Do you have a strong urge to smoke weed but fear the next-day grogginess? We know how hard it is to hide last night’s weed indulgence in the morning. Those tired eyes speak for themselves, no matter how heavy you get on your morning coffee.
Ever wondered why you feel this way after smoking weed? Isn’t cannabis supposed to make you more active? That’s how it should usually be, but excessive consumption can worsen things, leading to sleepiness and droopy eyes.
What if you have an important business presentation the next day? Surely a disaster!
However, you can avoid being tired with some follow-up steps. Let’s discover why weed makes you groggy, the strains you should avoid, and tips to minimize tiredness on your face.
6 Reasons Weed Makes You Groggy
Pro smokers know that weed often induces sleepiness, making you lethargic even after completing the 8-hour sleep cycle. It’s mainly due to the psychoactive components in the cannabis strain you opted for smoking.
Here are 6 factors that trigger the tiring effects during the weed sesh:
1. Cannabinoids
Cannabis comprises 113 different types of cannabinoids, with hundreds yet to be discovered. These compounds help the weed interact with our endocannabinoid system (ECS) to release its effects. Because of this, you feel various emotions (happiness, sadness, tiredness, relaxation, etc.) after letting the weed smoke reach your lungs.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the two most common cannabinoids found in weed. While THC causes the “high,” CBD calms the nerves. Both are associated with causing sleepiness.
THC and CBD bind with CB1 and CB2 receptors in the brain and across different organs. However, it’s unclear whether THC causes sleepy effects or CBD does it, but weed as a whole can surely make you groggy.
2. Dopamine
THC primarily causes tiredness and sleepy effects when it interacts with dopamine. It is a neurotransmitter and hormone that regulates many important bodily functions, such as movement, memory, pleasure, and motivation.
Some chemicals fail to manipulate dopamine, making you feel more pleasure. Unfortunately, too low or high quantities of this hormone are related to many neurological disorders and addiction to certain compounds.
A study found that cannabis can impact a user’s dopamine levels, affecting their ability to feel motivated and energized. After some time of consumption, the brain cells find it challenging to produce tyrosine hydroxylase, an enzyme that makes dopamine.
Therefore, as dopamine decreases, the user’s energy level lowers, leaving them tired and groggy the next day.
3. Terpenes
Terpenes are responsible for the aromas and tastes found in different cannabis strains. The most common is myrcene, which gives weed concentrates an earthy, mango-like flavor. In fact, this terpene naturally occurs in mangoes as well.
Studies have found that myrcene can help cannabinoids penetrate the blood-brain barrier by enhancing its permeability. This increases the sleepy effects caused by the terpene, making you feel tired afterward.
Similarly, linalool also works with CBD to reduce anxiety and make the person relaxed enough to sleep.
4. Cannabis Quality
Not every kind of cannabis can give you strong, desirable effects. If you’re an experienced smoker, you’d know that only quality strains make a difference.
But the question is: What defines the quality of a cannabis strain? In the cannabis realm, it’s how a strain is cultivated, cured, processed, and stored.
For instance, early-harvested flowers cured in airtight jars have a higher THC content. If these flowers stay on the plant for longer durations or cure in ideal conditions in airtight bags, their THC changes into CBN (or other cannabinoids), which is popular for making users sleepy.
However, it’s mostly dependent on the quantity of THC, CBD, and terpenes. A quality cannabis strain usually gives a balanced effect without making anyone too tired after use. But this effect is subjective and may vary from person to person.
5. Smoking Frequency
The more you smoke, the more likely you will experience the stronger effects of cannabis. It could mean that excessive smoking can make you feel tired more frequently than controlled consumption. This includes smoking regularly, and that too, bowl after bowl.
With controlled smoking, you will only feel a light high that usually wears off with a cup of coffee soon.
6. Method of Smoking
The method you choose for smoking also plays a major role. When cannabis enters your body, the THC breaks down instantly, affecting your brain’s normal functioning. The compound soon turns into 11-hydroxy-THC, which is even more potent and stays in your body for a long time.
That’s why weed edibles have long-lasting and strong effects compared to vaping and smoking. When THC doesn’t metabolize for an extended period, it makes the users tired and sleepy.
Cannabis Strains That Can Make You Tired
Some people specifically use cannabis to sleep well. So, there is no wonder the market has both sleep-inducing and preventing weed strains.
If you don’t want to feel tired the next day of consuming weed, don’t buy the below strains:
- Sweet ZZ
- Northern Light
- Royal Jack Automatic
- Legendary OG Punch
- Medical Mass
How to Avoid Tiredness After Smoking Weed
What if you get the wrong cannabis strain? The only option you have now is to hide the post-smoking tiredness. Here are some effective tips to feel and look less groggy:
- Always work out before going out the next day to ensure the blood flows throughout your body.
- Don’t forget your morning coffee. It will give you an instant energy boost and reduce your tiredness in the long term.
- A cold or hot shower is a great way to wake yourself up.
- Don’t let your tiredness get over you. If you feel like sitting or lying on the couch the entire day, push yourself up and engage in an activity.
If you still feel tired even after following the above tips, reduce your smoking frequency and duration.
Conclusion
Controlled weed consumption doesn’t make you tired or groggy the next day. It only happens when you get too heavy and consume bowls of cannabis. The plant’s cannabinoids, terpenes, THC interaction with dopamine, and quality can cause sleepy effects in the user. It also depends on your smoking method and frequency.
The more you smoke, the higher your chances will be to feel or look tired. So, choose the right cannabis strain and practice the above tips to avoid next-day grogginess. Don’t let anything disturb your weed sesh!
