Hangovers have been plaguing humanity since the discovery of alcohol. People have been trying to find the perfect solution to hangovers forever, and there are plenty of supposed hangover cures. One of the most interesting potential cures is equally ancient: cannabis.

Some people claim that cannabis is the perfect way to ease the results of a fun night out. The question is whether that’s true. Here’s what you need to know about the scientific evidence for cannabis’s effects on hangovers and how it may help you.

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CAN CANNABIS HELP WITH A HANGOVER? WHAT SCIENCE SAYS

When it comes to cannabis, scientific research is lacking. For decades, it wasn’t possible to get funding or permission to research cannabis. This has only changed recently, so the current state of research doesn’t include much about cannabis’s effects on temporary problems like hangovers.

However, hangovers themselves are well-studied. Currently, science points to hangovers as having no true cure. That’s because an alcohol hangover isn’t caused by one specific thing. Instead, it’s caused by a combination of factors:

• ‌Alcohol is a diuretic, so it can dehydrate you and cause headaches.
• ‌Alcohol irritates your stomach, making you nauseous.
• ‌Alcohol causes your blood vessels to expand and inflames your immune system, both of which can cause headaches and bad moods.
• ‌Alcohol lowers your blood sugar, which can make you nauseous, shaky, and grumpy.
• ‌When your body finishes processing alcohol, it can cause you to wake up in the middle of the night and struggle to fall back asleep.

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The hangover is your body’s attempt to recover after drinking too much alcohol. That means that there’s no easy antidote to a hangover. The best way to cure a hangover is to avoid it in the first place.

Of course, that’s not always possible. In that case, it’s time to treat the symptoms until your body recovers fully. That’s where cannabis can help with a hangover.

Despite the lack of peer-reviewed studies, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence in favor of cannabis relieving hangover symptoms. Cannabis is well known for its ability to reduce nausea, relieve headaches, help sleep, and improve mood. These benefits neatly counteract the worst hangover symptoms. The best way to discover if cannabis helps you fight your hangovers may be to try it for yourself.

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TIPS FOR USING CANNABIS TO AVOID HANGOVERS

If you want to try cannabis for your own hangover, you can use a few strategies to make it more effective. Just remember that you’re treating your symptoms, not the hangover itself. If you have reasonable expectations for how cannabis will improve your morning, you’re more likely to notice how it helps you instead of feeling disappointed that you’re not immediately cured. 

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1. CHOOSE THE RIGHT STRAIN

The most important decision you make is choosing the strain to treat your hangover. Every strain affects people a little differently, and not every type of marijuana will counteract the symptoms of a hangover.

For example, if you’re trying to prevent a hangover right after drinking, a sativa strain might not work. Sativa strains are known for giving you energy, not for helping you sleep or increasing your appetite. A relaxing indica strain is more likely to help you fall and stay asleep and avoid nausea the following day.

On the other hand, if you’ve already woken up with a hangover, a sativa strain might be just what you need to get moving. It can dull your headache without leaving you sleepy.

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2. TOKE IN MODERATION

If you’re trying to get over a hangover, the solution is to be cautious with your cannabis consumption. One of the leading causes of hangover symptoms is dehydration. Cannabis can cause dry mouth and dry eyes in large amounts, which would just make you feel worse.

Instead, use a lower dose than you might use for recreation. Half of your average amount is a good rule of thumb. This is enough to give you pain-relieving benefits without triggering uncomfortable side effects.

You should also avoid sitting in the smoke so that you don’t get any more dehydrated. You can try edibles or a vape to avoid irritating smoke entirely. Either way, drink plenty of water; you’ll thank yourself in the morning.

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3. LET CANNABIS IMPROVE YOUR APPETITE

If you drink enough to get a hangover, you’re also dealing with a blood sugar crash. If your hangovers leave you feeling shaky and cloudy, you’re probably experiencing symptoms of low blood sugar. To help improve this symptom, you need to eat. Unfortunately, hangovers can kill your appetite.

Cannabis can help you regain your appetite and level out your blood sugar. Using a small amount of cannabis when you’re hungover can help you get your appetite back and may help you eat and drink with less discomfort. Once you refuel your body, you’ll notice many hangover symptoms disappearing naturally.

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4. TRY EDIBLES BEFORE BED

If you’re trying to avoid a suspected future hangover, you can try taking a small edible before bed or when you wake up in the middle of the night. A low dose edible will kick in slowly and remain in your system for hours, helping you stay asleep. Getting enough sleep will help you feel more put together the next morning and help prevent bad moods.

The slow-acting nature of edibles will also help you avoid morning nausea. Part of the nausea of hangovers comes from alcohol inflaming your stomach lining. Cannabis is a known anti-inflammatory, so taking an edible the night before can reduce that inflammation and help you wake up without feeling queasy.

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MINIMIZE HANGOVER SYMPTOMS SIMPLY WITH CANNABIS

If you’re facing a hangover, nothing will cure it immediately. However, cannabis can be a valuable tool for relieving your symptoms. From nausea to headaches to interrupted sleep, marijuana can treat the most uncomfortable symptoms of overindulging and help make your morning better.

If you’re looking for a source of high-quality cannabis to relieve your hangovers, you can get your supply from Quality Roots. The Battle Creek dispensary provides the best recreational marijuana Michigan has to offer. Stock up in advance so you can treat your next hangover immediately.