Sometimes people try again and again to enjoy smoking marijuana or imbibing the cannabis plant in other ways, and it never results in a good experience for them. They throw up, they feel dizzy, they get anxious and paranoid – generally, it’s never a good time. If this describes you, you may have wondered – do I have a marijuana allergy?
Is It Possible To Be Allergic To Marijuana?
Yes, it is. But not in the way described above. In most cases, cannabis allergy is actually caused by pollen from the marijuana plant, rather than directly from contact with or consumption of cannabis products. This means that anyone who spends time outdoors in areas where marijuana plants are grown may be prone to experiencing the allergy. Marijuana allergy symptoms usually manifest within minutes of exposure and can range from mild irritation (itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing) to more severe reactions, such as hives and asthma symptoms like difficulty breathing. You might also experience a localized skin reaction if you handle the plant, such as a rash.
In short, it’s more like hayfever or a cat allergy than an allergy to alcohol or penicillin – you experience it from being around cannabis plants, not from imbibing it. If you start getting itchy eyes when your friends break out some fresh bud then yes, you may well be having an allergic reaction to marijuana. But don’t worry too much – a severe allergic reaction to cannabis is unlikely.
Cross Reactivity
If you are allergic to some foods that have similar protein properties to cannabis sativa it may indicate that you are more likely to have an allergic reaction to cannabis allergens. Here’s a partial list:
- Apples
- Bananas
- Peaches
- Grapefruit
- Tomatoes
- Almonds
What Can I Do?
The best way to manage cannabis allergy is avoidance. If you are going to be around marijuana plants or are visiting a “weed-friendly” environment, it’s best to wear a face mask to minimize the amount of pollen that enters your system. Additionally, over-the-counter allergy medications can help alleviate common symptoms when they arise. In more severe cases, allergy shots may also be prescribed in order to desensitize the body to cannabis pollen and reduce allergic reactions, but that’s pretty extreme. You probably only need to do that if growing weed is your actual job.
But What About My Symptoms?
If your symptoms only occur after you imbibe, and they seem more internal than allergic rhinitis (a runny nose) or allergic conjunctivitis (itchy eyes), then they are probably not caused by an allergic reaction to marijuana products.
So Why Am I Having A Bad Experience?
There are a number of reasons why you might be consistently having a bad time when you smoke weed that aren’t related to having an allergy.
Are You Mixing?
It’s important to be aware of what other substances are swirling around your body when you imbibe the weed. If you don’t often smoke or are nervous about it then maybe you don’t do it until you’ve had a few drinks to loosen your inhibitions. Alcohol and weed often don’t mix well for people – personally, I avoid it at all costs, although others will do it with caution.
I have a friend who describes it like this:
“If you get stoned then drunk you get stunk, which can be quite pleasant. But if you get drunk and then stoned, you get droned. Nobody likes being droned.”
My Friend Owen, Although Probably Not Original To Him
So maybe think back to your unpleasant weed experiences – was it always weed alone, or was there something else going on that could have caused an unfortunate interaction? If so, maybe try when you are otherwise clean and see if it’s better.
Was It Too Much?
It’s possible, particularly if you are hanging around with habitual cannabis users, that you are just smoking too much. It is natural to try and keep up with people in a social situation, but if they are used to it and you are not you might be taking in more than you can handle. Even if you don’t feel like you are smoking that much it could be that the specific type of cannabis product is very concentrated – too much for you.
It is very easy to take too much particularly if you are eating edibles. You may not have any way of knowing how much weed is in them – even the person who made them might not know exactly! As it takes a while to digest the cannabis it can often feel like maybe it wasn’t enough and you should take some more, then 30 minutes later it all hits at once and everything starts to go downhill fast.
It’s important to learn your tolerance level. When you first start it won’t be that high, and that’s fine. Don’t feel awkward about only taking one hit and then just passing it along for the rest of the evening – one of the great things about marijuana is that stoned people tend not to be judgmental. Or even observant!
How To Get Unhigh
A weed high is great, but as with other drugs too much THC can be bad (that’s what “too much” means!) It can make a person feel worse, not better, if too much cannabis is taken, whatever the consumption method.…
Maybe You Just Don’t Like It!
It is entirely possible that you just don’t like being stoned, that it is simply not a good experience for you. It’s not for everybody! And that is, of course, fine. If you’ve considered the factors above and find that they don’t apply – you just always have a bad time – then there’s no need to force it. Just Say No as Nancy Reagan wanted! And if it feels more socially acceptable to you to say that you’re allergic than that it’s just not for you then that’s fine. People will know what you mean and no one will care. Remember, this is supposed to be pleasant and/or helpful. If it isn’t, then it’s nothing.
Conclusion
All in all, allergy to marijuana is quite rare and not well understood. If you are having adverse reactions when consuming cannabis products, it’s important to rule out other potential causes like mixing with alcohol or taking too much of a product that has high concentrations of THC. Ultimately though, it could simply be the case that marijuana isn’t for everyone – there’s no shame in admitting this! It’s best to take things slow and figure out what works for you so that you can enjoy the benefits of cannabis without any unpleasant side effects. Or not!
