Yes, you can be allergic to weed.
Marijuana allergy is as common as other allergies.
And it can occur due to any cause.
Whether your skin gets in contact with the marijuana plant or you consume weed, it can easily trigger symptoms of weed allergy if you are sensitive to it.
Therefore, in this guide, you will know the allergic reactions due to marijuana allergies and the action plan you can follow when you get into such a situation.
Let’s begin:
Contents
Cause Of Marijuana Allergy
So what causes marijuana allergy?
Marijuana allergy can happen due to several causes. Each individual has a different body and a system that functions.
For instance, some people report allergic reactions due to the consumption of marijuana. That means they may be allergic to marijuana THC.
Some people may also have cannabis allergies due to CBD oil in some cases, which is used as a medical marijuana product.
On the other hand, some people might be allergic to touching a cannabis plant and can have contact dermatitis.
So, summing up, people often get cannabis allergy in the following ways:
- By inhaling cannabis pollen (In any way)
- By second-hand cannabis smoke
- Touching marijuana (Contact dermatitis)
- Smoking marijuana or eating (edibles)
If you dig deep, the leading cause of an allergic reaction is your body’s immune system.
Whenever an alien virus or component enters your system, the immune system rings the alarm in the body and tries to wipe it out by giving allergic symptoms.
It is why whether you are allergic to marijuana or any other thing, you will observe similar allergic reactions like runny nose, nasal congestion, and sneezing.
However, it is good that your immune system does not want any alien virus or component to stay in your body.
At the same time, your body gets those allergy symptoms, which you have to deal with that.
Further, if you are too sensitive to smoke cigarettes, it can trigger a severe allergic reaction like lung problems.
Also, according to the American college of allergy, asthma, and immunology, cigarette smoke can trigger respiratory problems and asthma, which can lead to difficulty breathing, even in the case of secondhand smoking marijuana.
Therefore, several ways can cause marijuana allergies. Read along to know what action plan can you take if you get into such a situation.
Marijuana Allergy Symptoms
Now, you know the causes that trigger allergic reactions. So let’s find out the symptoms of cannabis allergy that you can observe.
In most cases, the symptoms of weed allergy resemble the other allergies like runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, and skin reaction.
These are the very common symptoms in most people.
However, if a person is too sensitive, then one can have a severe allergic reaction, which can happen due to any cannabis allergens that they might have come in contact with.
Marijuana Allergy Symptoms In Case Of Skin Contact
For some people, marijuana allergy can cause a skin reaction when they get in contact while handling marijuana plants or flowers.
The allergic reaction can cause the following symptoms:
- Rashes
- Itching
- Dry skin
- Redness
- Contact dermatitis
So these symptoms are generally observed when a person allergic to marijuana plant gets in contact.
However, if you want to avoid this, you can seek a professional doctor to get a skin prick test. However, you can quickly know if your skin is allergic to the cannabis plant.
Cannabis Allergy Symptoms In Case Of Consumption of Marijuana Products (Edibles)
As medical marijuana has been legalized in various countries, the demand for marijuana edibles and products has increased rapidly.
However, the consumption of weed in the form of edibles can also make you have an allergic response in your body.
- Difficulty speaking
- Rash
- Eye redness or swelling
- Skin swelling
- Breath shortness
Apart from these symptoms, marijuana allergy can also cause a rare but severe anaphylactic shock reaction. However, it is rare.
But in case of this severe allergic reaction, one can feel life-threatening breathing issues. It is also observed that the blood pressure suddenly drops too much.
Therefore, in such a case, one must seek medical treatment and get professional help.
Airborne Particles Causing One Of Marijuana Allergies
In cannabis plants, the pollen can work as airborne cannabis allergen.
Apart from the marijuana pollen, the secondhand smoke of cannabis can also work as an allergen for you if you are sensitive to it.
Whether you are secondhand air smoking marijuana or inhaled marijuana plant pollen, you may have these symptoms:
- Hay fever
- Itchy or watery eyes
- Asthma
- Nasal congestion
- Sore throat
- Respiratory problems
Further, in case of airborne exposure, the mold on the cannabis plant can also lead to trigger the symptoms.
Therefore, if you want to treat symptoms of this recreational drug, then you need to limit exposure to the cannabis Sativa and marijuana smoke (even secondhand).
However, if you have more trouble, remember you can always have allergy medications from a professional doctor.
How To Diagnose Marijuana Allergies?
Marijuana use is quite common after easy laws in various countries.
Therefore, whether you are using medicinal marijuana or cannabis Sativa as a recreational drug, if you have allergic sensitization, then you need to diagnose it as soon as possible to avoid any allergic issues.
Once you get diagnosed by a professional doctor, you can also opt for allergy shots if the doctor recommends them.
It helps give you immunity to fight allergies as they contain a tiny amount of specific substance that triggers the reaction.
Further for diagnosis, the doctor can conduct various tests, including blood tests.
By various tests, the doctor can assess if you are allergic to marijuana or if your skin has more marijuana sensitization.
For people suffering from asthma, the doctor may recommend albuterol inhalers.
However, if you are not that sensitive to cannabis allergies, you can also continue with some standard medications.
How To Treat Marijuana Allergies?
In many medical journals and peer-reviewed studies, it is said that marijuana is beneficial for several medical symptoms.
It contains anti-inflammatory properties and other beneficial compounds that work as a healer.
Also, in very rare cases, life-threatening situations occur due to marijuana allergies.
However, if you have been found allergic to marijuana, the best option is to avoid the plant altogether.
You should avoid cannabis from smoking, eating, touching, and even other exposures (secondhand smoking), especially if you are an asthma patient.
You can seek help from a board-certified allergist if you have allergies. From there, you can get instant help.
If you are a medical marijuana patient, you need to talk to your doctor and take the recommended steps.
Further, you also need to limit your exposure by taking appropriate actions.
For instance, if you are sensitive to airborne marijuana smoke, you need to avoid secondhand smoking, even if they are your friend or closer one.
It could be difficult, but you can ask for the same or get a respiratory mask to avoid exposure.
However, if you have got into a situation where you feel a severe reaction to weed allergy, you may need to carry an epinephrine auto-injector.
This medication can help in severe symptoms such as a drop-in heart rate or impaired breathing.
Note: You should always go with the professional doctor’s help first for health conditions and should not get any random medication by yourself to treat that symptom.
Also, you are responsible for the action that you take for your health condition.
FAQs About Weed Allergy
How can I protect against my marijuana allergy?
You need to seek a professional doctor’s help or an allergist. They might conduct several tests and get you appropriate help.
However, if you are diagnosed with an allergy to cannabis, you should ideally avoid the cannabis in all forms.
What are the symptoms of marijuana allergy?
Several symptoms depend upon the allergen and exposure. For instance, some people have skin allergies to cannabis plants, while some have consumption allergies.
Can you be allergic to weed after years of smoking?
Well, there is no proven research on it. However, if you have been allergic to weed, you might have never been into that for years.
Though still, if you feel any allergic symptoms, you need to consult the allergist or doctor instantly to get rid of them with the help of proper medication.
Final Words
When you are allergic to weed or anything else, you need to avoid that altogether.
However, the symptoms of weed allergy are not deadly in most cases (only rare cases have severe symptoms).
Still, ideally, if you observe any symptoms or discomfort, you need to seek professional medical help and take the appropriate step to be on the safer side.
