Allergic reaction
I've been smoking weed for 23 years. Two years ago I became very sick with flu-like symptoms: sore throat, headache and fatigue. I saw many doctors and specialists who ran dozens of tests.Many tests and $50,000 later, they still couldn't figure out what my problem was. They thought I might have Lyme disease, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, allergies or depression.
The whole time I was sick I never quit smoking marijuana. I noticed that using marijuana made my symptoms worse so I decided to only smoke at night. While I was in a friend's garden I brushed up against some ripe buds and had a major skin reaction. It was like touching poison oak. I developed a rash; it was red and itchy with little corpuscles (pimples). I thought it might be from chemicals used in growing the marijuana, so I tested my skin by rubbing organic marijuana on it. The same symptoms appeared.
I think I've become allergic to pot. I'm on day three of abstinence. I am going to refrain from using for three months to see how I feel without it.
I am heartbroken and freaking out. Pot is spiritual for me and helps keep me on an even keel. I can't imagine life without getting high. 10 years ago I quit using it for a year and realized how important pot is for my mental health.
Have you heard of this? I'm hoping that if I quit for three months and rid my body of toxins I will be able to smoke again. What's your opinion?
Paul,
Internet
Your report is not the first regarding an allergic reaction to marijuana. Your symptoms, however, are more profound than most. Several people who worked around marijuana for long periods of time have reported that after years of contact with no problems, they started developing rashes, shortness of breath and other asthma-like problems, fatigue or unusual mood swings.
One woman who worked manicuring dried marijuana for many years suddenly developed contact dermatitis, watery eyes, sneezing fits and shortness of breath from contact with the dried material. She is also allergic to contact with growing marijuana. However, she doesn't exhibit symptoms from either eating or smoking it. Before she transitioned to new work, she wore protective gloves and a breathing mask while performing her tasks. She found that taking prescription anti-allergy medicines relieved the symptoms.
Your case is far more severe since you developed allergic reactions to marijuana internally as well as externally. You made the right decision when you decided to abstain from using marijuana or having contact with it for a while. After six months or so of not challenging your body with the substance, you can test to see if you still have this reaction. Unfortunately, I suspect the symptoms will recur.
It is possible that your allergy is related to the vegetative material rather than the cannabinoids. If this is the case, you may still be able to get high, you'll just have to change your methods.
There are several ways to test and see if this hypothesis is correct. If you have access to a Marinol pill, you could puncture it and rub its contents on your skin to see if you develop a reaction. If you don't, you probably are not allergic to THC, the chemical in marijuana that gets you high.
If you aren't allergic to THC, but to other substances in grass, you could try using very refined preparations that contain only cannabinoids. These include well-rinsed water hash, water-washed kief or ether-refined THC oil. While not totally free of the allergens, these preparations contain very small amounts of plant matter. You may also be able to vaporize marijuana, since this turns the cannabinoids into a vapor for inhalation without combusting the plant material. It is more pure than smoking. Many vaporizers are available on the market.
Readers with grow questions (or answers) should send them to Ed at: Ask Ed, PMB 147, 530 Divisadero St., San Francisco, California 94117, USA. You can also email Ed at AskEd@cannabisculture.com, and send queries via his websites at www.ask-ed.net. All featured questions will be rewarded with a copy of Ed's new book, Best of Ask Ed: Your Marijuana Questions Answered. Sorry, Ed cannot send personal replies to your questions.
I've got the same issues.
I have the same issues, though not such a severe case. I have been smoking for ten years now; the small garden I have I only started a couple years ago. Since then I have noticed that I am allergic to the plant material, evident by harvesting or infusing. Funny thing being I am immune to poison ivy, oak & sumac. I suggest ingestion through tincture or infusion, or if you are lazy, get a vaporizer. I got my volcano about four years ago, I highly recommend it. The only other unexplained side effect from smoking is a migraine only on the right side of my head in the general area of what used to be known as the rolando's fissure. But I am pretty sure it's due to hydro growers not properly flushing and my sinus reacting or it's a build up of an allergic reaction and my sinus reacting. Odd thing being only one of my friends has the same problem and it is in the same exact area. He being from Portugal and me from Japan.
pot allergy
hey, i'm sverely allergic to the stuff. can't go near it. i have to carry an epi pen everywhere. if someone has the smoke on their clothes, i stop breathing and my eyes itch just from being near them. i ve passed out on public buses. once i went to the er for something unrelated and all of the sudden i was surrounded by docs and nurses cuz i couldn't breathe. someone who had been smoking walked by. i can't even eat hemp seed or use hemp lotion or clothing or rope. even if its organic/homegrown. there are alternatives that i use for management of pain and a nurological condition. wild lettuce is fantastic. i also use blue lotus
I have smoked weed for the
I have smoked weed for the past 25 years (mainly in the evenings)and 12 months ago, I developed an unknown allergy, felt like flu, sneezing until my nostils and air pasage ways were red raw, eyes watering and have even had open sores appear on my right foot.
The GP said I had an acute allergy to something (I didnt tell him i smoked weed due to my job) had blood tests for all various things with it being whittled down to an allergy to a chemical. I have been prescribed 180mg tablets of antihistamines but when Im bad I have to wear a hospital face mask for approximatly 2 hours while the tablet kicks in then im ok. If the sneezing starts before the tablets have kicked in then they dont have any effect.
Now in Oct last year I went to Uganda working in orphanages and stopped smoking (green) while out there and the allergy stopped, (still hadnt made a connection at this point) i just assumed that being away from cleaning products and chemicals while in Uganda had broke the cycle.
At xmas this year I bought myself a 1/4 of solid and was ok, 2 weeks ago I thought Id splash out on some green and BANG allergy been back in full swing from the first joint. Now the puzzle has all fell in place, sneezing in the corner of the kitchem (close to where I used to store the green) during the daytime, sneezing standing near certain people, (who smoke green)
so thats the end of my green smoking days...Im gutted to be honest as Im mentally hyperactive and weed always put me in a deep and easy paced thinking pattern.
My own personal thouhgts on why this has occured.
I think alot of the UK home grown weed thats out there is being sprayed with some type of chemical to make it smell strong (cause its not compared to amsterdam weed) I think its this spray chemical thats getting me and others out there.
What do you think?
You could try growing your
You could try growing your own plant as an experiment. If it happens then you know it is not the sprays but the plant itself.
weed allergies....
ive been smokin for 10 years now..and about four years ago i started getting a stuffy nose from weed...it wasnt so bad so i ignored it..but lately it gotten so much worse...itchty eyes nose and face,inside of my nose is raw and blistered,and super bad sneezing fits,(even from just one toke)and a rash when my skin comes in contact..at first i found that if i didnt touch it that i was ok to smoke and eat it..but not anymore...i really should quit...ive cut down to a bare min..but im a very high energy/a.d.d..and its super for having mellow times....
allergys
iv been smoking for about ten years but not a a heavy smoker and i smoked all weekend and now i have a runny nose with headache swore throat. i also just became lactose and tolerant three months before if im going to get some shit to hob's im going to shoot me self
I had smoked skunk and hash
I had smoked skunk and hash on and off sometimes heavily for about 4 or 5 years. I got to university and smoked like an animal, 7g (a quarter) a day sometimes. Then I started gettig a constant blocked nose that got more and more blocked, in fact, blocked solid, itchy eyes, constantly sneezing, painfully itchy ears and throat. I got to the doctor and tried every anti histamine, nose spray, steroid spray and inhaler that he had, prescription and non prescription and nothing worked. I had a blood test and found that my 'Eosinophils' were very high - most commonly due to allergy. Then I discovered 'Otrivine' (Xylometazoline) a powerful vasoconstrictor decongestant available over the counter. This instantly relieved the blocked nose, and other symptoms felt better. Ignoring the warning to use this for a maximum of 7 days, I proceeded to use this spray daily, still completely unaware of why I had these symptoms. Whenever I returned home from uni, after a few days the symptoms got a lot better - again because I smoked way less at home. I figured I was just allergic to something in my uni dorm or the cheap bed or something. I forget how I actually worked it out, I think it was when I went on holiday and didn't have any weed, but I finally realised that it was weed. I had no choice but to stop. In the mean time using the decongestant spray has made my nose permenantly quite drippy and very sensitive to cold, fortunately I do not have to use it anymore.
One year on, I can't even smoke a single spliff, whether it is of skunk, cheap weed or hash without having a bad reaction and the symptoms lasting for days - shame though - probably for the best :(
I have not tried a vaporizer however eating the skunk or hash produces serious itchyness and swelling/puffing of my face so I can only assume that I am totally allergic to THC. Sucks to be me.
Have you considered giving a
Have you considered giving a vaporizer or thc pills a try? Ive heard cases of these methods reducing those symtoms you wrote about.
Allergic to POT
I am so glad i found this forum...ive been looking for one for a while. I have been smoking heavy for 9 years, and have always had a lot of phlegm assoc'd with since I started, thought it was a allergic reaction to dairy/milk i drank it all the time, and it seemed to get worse with that, but after cutting down, I have realized that I might be allergic to pot, when I brush up against wet or dry herb I had a few hives pop up. Now that I smoke so much, I have a constant stuffy nose, and whenever i open up my jar I sneeze. The stuffy nose has gotten so bad now, I have weakened my soft palete because Ive "hawked" up so much mucus in the past years. And now when I sleep and am awake mucus gets into my nasal passage...it very frustrating as it is now 4am and i cant sleep. I really wish I wasn't allergic i really enjoy my herb, the herb I smoke is organic and soil, so i know its not from chemi's But I guess I just gotta quit. Is there anyway to get a allergy test to pot?
I've been smoking for 10
I've been smoking for 10 year hardcore in past two year I started a runny nose the only thing I use to get rid of it for little bit by using Dristan Nasal spray . I can stop for a week it will clear up and go a few days smoking it but after that it comes back ...
Marijuana Allergy!
This is what I have! Finally, I'm not crazy...
Allergic Reaction
Been smoking for 6 years now in last 2 years I have same symptoms in this article. If exposed to an "open bag" I get clogged up nose when i do the farmers blow ( one finger ) it barely has flow. My eyes get kinda puffy and swollen, and as well if I were to contact dry/fresh bud; itchy bumps that are irritable. Best thing I found to remove the THC if having an outbreak from handling or proximity is 100% Alcohol hand sanitizer. It removes the THC glands quickly which relieves some symptom. Dristan or vicks vapor rub did not work for me. I eat healthy, exercise often and smoke organic daily. I am investing in a Volcano Vaporizer and limiting to nightly smoking. Local Honey from your area has the right pollens to help you with allergic related symptoms, my grandmas old trick. Don't forget how good garlic will boost your immune system and give you super fighting powers. :) Smoke Freely
Second hand pot
I've only tried pot 3 or 4 times and every time my throat gets raw, soar and dry, my eyes get itchy and red and I loose my speaking voice for days afterwards. Could this be an allergic reaction? I thought maybe it was just the heat of the smoke burning my throat so I tried using a vaporizor. The same thing happened. Then I tried eating it and the same thing happened only worse. Usually allergies develop from repeated exposure so I thought it was strange that I had this reaction the first time. I'm wondering if perhaps it is because my dad smoked in the house just about every day while I was growing up.
I don't smoke but I'm concerned that the second-hand smoke that I get from my housemates and family may be causing symptoms. I have chronic itchy eyes, congestion and a scratchy throat that are particularly prevalent in indoor environments where people have been smoking. I have been tested for allergies and have not yet identified one that could explain this reaction. Just about everyone I'm close to smokes a lot of pot and it would take a great deal of effort to avoid but if that's what's making me feel unhealthy I would make efforts to change my life accordingly. Is it possible to have a reaction to second-hand marajuana smoke? Is there a way to get tested for pot allergies? How?jo
help!
I'm experiencing the same- swollen puffy eyes. I smoke only at night and find my swollen eyes are much worse when I have smoked more than usual. Were your lids thick and sometimes under the eye? Also- are you finding the swelling in the morning as well?
I'm in the process of ruling out other allergens as well.
allergic severly
my whole family is pot smokers and have been since before i was born and however it has happened i have a severe allergy to it and cant even be around anyone that their clothes smell like it. the funny part is it use to be a minor allergy that i could control with an inhaler and sit in the same room as long as i was only getting the smoke, but its increased to not being able to breath what so ever by just walking by someone who smoked it within 5mins. last night i went to a club and walked into a haze and should of went to the hospital cause i was having breathing problems for about over an hour and my inhaler did absolutely nothing to help me symptoms were cotton mouth closed airway/constriction in chest and stuffed nose and fever which led to a panic attack. this was just walking through a haze for about 1minute and i can still feel it in my throat 24 hours later. im all for smoking the stuff but people need to understand in public places that people can if even rare be severly allergic to this stuff like next time i hope i can control it again and not have to go to the hospital like i should of, but all for legalization just not in public.
allergic reaction
i never excactly found out what exactly caused my reactions but i smoke for 20 years every day all day and night and worked 7 days a week functioning addict however i became so allergic that was hospitolized 14 x before i came to accept that it was pot heart palpitations turning pale convulsions and shakiness all over , now if i pass by someone smoking or even if they open a bag and i smell it i get chest pains palpitations turn white and shake ??? who what of thought i was the queen of weed always had 4 different types in my bag my grinder and paper never left home with out it never did anything unless i smoked a joint ... 3 years later i am loving the money i save and it is okay you can do it just think of it as passing the torch , a great story book ended your on to another xoxox good luck dude
Allergic Reaction
Me too girl...I'm experiencing the same thing. You're right about the money too. I miss it so much. I've lost 7lbs. It helps me to eat and relax. Had a rough childhood.
Allergies to Weed
I have smoked for 21yrs and have never had the problems that started the week of Christmas...About five years ago I'd stopped smoking for a month. The first time I resumed I had a very bad experience. It was with Kush. My heart raced almost as if I was having a heart attack..My whole body was trembling especially my legs. I was freezing cold and scared. This lasted approximately 2hrs. Ofcourse, I think it was laced because I never had that problem again until recently. Only this time I broke out into really bad hives...My heart raced so much I thought I had a heart attack. The only problem I was sick and was prescribed Amoxicillan. Unaware that I was allergic to Amoxicillan I took and smoked. I always feel funny if I smoke and take antibiotics. I was rushed to the hospital because my tongue, lips also swelled but the hives were excruciating. I know the antibiotic is out of my system but I smoked again and hives reappeared. I smoked again no hives. Please help..I smoke to help me eat and sleep. What do you think the problem is. I do not want to stop smoking. What about the oils etc??
Ive been smoking for 10+
Ive been smoking for 10+ years heavily since senior year in HS. Sometimes when I get really good shit with lots of crystals and come in contact with it, I will go crazy. Talking really itchy eyes, sneezing up to 15 times straight and every now and then I will get a rash or two. Sometimes this doesnt happen though and its at the point where Im getting real sick of it. I can smoke it fine and eat but if I come in contact with unsmoked stuff thats really chrystally, Ill go crazy..anyone that can help?
Allergies to Weed
I noticed when i was busting weed, i would sneeze a lot and get stuffed up. My roommate joked that i might be allergic.
On a whim, i took some of the busted weed, and rubbed it into my forearm. 20 minutes later, boom. Huge hives, very itchy, quite disgusting looking.
My friends and I couldn't believe it. They all tried the same test (rubbing it into their forearms), none of them exhibited the same symptoms.
I don't feel sick or anything after smoking marijuana, in fact i often go to the gym when I'm baked and get some good workouts in.
Since i'm allergic to it, ive stopped smoking, ive been blazing for years and i guess i had a good run anyway.
help me out please
Hello. Well, I have a problem that I hope is just temporary, but I dont know. I am 15, and i have been smoking daily. I have been smoking for about 3 or 4 years. I have had many different types of Marijuana, and everything has been going smoothly. Recently, i bought some Marijuana that looked like it was high quality bud. Dense, plenty of crystals, smelled beautiful, etc. Well the guy i bought it from said that it was some really good medical Marijuana. So i smoked it one night before bed, and in the morning, i woke up with a rash all over my stomach and partially on my back. My first thought was bed bugs or something like that, and i wasn't worried. i didnt smoke that night and when i woke up, it seemed like my rash was getting better. Then, i smoked before bed again that night and i woke up with the bad rash again. I couldn't figure out why i was getting this rash. I didn't smoke that night, and i woke up the next morning, and it seemed like it was getting somewhat better. Then, that evening, i smoked around 6 o' clock and broke out in a rash at 7 o' clock. This is when I realized, could it be because of the Marijuana? I started looking it up on the internet and it may be that I am allergic, but I have been smoking for years, so i didn't think that was the answer. Is that the answer? Have I become allergic to Marijuana? Or could it be that certain bud? It may have been grown differently, or laced with something, but I don't know. Can you help me?
Experiences of well-rinsed water hash or vaporizer?
I'm scaring of I've becomed LTP-allergic.
But have Paul testes those methods what Ed said? Does it works? Or anybody else?
I have made some topic also:
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=159093