Why Do I Get a Sore Throat After Smoking Weed?

Our throats are made of fragile tissues and membranes, delicate to even the slightest touch. The smoke (and other irritants) produced by burning cannabis aggravates this sensitive area, resulting in soreness and discomfort.

On top of that, smoke dries out the mouth. Therefore, if your throat is already irritated, cannabis smoke is only going to exasperate the issue.

Several factors of cannabis consumption may lead to a sore throat. For example, certain smoking tools may create harsher smoke, including:

• Bongs
• Joints
• Pipes

Other factors include the temperature of the smoke, the chemicals found in your supply, and even the strain you are consuming.

Not to mention, secondhand smoke may also lead to breathing issues and a painful throat. If you’re in an area where the smoke is more concentrated (i.e. “hotboxing”), you increase the chances of a sore throat, whether you’re participating or a bystander.

Finally, you may be more susceptible to marijuana-induced sore throat if you have certain health conditions. For example, some people have a sensitivity or allergies that are intensified by smoke consumption. If you have a respiratory disease (such as asthma or bronchitis), you’re also at a higher risk of a sore throat.

All this said, if you have an underlying health issue, you need to consult a healthcare provider before consuming marijuana.

If you struggle with a sore throat after you consume marijuana, there are a few ways to relieve the pain and speed up recovery. These include:

• Stay Hydrated – Make sure to have plenty of water and other liquids (i.e. herbal tea) on you while smoking cannabis. These help to moisten the mucous membranes, ease the throat, and prevent dryness.
• Rest Your Voice – If your throat is sore, don’t strain it further. Give it time to heal by speaking less and using fewer harsh vocalizations.
• Throat Lozenges or Sprays – To help numb the throat and lower inflammation, you may want to incorporate medications that contain menthol, eucalyptus, or honey.
• Gargle Salt Water – Saltwater can help relieve swelling and irritation. It’s recommended you gargle half a teaspoon of salt into warm water and gargle several times per day.
• Humidifier – To relieve a dry throat, you may want to increase the humidity in the air. Humidifiers can be a prominent tool in this regard, especially for sleeping.

Beyond these tactics, it can also help to give your body a break from marijuana when you experience a sore throat.

Beyond a sore throat, smoking cannabis may also cause the following side effects:

• Altered sense
• Breathing problems
• Changes in mood
• Coughing
• Difficulty with cognitive functions
• Distorted sense of time
• Dry mouth
• Hallucinations and delusions (in high doses)
• Headache
• Impaired body movement
• Increased heart rate
• Nausea and vomiting
• Psychosis
• Red eyes

If you experience any of the above symptoms regularly, you may want to consult your healthcare provider before consuming cannabis again.

While cannabis smoke can irritate your throat, you may experience this symptom due to an underlying health condition. In the latter cases, you must consult your doctor about smoking marijuana. There are instances where marijuana can worsen symptoms of a health condition rather than relieve them.