tired, so much so that many cannabis users turn to marijuana to treat insomnia. Several recent studies have confirmed that weed can, indeed, make it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep for a longer period of time.
For those suffering from insomnia, this is clearly a positive side effect. On the other hand, being sleepy during the day isn't always ideal. So, you might want to consume weed with smaller amounts of THC so that you won’t get as sleepy.
