How to Reduce a Sore Throat From Smoking Cannabis

Throat irritation from smoking is real, and if you’ve ever spent the day chilling and smoking cannabis, you have likely had a sore throat as a result at least once. Experiencing irritation in the throat when smoking is natural, whether you are smoking tobacco or cannabis. If you have ever run into this issue and are curious about how to reduce the symptoms and prevent long-term throat problems from smoking, you are in the right place.

Thankfully, smoking cannabis and sore throat symptoms that may arise afterward shouldn’t last long. With the tips we will discuss below, you may be able to avoid it from occurring at all.

You may also be wondering how long it takes for a sore throat from smoking cannabis to go away. In general, it should subside within 24 hours. However, there are some things you can do though to reduce your recovery time drastically. 

Why Do I Have A Sore Throat After Smoking Weed?  

Not only are there ways to help prevent a sore throat from smoking, but there are also ways to reduce throat irritation afterward. If you have ever asked yourself, “How can I stop my throat from hurting when I smoke,” I encourage you to read on for some insight on this topic.

Before learning how to possibly avoid a sore throat from smoking or how to treat one when it occurs, it is vital that you first understand what causes this throat irritation in the first place. 

When smoking cannabis, you inhale hot smoke, which can irritate and dry out the throat. Additionally, THC is known to inhibit saliva production, resulting in not just dry mouth but also dry throat and nasal passages. Combine a dry throat and mouth with hot, irritating smoke, and you have a Molotov cocktail for inflamed airways.

Signs of Throat Damage From Smoking 

So, how do you tell if your throat is damaged from smoking? Slight irritation to the throat from cannabis consumption should subside rather quickly. 

Until smoking is ceased, signs that your throat has experienced long-lasting damage may continue, including constant soreness, chronic coughing, sputum production, wheezing, difficulty breathing, a lump in the throat, pain when swallowing, regular earaches, and a hoarse, croaky voice. But can your throat heal from this? 

Throat irritation from smoking can be persistent even without damage to the throat; however, it could indicate long-term damage when the irritation is consistent. Luckily, there are some things you can do to help your throat heal. 

One of the fastest ways to improve the damage done to your throat is to quit smoking. Other remedies for helping to heal the throat include warm saltwater mouth rinses, Chloraseptic sprays, throat lozenges, topical vapor rub, sore throat folk remedies (i.e., honey lemon tea, etc.), and lots of hydration.

Tips To Help a Sore Throat From Smoking 

Now that we have learned why throat irritation occurs after smoking and how to determine and deal with long-term damage, let’s look at how to alleviate the immediate symptoms.

Hydrate 

Hydration is vital when consuming cannabis for many different reasons. Staying hydrated is also one of the best ways to help avoid throat irritation when smoking cannabis. Throat irritation from smoking cannabis is primarily due to cannabis causing dry mouth and smoke being hot on the throat resulting in irritation. 

By staying hydrated, you will also keep your mouth and throat moist, reducing irritation caused by smoke. Most people are already under-hydrated, so aim to drink about 3L of water (if you are a biological woman) and 4L of water (if you are a biological man) daily.

Use a Humidifier 

Keeping your airways moist is essential in helping to prevent a sore throat from smoking cannabis. Consuming in a room with a humidifier is a great way to help keep your passageways properly moisturized. 

You can create the same effect by steaming out your bathroom by first closing all the doors, windows, and vents, turning on the hot water, and allowing the steam to collect in the room like a sauna. Sitting in this environment for a few minutes before and after smoking cannabis could be beneficial in helping to relieve throat irritation or prevent it from occurring.

Just be careful not to sit for too long in a sauna-like environment. If you get too hot and start sweating, it could cause further dehydration. Limit your time between 5 and 20 minutes max. Avoid sauna environments if you are pregnant; other safety conditions for specific populations (e.g. the elderly or those with heart conditions) may apply.

Hot Drinks or Soups

Like steam and hydration, consuming a bowl of hot soup or a cup of hot tea can be beneficial in helping to soothe the throat and prevent/relieve throat irritation. Might we suggest a cup of cannabis-infused hot cocoa or a warm chamomile tea? 

Chamomile tea is often consumed with honey, which has many health benefits. Chamomile is also high in a terpene known as Bisabolol, which has been found to offer anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective, and antioxidant properties!

Cough Drops or Lozenges 

You can get quick relief from coughs and throat irritations with cough drops and throat lozenges. Because these products contain local anesthetics, they can quickly help relieve irritation while helping speed up the healing process. 

By sucking on a lozenge or even hard candy, it helps to stimulate saliva production, which in return helps to keep your throat moist and reduce soreness. 

Terpenes like pinene, menthol, and camphor can also be soothing for the airways. Some may be found in cough drops and vapor rubs or over-the-counter topical ointments applied to the chest and neck area for relief.

Try Other Forms of Cannabis

With smoke being the irritant that causes discomfort in the throat after consumption, decreasing smoking is also another option for reducing throat irritation and preventing long-term damage. The less exposure your throat has to smoke, the less irritated it will become. 

Decreasing how often and how much you smoke is quite easy when it comes to cannabis since there are many different ways in which it can be consumed. If you are experiencing pain in the throat after smoking cannabis, it is highly recommended that you try other consumption methods such as edibles, topicals, vapes, and tinctures.

Final Thoughts

While cannabis is considered to be generally safe to consume for most people, some side effects can occur from various consumption methods, like a sore throat. By taking steps to stay hydrated and to keep your airways moist before, during, and after consumption, you can help prevent the irritation that occurs as well as mitigate potential negative long-term effects.

If you would like to learn more about how you can consume cannabis responsibly and intentionally, schedule an appointment with one of our medical marijuana doctors today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can your throat hurt from weed? 

Yes, smoking cannabis can cause throat irritation due to the hot smoke and drying effects of THC, which also reduces saliva production. This irritation can lead to a sore or scratchy throat after smoking.

How long does it take to heal a sore throat from smoking? 

A sore throat from smoking cannabis usually heals within 24 hours, especially if you take steps like staying hydrated and using throat-soothing remedies. Persistent soreness, however, may require more time and likely reducing or quitting smoking altogether.

Is a sore throat from smoking contagious?  

No, a sore throat from smoking cannabis is not contagious; it’s caused by airway irritation from the smoke itself, not an infection.

This article was originally written by Ashley Priest in July 2023 and updated in December 2024.