Why does your mouth get so dry after smoking weed? You might think it’s because weed dehydrates you, but that isn’t the case.

Marijuana does not produce any effects that lead to dehydration. Even though your mouth is dry after smoking weed, it might not make you thirsty.

Although, water does help replenish the mouth’s saliva production. Keep reading to learn why cannabis doesn’t dehydrate you and the differences between dry mouth and dehydration.

No, marijuana does not cause dehydration. As mentioned above, it can be difficult to tell whether you just have cottonmouth or need some water.

Furthermore, the effects produced by cannabis can also mimic the effects of dehydration. This includes;

• Dry mouth
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Feeling lightheaded

It can get pretty confusing, but the reason behind the dry mouth is simply a lack of saliva production.

The cannabinoid responsible for dry mouth is the common psychoactive compound, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).

This is because THC directly binds to glands inside the mouth that produce saliva. THC hinders that process, which results in cotton mouth.

And although you might grab a bottle of water to increase moisture, you might not even be thirsty.

This is a clear sign that you‘re not dehydrated, just high. This process is temporary and should clear up in 10 to 30 minutes after smoking.

On the other hand, if you were thirsty and had a dry mouth before your sesh, you‘re dehydrated. In fact, whenever you‘re thirsty, you‘re dehydrated.

This lack of water in the body is especially common if you lost fluids through;

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Sweating
• Heat exposure

Below are the most common symptoms of dehydration.

Only four of these symptoms could be confused as THC side effects: dry mouth, lightheadedness, dizziness, and headaches.

• Dry Mouth
• Lightheadedness/fatigue
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Confusion
• White tongue
• Decreased blood pressure
• Infrequent Urination
• Dark Urine
• Constipation
• Muscle cramps
• Bodily pain
• Fainting

THC is the culprit that causes saliva glands to halt production. On the other hand, a lack of water can also cause dry mouth.

It’s always best to drink plenty of water before and after a sesh. This way, you‘ll have an easier time telling if you‘re dehydrated or just high.

THC has a ton of side effects, some worse than others. While dry mouth is one of them, read more to learn about some side effects of THC you should be aware of.