Lily Miller Why does weed make your eyes red? Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC in marijuana lowers blood pressure, which dilates blood vessels. Dilated blood vessels increase blood flow throughout the body. This causes the blood vessels in the eye to enlarge, leading to redness or bloodshot eyes and is associated with marijuana use.
The most effective remedy for the redness is Lumify, an eye drop that constricts the veins rather than the arteries-constricting Visine. Please read on.
Table of Contents
Why Does Marijuana Make Your Eyes Red?
Why does marijuana cause your eyes to become red then? Without going too deeply into the science, it all comes down to blood pressure and blood vessels. When THC –the main psychoactive chemical in cannabis – enters the body, it causes an immediate increase in heart rate and blood pressure. Similar to jogging around the block or playing a quick game of pick-up basketball, the shock to your circulatory system is similar. However, unlike prolonged exercise, blood pressure and heart rate will return to normal resting levels only about ten minutes after the THC is processed.
Blood vessels start to enlarge as blood pressure starts to fall. This phenomenon happens all over the body but is most visible in the ocular capillaries. Your eyes begin to look redder and glossier as more blood rushes to them. Also relieving intraocular pressure is the increased blood flow to the eyes. Since the 1990s, marijuana has been a mainstay in the treatment of glaucoma because intraocular pressure is a major aggravating symptom of the condition. Red eyes are caused by increased blood flow to your ocular capillaries, but thousands upon thousands of glaucoma patients who use medical marijuana also experience relief from this sensation.
How Do Different Cannabinoids Effect Eye Redness?
THC consumption is directly linked to cannabis’s ability to make your eyes red. THC is the substance that raises blood pressure, heart rate, and leads to an expansion of the blood vessels in the eyes. The practical implication of this is that your eyes will become more red the more THC you consume.
However, users who develop a tolerance to THC may experience a marked reduction in eye redness. Regular marijuana users experience less fluctuation in their blood pressure and heart rate, which results in lower levels of capillary dilation, in the same way that frequent cannabis use gradually lessens the intensity of intoxication. Likewise, cannabis users who prefer CBD, The amount of eye redness will be significantly less in CBG or CBN-dominant strains than in THC users. Unlike the immediate rush of THC, CBD, CBG, and CBN have far less psychoactive effects, and can even decrease blood pressure, eliminating the cardiovascular reaction and eventual red eyes of traditional, full-strength THC cannabis.
Why Does Weed Make Your Eyes Feel Heavy?
Again, similar to why it makes your eyes red, the THC is to blame. Since your body is more relaxed as a result of the lower blood pressure, opening your eyes may be challenging. This is also why you are more “lazy” after smoking weed. Additionally, the enlarged blood vessels cause the amount of blood in the upper eyelid to increase, making it already slightly heavier.
The Redder the Better?
Depending on how much THC you take in, you will experience a lowering of blood pressure and a reddening of the eyes.
The most prevalent cannabinoid in the plant, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is what causes intoxication when cannabis is smoked. The effects are stronger and your eyes become more red the more THC is present in a cannabis product.
The effects are stronger and your eyes become more red the more THC there is in a cannabis product.
The presence of red eyes may therefore indicate that your cannabis contains a high level of cannabinoids (i.e., it’s potent). In other words, if you notice that your eyes are noticeably bloodshot after using marijuana, there’s a good chance that you’ve obtained some of the drug’s strongest strains.
You have no cause for concern about the redness of your eyes other than the fact that it’s a dead giveaway that you’ve recently consumed cannabis. The typical duration of cannabis-induced eye redness is a few hours, and if you have the right resources at your disposal, it can be treated quickly.
Keeping eye drops (or some sunglasses) on hand isn’t a bad idea. Look for brands of eye drops made with reducing red eyes in mind. Other approaches, such as drinking plenty of water, washing your face and eyelids with cold water, or just using cannabis products with lower THC levels, may help prevent bloodshot eyes brought on by cannabis.
Do Edibles Make Your Eyes Red?
Consuming edibles may also cause your eyes to become red, similar to smoking cannabis. Once more, this is based on the THC intake. You should keep in mind that it’s not the smoke itself that causes your eyes to become red; rather, it’s the cannabinoids’ capacity to lower blood pressure, which results in the dilation of blood vessels and capillaries. (Check for more detailed information Do Edibles Make Your Eyes Red? )
How to Get Rid of Stoned Eyes?
It’s time to discuss how to get rid of the annoying marijuana side effect now that we understand the science behind red eyes and which cannabis products cause bloodshot selfies and which don’t. Since marijuana is still classified as a Schedule I drug, it sometimes helps to keep your relationship with Mary Jane a secret. There are a few options for hiding red eyes if you need to attend a dinner party or office event right after a smoke session and don’t want to give away that you need a little marijuana to make the event fun.
Find the eye drop aisle at your neighborhood convenience store or pharmacy first. Simple eye drops are a great way to remove the stoned appearance from your face quickly and simply. For even quicker relief, redness-reducing eye drops contain active ingredients like Tetrahydrozoline or Naphazoline that artificially clamp down the blood vessels in the eye. Although these products are completely safe when used in moderation, excessive use of them can dry out the eyes and even make them redder.
Increase your water intake if you’re using eye drops too frequently and want an all-natural solution for your stoned eyes. Although increased hydration won’t make your red eyes instantly disappear, it will help alleviate any dryness that might be keeping them bloodshot. Finally, you can let time do its thing and let your body get rid of your red eyes. Sure, you might need to avoid your in-laws or professors for a couple of hours, but you won’t be looking wide-eyed and paranoid into your front-facing camera, either.
Read about What is the Colored Part of the Eye Called?
Try Some Marijuana Red-Eye Pride
It’s crucial to keep in mind that using cannabis does not make your eyes turn red, and that for glaucoma sufferers, the mechanisms that cause this reddening are actually helpful medically! Red eyes are a sign that you are benefiting from the incredible pain relief that medical cannabis provides, so don’t be afraid to wear them as a badge of pride now that you are an Ohio resident who is legally using medical marijuana!
And always keep in mind: never operate a vehicle while high on cannabis. Even though you might feel confident and at ease operating a vehicle while under the influence of THC, doing so poses a serious risk to not only you but also other motorists. Make sure to schedule your medication sessions in advance, and drive safely if you’ve taken any.
