Weed Shakes: Why You Get Them, How Long They Last & What To Do

Weed shakes are involuntary tremors and muscle spasms that users may experience after consuming cannabis. They typically occur due to an overstimulation of the nervous system that can cause certain body parts to tremble.

Consuming high tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) cannabis or combining strains with other products may trigger these reactions. With adequate knowledge of the symptoms, you can tailor your usage according to your needs and avoid unwanted reactions.

Do you seek in-depth information about what marijuana shakes are? Discover the causes, how long they last, and remedies as we discuss everything to know about this potential bodily reaction.

Let’s begin.

What causes weed shakes?

There are many reasons you could experience this sensation. A cold environment, nervousness, or consuming a cultivar with high THC are common causes of trembling. Low blood sugar and overstimulation could also be responsible for shakes from weed.

Let’s dig into the details below.

Too much THC

Cannabis strains with high THC can make novice tokers feel shaky or jittery. This psychoactive compound is the primary compound that intoxicates users.

Consuming a potent cultivar you’re unfamiliar with might hit you harder with overwhelming sensations than expected. Overindulging is the leading cause of trembling, meaning seasoned users can also have shakes after smoking weed.

After lighting the buds, take one hit and wait about 15 minutes before going for another. Successive tokes without breaks often lead to high THC consumption, resulting in shakes.

Anxiety

Excessive consumption of cannabis can overstimulate the amygdala, causing paranoia, fear, or anxiety. Smoking high THC strains in a new environment with unfamiliar faces might also trigger the reaction.

Hand shakes after using weed are often due to heightened tension associated with anxiety.

Some people are more susceptible to these effects than others, but a nutritious diet may stop the tremors. Focus on healthy foods such as vegetables, fruits, fish, nuts, eggs, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products. Engaging in activities that keep you calm is also a great idea.

Low blood sugar

A drop in your blood glucose levels is another reason you could experience the shakes after using marijuana.

Cannabis contains properties that stimulate the endocannabinoid receptors regulating your body’s cardiovascular and nervous functions. It impacts the blood glucose balance while ensuring steady chemical, physical, and internal conditions.

Feeling lightheaded and confused are associated effects of tremors if your blood sugar levels are low while using marijuana. 

Thinking about how to get rid of weed shakes? A healthy snack is best for quick relief. A sugary drink is also a great idea, but ensure it’s caffeine-free.

Learn your insulin status before consuming the herb to prevent these effects. This hormone regulates the glucose or sugar levels in the body.

Cold environment

Marijuana could cause THC-induced hypothermia, which lowers your temperature for a short period. It occurs when the body loses more heat than it can produce, leaving you susceptible to the surrounding climate.

Smoking in chilled environments can lower your body’s overall heat, which could cause the shakes from weed. You might also experience goosebumps with a slight chill, but it’s typically harmless and has no cause for concern.

These sensations represent a slight drop in your body’s baseline temperature that a hot shower or blanket can remedy.

Overstimulation

Combining cannabis strains with products like tobacco, energy drinks, or coffee may cause overstimulation due to the presence of caffeine and nicotine. These stimulants quickly boost dopamine levels in the bloodstream, irritating the central nervous system.

Nicotine is a naturally occurring toxic chemical that can speed up your heart rate and blood pressure. When mixed with the herb, you may experience cannabis shakes in different body areas.

Mixing caffeinated beverages such as soda and coffee with marijuana may also trigger the nervous system, resulting in shakes. Consider enjoying your favorite cultivar in the morning or night without these stimulants.

How long do shakes from weed last?

The shaking or shivering effects should only last about 20–30 minutes if you vape or smoke the herb. The effects might persist for 60–70 minutes if ingested in edibles, such as brownies, cookies, or cakes.

The duration depends on the consumption method and the amount of cannabis indulged.

Check with your doctor if you have underlying health conditions or experience unexpected symptoms. It’s also best to learn how marijuana interacts with the body from professionals to manage your expectations.

How to get rid of weed shakes

Choose cultivars that have CBD present. You can also consume pure CBD in a variety of ways, this will un-seat THC from the receptors to counteract the effects of the THC

Here are some other ways to get rid of them:

Move around and take deep breaths

Take a short walk and focus on your breathing if you feel anxious or shaky after indulging in a marijuana strain.

Get rid of the tremors by moving around as it refocuses your mental energy and relieves tense muscles. You can also distract the mind and body with soothing music or engage in physical hobbies while pacing.

Deep breaths activate a mood of ease and gentle relaxation by triggering the parasympathetic nervous system, also called the plexus. It’s a network of nerves that puts the body in rest mode after stressful periods.

Avoid caffeine and tobacco

Stay away from tobacco and nicotine and lower your intake of other stimulants to stop the shakes from weed. 

These products contain ingredients that impair cognitive functioning, including concentration and memory loss. They’re also associated with cannabis’ psychoactive properties.

Products with caffeine and nicotine stimulate the central nervous system, so don’t mix them with marijuana. Stop consuming soda or energy drinks when toking a joint. Drink coffee or black tea in the morning and wait until noon before smoking the herb.

Switch to a strain with less THC

Nervousness and overstimulation that cause trembling are associated with high THC content. Get rid of the shakes from weed by indulging in cultivars with low THC levels.

With a wide variety of strains available these days, you can get one with less intoxicating sensations. Although each has varying characteristics, you’ll find hybrids with a range of different properties.

Novice tokers should ask budtenders or connoisseurs for recommendations to learn which cultivar is ideal. The most stimulating strains for anxiety are usually sativa-dominant, while indica-leaning ones offer physical and mental relaxation.

Add more CBD to your joints

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive active ingredient in marijuana that doesn’t produce psychoactive sensations.

Cultivars with high CBD have a balanced chemical makeup and can counteract the THC ratio in a joint. They contain soothing and therapeutic properties, with terpenes such as pinene and linalool delivering calming sensations.

Adding high CBD nugs to your joint helps mitigate tremors. It might also ease the reactions with the entourage effect, a process where every cannabinoid works simultaneously to produce the best results or consume a strain with 1:1 ratio of CBD/THC.

Stay hydrated

Dehydration is a possible cause of shivering after consuming cannabis. Water provides your cells with oxygen and nutrients, and insufficient amounts put the body in a state of alarm. It often leads to shakes.

Maintaining adequate levels of water in your body is an excellent way to eliminate the effects. Drink a few cups during and after a smoking session and watch the cannabis shakes fade. It usually takes a few minutes.

Marijuana’s psychoactive compounds reach the brain through the bloodstream. Since the bodily fluid is primarily made of water, increasing your H2O intake gradually flushes out the THC.

Keep warm

Involuntary twitching or trembling could be a response to cold weather, but keeping yourself warm is an easy fix. Research reveals that THC concentration in cannabis impacts body temperature, but maintaining a moderate degree of heat provides relief.

Get a home thermostat to set higher temps if you’re sensitive to cold. It’ll keep you warm and in a state of calm indoors. Grab a sweater or jacket to maintain body heat when indulging in the herb outdoors.

Eliminate cannabis shakes with ease

Marijuana trembling is common, and most tokers experience them more than once in a lifetime. Shivering after indulging in marijuana is generally harmless, and it can occur in different parts of your body.

Learning the causes of weed shakes and ways to eliminate them keeps you aware of the situation. New and experienced tokers can take the necessary steps and act decisively for quick relief.

Whether smoking, vaping, or consuming edibles, you can stop the trembling and shivering with our provided methods. Get strains with recreational and medicinal benefits at our cannabis seed bank and read our blogs for more in-depth information.