Why Do Some People Get Nauseous When They Smoke Weed?

There are many ups and downs regarding consuming too much cannabis. For one thing, the dreaded “green out,” also known as a “whitey” in the UK, is something no stoner should experience. But, unfortunately, it happens pretty often.

For some, smoking weed might mean a relaxing evening with friends or a moment of creativity. For others, it can mean feeling like you’re living the latter half of Enter The Void.

All in all, it’s never fun. Let’s go through why some people get nauseous when they smoke weed and explore this phenomenon and its contributing factors.

Cannabis contains a compound that many of us know and love, Delta-9 THC, which is responsible for the euphoric high we experience. It works by binding to cannabinoid receptors in the brain which trigger a chemical trickle-down that leads to feelings of euphoria.

However, when the endocannabinoid system is overstimulated, things can feel like a trip down the wrong rabbit hole. Hello nausea, and goodbye lunch. It’s quite easy for the endocannabinoid system to feel overstimulated. All it needs is an excess of Delta-9 THC to trigger physical feelings of nausea, lightheadedness, and anxiety.

The overstimulation of the endocannabinoid system is most commonly known as “greening out,” and it feels worse than being too drunk or hungover…to me at least.

While it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve overdosed on THC, it does mean that you consumed way too much for your body to handle comfortably. At first, the palms may start sweating, and waves of paranoia and anxiety could follow, leading to uncomfortable nausea and lightheadedness.

Some folks might also feel a drop in blood pressure when smoking weed, which can lead to dizziness, lightheadedness, and that queasy “get me off this boat” feeling.

The relationship between cannabis and blood pressure is blurry, but it’s worth considering if you experience these symptoms. Some research has proven that one’s blood pressure can drop immediately after smoking weed, but cannabis may increase blood pressure over time with frequent and daily use.

While cannabis is known to help calm nausea for chemotherapy patients, some people may have a paradoxical (contradictory) reaction, experiencing increased nausea and vomiting instead of relief.

This can be due to chronic overstimulation (pun intended) of certain receptors in the brain. Basically, you consume too much cannabis for your tolerance, which produces the opposite effect of what you want to experience.

An overstimulated endocannabinoid system means less relief and more high-tension symptoms like stress, nausea, anxiety, and paranoia.

Finally, a rare condition called cannabis hyperemesis syndrome has been linked to long-term marijuana use. This condition can cause abdominal pain, recurrent nausea, and repeated vomiting.

Some cannabis users relieve their symptoms of cannabis hyperemesis syndrome by taking hot baths and showers, but it can continue if the individual continues using cannabis. Sadly, if you’re experiencing recurring symptoms of cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, it might be time to consider a T-break.