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Although every cannabis user has a different relationship with the plant, there are a few obvious indications that someone has been using the drug. There are insatiable cravings, bloodshot eyes, and unavoidable giggles. Whether you've been smoking marijuana for a week or ten years, chances are you've noticed your eyes are red after a session and wondered why.
Red eyes are among the most prevalent and well-known marijuana adverse effects. While this is safe, not every user will find it appealing or welcoming. After all, one of the most obvious signs that someone is high or has recently used marijuana is having red eyes.
In this blog post, we'll discuss the causes of red eyes after cannabis use and quick fixes for the condition.
Why Do Eyes Get Red After Smoking?
Simply put, the chemical constituents in cannabis are to blame for red eyes after smoking.
Why does marijuana cause your eyes to turn red? Without going further into the science, blood pressure and blood vessels are the key factors. The main psychoactive component of cannabis, THC, immediately raises heart rate and blood pressure as it enters the body.
The shock to your circulatory system is comparable to a brief pick-up basketball game or a stroll around the block. But, unlike extended activity, blood pressure and heart rate will return to normal resting levels after ten minutes or so of the THC processing.
Blood vessels widen when blood pressure starts to drop. This phenomenon is most obvious in the ocular capillaries but occurs throughout the body. Your eyes rapidly look red and glazed over as more blood rushes to them. Furthermore, relieving intraocular pressure is the increased blood flow to the eyes. Since the 1990s, marijuana has been a mainstay in treating glaucoma because the intraocular pressure is a major aggravating symptom.
Red eyes are caused by increased blood flow to your ocular capillaries; however, hundreds upon thousands of glaucoma patients who use medicinal marijuana also experience alleviation from this symptom.
Do Edibles Make Your Eyes Red?
Like smoking cannabis flower, the amount of THC in an edible product determines whether it will cause eye-reddening. If your favorite consumable contains 50mg of THC, you will likely have bloodshot eyes. You probably won't appear nearly as stoned in public if your next magic brownie contains a lot of CBD and only a few milligrams of THC. Traditional edibles take a little bit longer to make you high and create bloodshot eyes since the liver metabolizes the THC rather than directly into the bloodstream.
Dabs, tinctures, topicals, vaporizer cartridges, and other cannabis products follow the same rule. The cardiovascular system chain reaction will probably cause your eyes to get red and give away your heady habits if your method of ingestion comprises a significant amount of THC. You won't reveal your cannabis secret using a CBD vape cart or a CBN tincture.
Does Cannabis Have Any Lasting Effect on the Eyes?
Cannabis use negatively impacts nighttime visual parameters like the VDI and intraocular straylight and specific visual functions like contrast sensitivity and visual acuity. Red eyes are one of the effects immediately evident after using the medicine. The marijuana compound THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) reduces blood pressure, which widens blood vessels and improves blood flow throughout the body. The blood vessels in the eyes enlarge, resulting in redness or bloodshot eyes.
Although none of these effects are particularly harmful and none could result in blindness, knowing about them could help create a better understanding of the visual changes associated with cannabis use and their implications for daily tasks, raising awareness among users of the risks associated with using this drug. However, more than 90% of users believe that cannabis does not affect their vision or only has a slight effect.
Marijuana may help some glaucoma patients with end-stage symptoms of anxiety or sadness. Using marijuana instead of prescription anxiety medicines may be chosen.
Marijuana prices in Mississippi, a state where it is legal, may vary and rely on several factors. Glaucoma treatment with synthetic, medicinal marijuana medicines like Marinol is not FDA-approved. Before you begin using this medication, discuss it with your doctor because it could interact with other medications.
How to Get Rid of Stoned Eyes
Now that we know the science behind bloodshot eyes and the cannabis products that cause them, it is time to discuss how to eliminate this annoying side effect. There are a few ways to hide red eyes if you need to attend a dinner party or corporate event right after a smoke session and don't want to reveal that you need a little pot to make the event fun.
Find the eye drop aisle at your neighborhood convenience store or drugstore first. Simple eye drops are a terrific technique to remove the stoned look from your face quickly. Redness-reducing eye drops with active chemicals like Tetrahydrozoline or Naphazoline, which artificially constrict the blood vessels in the eye, can provide even more rapid relief.
Although these products are completely safe in moderation, excessive use can dry out the eyes and even make them redder. To boost the effectiveness of eye drops, apply a cold compress alongside them. The eye drops will work their magic and help moisten and cool your eye if you rest it for a few minutes with a cool compress.
Try increasing your water intake if you use eye drops too frequently and want an all-natural solution for your stoned eyes. While increased hydration won't instantly clear up your red eyes, it will help alleviate any dryness that might keep them bloodshot.
Finally, you can let time do its work and let your body naturally get rid of your red eyes. You might need to spend a few hours avoiding people, but at least you won't stare fearfully into your front-facing camera.
Final Thoughts
Following smoking, irritated eyes are among the most recognizable features of smoking. However, this does not imply that it is always advantageous (particularly if you try to avoid being tagged for a drug test).
The type of cannabis product you're consuming, your tolerance level, your age, and other health conditions might all affect how red your eyes become (if at all). It might change daily (one day, they could be beet red, and the next day shows no redness).
Now that you know a quick fix for stoned eyes, you may relax and enjoy your favorite cannabis products. Applying for a medical marijuana license will let you utilize your legal access to cannabis for medicinal purposes if you reside in Missouri, where the recreational use of cannabis is permitted.
Get Your Medical Marijuana Card in Missouri Today!
Although marijuana is now legal recreationally in Missouri, you should still get your medical card. If you have any questions, just give us a call!
There are so many benefits to having your medical marijuana card in a recreational state, including being responsible for less in taxes, saving at dispensaries, and higher possession laws.
If you don’t already have your medical marijuana card, we can help! Our doctors are standing by to take you through a quick and easy evaluation to see if you qualify. During your evaluation, they will be happy to answer all your questions about how cannabis may be able to help with your anxiety or any other medical conditions.
Schedule an appointment with a marijuana professional online or by giving us a call at
(877) 303-3117 to talk to a patient support representative.
Doctors Who Care.
Relief You Can Trust.
At Missouri Marijuana Card, our mission is to help everyone achieve wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to medical marijuana. Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce the stigma for our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
Call us at (877) 303-3117, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting the relief you can trust today!
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