Frustrating – Why Does My Throat Burn When I Smoke Weed?

Hey, hey, hey! William O here, coming at you with some important advice for all you cannabis connoisseurs out there.

We all know that smoking weed can be a real good time, but sometimes it comes with an unpleasant side effect: a sore throat.

So, how can you prevent and treat this pesky problem? Let’s dive in.

So why does my throat burn when I smoke weed?

Well, my friend, it’s all about the anatomy of your throat. When you inhale smoke, it irritates the sensitive tissues in your throat and can cause inflammation. This is especially true if the smoke is hot or dry, like from a joint or a blunt.

Plus, if you’re not well hydrated, your throat is even more susceptible to irritation. And let’s not forget that some people may have allergies or sensitivities to certain strains of cannabis, which can also cause throat irritation.

How to avoid a sore throat and coughing from smoking weed

Now, let’s talk prevention. There are a few things you can do to avoid a sore throat and those pesky coughing fits that can come with it.

First off, consider choosing a different consumption method. Vaping or edibles are great alternatives to smoking, as they don’t involve inhaling smoke. But if you do prefer smoking, using a bong or water pipe can help filter the smoke and make it cooler and less irritating.

Next, prepare for smoking by hydrating well before and during your session. And if you’re smoking via a bong, try adding ice to cool the smoke down before inhaling.

Finally, practice good smoking technique. Take small hits and inhale deeply, rather than trying to take big hits all at once. Exhale slowly and avoid coughing fits, as coughing can further irritate your throat.

Take A break

One of the best and most effective ways to prevent irritation from smoking cannabis is to take a break. Give your lungs, throat, and airways a bit of respite from all the smoke.

You can also take this opportunity to give your body a short rest from all the THC—a very healthy process to engage in from time to time.

Factors that contribute to a sore throat when smoking cannabis

So, what exactly is it that irritates your throat when you’re smoking weed? Let’s take a look!

1. Breathing in hot smoke

Of course, when you’re enjoying hits from a joint or pipe, what you’re doing is inhaling hot smoke. The hot smoke heats up and dries out your throat and nasal passages. Check. But heat isn’t the only thing that contributes to this nasty side effect, otherwise we’d just need a glass of water and we’d be fine.

2. Substances in the smoke further aggravate matters

The passageway from your pharynx to the bronchioles in your lungs is now hot, dry, and irritated; it may even start to hurt. At this point, it would much rather not be further aggravated. But, that’s exactly what we’re doing since, after all, we’re smoking weed. The substances in your weed, including aromatic terpenes and cannabinoids, but also toxins from the smoke itself, will irritate your (already irritated) throat even more.

3. THC inhibits saliva production

When it comes to having a dry throat, you would think that the body would respond by producing more saliva to help things out a bit. And now comes the unfortunate part: cannabinoids such as THC and CBD may actually inhibit saliva production.

Well, say hello to a nasty, dry throat, lots of coughing, and the wonderful world of cottonmouth, courtesy of the same substance that also makes you high. Bummer, isn’t it?

Alternatives to smoking cannabis

If your dry mouth has gotten so bad that it’s causing significant discomfort, the best thing may be to stop smoking cannabis altogether. But let’s not rush things, there are a number of creative alternatives to smoking.

Here are some of them:

1. Vaping

Vaping is becoming increasingly popular, as evidenced by the plethora of associated products on the market. Inhaling vapour is safer and cleaner than smoke. Vapour (aka steam) contains far fewer potential toxins and carcinogens. The water in your body will also cool vapour more quickly than smoke—meaning less irritation when enjoying weed!

More potent than smoking

A healthier alternative

Be wary of low-quality vape liquids

2. Edibles

Edibles can be very precisely dosed. They come in many different forms, from chocolates and gummies that you can snack on to full-fledged cannabis meals.

Unlike smoking or vaping, the effects of edibles will take up to an hour to hit. It could be two hours before your digestive system fully distributes the cannabinoids throughout your system. On the plus side, the effects can then last some time—usually 4 to 8 hours.

Easy to dose

No harmful smoke

Effects will last a long time

3. Topicals and patches

Lastly, you can also use cannabis topicals such as creams, ointments, and transdermal patches. The latter work similarly to edibles in that they provide their beneficial effects slowly and steadily over the day.

Unlike transdermal patches, the cannabinoids in topical creams don’t enter the bloodstream, but they do penetrate deep into the skin to produce local effects. As such, creams and lotions can be a good option for users looking to soothe local aches such as joint and muscle pain.

Easy to apply

Can be used all throughout the day

Local relief

How to treat a sore throat after smoking cannabis

Alright, so let’s say you still ended up with a sore throat after smoking.

What can you do to ease the pain and help your throat heal?

First things first, stay hydrated and rest your voice.

Drink plenty of water or tea, and avoid smoking or other irritants that can make the inflammation worse. If possible, rest your voice by avoiding talking or singing.

Next, try some soothing remedies for your sore throat. Honey, lemon, and ginger tea can be really helpful, as can throat lozenges or cough drops. And if the pain is really bad, over-the-counter pain relievers or throat sprays may be necessary.

GARGLE WARM SALT WATER

If you’re wondering whether this method tastes good, we can assure you it does not. However, if you want a quick, sure-fire remedy for throat irritation, this is a good option. Warm saltwater mellows down the inflammation in the throat and makes it feel less irritable.

For this, all you need is a tablespoon of salt and a cup of warm water. Stir the salt, then gargle it for about thirty seconds to a minute. The effects should kick in almost immediately, but give it a few hours for the irritation to fully subside.

USE A HUMIDIFIER

A sore throat is only made worse by a dry atmosphere. If you’re already dealing with irritation from a night of smoking, sleeping in a hot, dry environment can cause things to worsen.

For this, a humidifier can help by adding moisture to the surrounding air. This will make a world of difference in soothing an irritated throat. You may just begin to use a humidifier nightly going forth!

SLEEP WITH AN EXTRA PILLOW

In some cases, smoking causes mucus buildup. And as you lay down, flat on your back, all of that drips down the back of your throat and can cause irritation. To address this, sleep with an extra pillow to position your body at a slight incline, thereby helping to prevent that mucus drip.

SIP ON A CUP OF HERBAL TEA WITH HONEY

Honey is known for its effectiveness against sore throat. So much so that even the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends it for this particular situation.

Now, if you’re dealing with irritation from smoking weed, you may want to go with a herbal tea and honey combo. The warm tea provides an added soothing effect as the honey goes to work. If you want to give your honey a bit of a kick, you can infuse it with cannabis to enjoy some THC without any risk of discomfort from smokin

AVOID COFFEE AND ALCOHOL

Apart from their buzz-inducing properties, alcohol and coffee are also diuretics. This simply means that consuming these substances will dehydrate you.

And as we’ve established throughout this article, dehydration is one of the leading causes of sore throat.

So if you’re already dealing with that annoyance, pass on the coffee and booze. It may be difficult to resist the temptation, but you’ll thank yourself later.

EXERCISE

Experts have also deemed exercise a potential option to open up the nasal passages when dealing with a minor sore throat. As long as the symptoms are “above the neck”, performing mild exercise should not be an issue.

You should, however, abstain from exercise if dealing with a chest cough, fatigue, fever, and other symptoms of an actual illness. And, of course, when exercising, don’t forget to keep yourself hydrated throughout.

But keep in mind that if your sore throat is prolonged or severe, or if you’re experiencing signs of infection or other complications, it’s important to seek medical attention.

In conclusion

In conclusion, preventing and treating sore throats from smoking cannabis is all about good technique, hydration, and being mindful of your body.

And if you want even more expert advice and fun discussions about all things cannabis, be sure to join the Cannabis Community Hippie Stoners.

We’d love to have you!

Q&A Why does my throat burn when I smoke weed

Sources:

1. Graves, Brian M., Johnson, Tyler J., Nishida, Robert T., Dias, Ryan P., Savareear, Benjamin, Harynuk, James J., Kazemimanesh, Mohsen, Olfert, Jason S., Boies, & Adam M. (2020). Comprehensive characterization of mainstream marijuana and tobacco smoke https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-63120-6
2. Melamede, R. (2005). Harm Reduction Journal, 2(1), 21. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1277837/
3. CDC. Suffering from a sore throat? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published May 7, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/sore-throat.html
4. Tips for working out with a cold. Mayo Clinic. Published 2017. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/expert-answers/exercise/faq-20058494‌