Weed Hangovers: Are They Real?

Some people embrace cannabis as a hangover-free alternative to alcohol for feeling giggly and euphoric. But others report that their cannabis consumption still leads to unpleasant after-effects the next morning. The twist is that, since many cannabis aficionados have never experienced any such effects, some travelers view “weed hangovers” as a total myth. Here’s the full scoop, from whether weed hangovers are real to how they differ from waking up still elevated.

What is a weed hangover?

A weed hangover, sometimes called a “stone-over,” is a set of effects that some people report experiencing in the morning after consuming cannabis at night. These effects may include mild brain fog, tiredness, and a slightly distorted sense of time. They may also include dry eyes, dry mouth, nausea, and headaches.

Do weed hangovers really happen?

There’s a general, but unfounded, consensus in the cannabis community that most travelers do not experience weed hangovers. The challenge is that it’s hard to empirically determine the proportion of cannabis consumers who experience them. Weed hangovers haven’t been studied very much, whereas it’s scientifically agreed upon that alcohol hangovers occur (and are so brutal that they alone justify going “California sober” for Dry January).

The scant scientific research into weed hangovers is often contradictory. The first study on weed hangovers dates back to 1985 and suggests that, though subtle, they do occur, with a distorted sense of time being the most prevalent symptom. Just five years later, though, another study found that weed hangovers were so low-key as to be unnoticeable. However, both these studies were performed with such a small number of participants that the results may not be meaningful.

There are more recent studies, too. A 2017 study of nearly 1,000 participants named “a foggy, non-alert feeling in the morning” to be the most common experience. Most recently, though, a 2023 review of past studies said that those concluding that weed hangovers do occur are of low quality. The authors of this survey also noted that a greater number of studies — and higher-quality ones — say that weed hangovers don’t occur.

Nevertheless, weed hangovers do occur, at least subjectively. If they didn’t, there wouldn’t be a significant number of cannabis consumers who say they’ve experienced them. If anything, for some travelers, weed hangovers are just part of the experience.

How to avoid a weed hangover

To avoid a weed hangover, time your consumption properly, consume lower doses, choose products with more CBD than THC, sleep well, and try new products only before slow days.

Figure out the consumption timing that works for you

For some people, not consuming cannabis right before bed is the easiest way to avoid weed hangovers. For others, an edible immediately before sleep is instead the perfect antidote to next-day symptoms. Experiment with different consumption times and observe how you feel the next morning. Adjust your timing accordingly — maybe you’ll become a wake-and-bake person instead of a nighttime traveler.

As you experiment, keep in mind that cannabis experiences are subjective and vary by person. Learning your own response through trial and error is part and parcel of avoiding weed hangovers. You may have an unpleasant morning or two, but it’s all in service of avoiding future rough starts.

Consider lower doses of THC

THC is the cannabinoid that leads to cannabis’s signature “high,” so it likely drives weed hangovers. Consuming low-THC products may be an especially easy way to avoid weed hangovers since it keeps your intake modest in the first place. Gummies, pre-rolls, and THC drinks are great examples of products that are sometimes available in microdoses and low-potency starter doses.

Explore CBD-to-THC ratios

CBD is believed to modulate THC’s most intense effects so that cannabis feels less potent. High-CBD ratios, ranging from 2:1 CBD: THC to 20:1 CBD :THC, may take off the strong edge that could lead to weed hangovers. Edibles, beverages, and tinctures are commonly crafted with discrete, deliberate cannabinoid ratios, and these products, when higher in CBD than THC, may be your one-way ticket away from morning effects.

Get plenty of sleep

The common advice to sleep it off rings resoundingly true for avoiding weed hangovers. The more time your body gets for recovery and restoration, the more likely you’ll wake up feeling yourself. Go to sleep with enough time to get a full seven to nine hours, and you may start the next day on the right foot.

Try new products only in slower periods

Waking up feeling a bit off is especially awful on a busy day. If you’ve been there before and you’re trying different cannabis products to avoid this outcome, then only consume these products when your next day is all but blank. Starting your day loopy or sluggish will likely feel much less destabilizing if you’re not staring down a huge task list. Lean into your slow day and take it easy — the after-effects may naturally fade.

How to manage a weed hangover

If you wake up with a weed hangover, some ways to manage it include hydrating, drinking tea or coffee, eating well, taking a shower, exercising, or taking CBD.

Drink water if you have a headache

If brain pain is among your weed hangover symptoms, hydrating may help you power through. Drinking water counteracts headaches, so start your morning with your tallest glass.

Drink tea if you feel nauseated

Ginger, peppermint, and chamomile tea are often recommended for helping to manage nausea, and they’re a soothing way to start any morning. Chamomile tea is also associated with sleep-friendly relaxation, which may help you take a nap to shake off your symptoms.

Drink caffeine if you feel sluggish

Although caffeine may not help with other weed hangover symptoms, it may give you an energy boost if you’re feeling lethargic. At the same time, caffeine may be dehydrating, so if your morning slog is accompanied by a headache, consider other ways to manage it.

Eat a healthy meal

Taking in more nutrients supports your body’s natural processes, so you might find that eating a healthy meal accelerates your body getting rid of whatever is causing your weed hangover. If nausea is among your weed hangover symptoms, eating small or bland portions may be better.

Take a shower

Some people who experience weed hangovers say that taking a shower helps them feel more alert and less groggy. Only take this step, though, if you’re certain you’re experiencing a weed hangover instead of still being elevated. When you wake up high, your balance may be inhibited, so showering can be a bit risky — wait until your effects have passed.

Do some exercise

Getting your heart rate up and your lungs working harder is often good for the body, so exercise may help you come back to yourself amid a weed hangover. This is another tip, though, that may only be good to pursue if you’re certain you’re experiencing a weed hangover, not a continued high. Although cannabis and exercise pair well for some, proceed with caution: For others, this combination may increase heart rate enough to lead to overexertion and exhaustion.

Consume some CBD

When entirely THC-free, CBD may dampen the effects of THC and weed hangovers. Take some CBD and see whether your symptoms fade within 30 minutes to two hours. If so, this method for countering weed hangovers may prove valuable to you next time as well.

4 products that may help you avoid weed hangovers

These four products are our favorites for avoiding weed hangovers. Each contains only a small dose of THC or a substantial ratio of CBD to THC.

Wyld Strawberry 20:1 CBD + Hybrid Enhanced Gummies

With 20 mg CBD and 1 mg THC per piece, Wyld’s Strawberry 20:1 edibles are so high-CBD and low-THC that weed hangovers become all but impossible. Expect to feel relaxed from head to toe, with your mind remaining as sharp as these hybrid gummies’ juicy, tart strawberry flavor. And if you’re seeking a stronger dose than just 1 mg of THC, enjoying two or three gummies still keeps you in low-dose territory that’s unlikely to lead to morning-after effects.

Drew Martin Be Still Lavender Pre-Rolls 6-Pack

Designed to be low-dose, Drew Martin’s Be Still Lavender pre-rolls are known for tranquility. These indica joints’ THC content is just 15.4%, a good 5% lower than the 20% to 30% found in most pre-rolls. One hit may be all you need to feel at ease, all without anything lingering when you start the next day.

Wana Optimals Fast Asleep Gummies

Formulated for fast-acting effects, the Wana Optimals Fast Asleep Gummies combine delicious berry flavors with a cannabinoid blend that supports rapidly descending into slumber. Each indica gummy contains 10 mg CBD and 2 mg THC, pairing a THC microdose with five times as much CBD for relaxation without the intensity. There’s also 2 mg each of cannabinol (CBN), associated with sedation, and cannabigerol (CBG), widely believed to help with anxiety relief. Chances are that you’ll sleep soundly and wake up even more sound.

Harney Brothers Cannabis Orange Mango Sparkling Water 1:2

With 5 mg THC per can, the Harney Brothers Cannabis Orange Mango Sparkling Water isn’t quite a microdose. But with 10mg CBD per can too, the experience this hybrid THC beverage offers will likely feel more subdued. You’ll likely feel chill but not bogged-down, with the mango and orange flavors supporting a refreshed, relaxing vibe. Such laid-back experiences typically minimize the prospect of next-day effects as well.

Avoid weed hangovers with The Travel Agency

Visit The Travel Agency for help avoiding weed hangovers, or swing by even if you don’t experience them. In that case, our highest-potency products will take you to cloud nine and deposit you back on solid ground the next day. Whether you’re a frequent flyer who always wakes up clear-headed or a new explorer reckoning with disorienting mornings-after, browse our menu or visit us for help. We’ll get you where you’re going with a clear, sharp mind.