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.
I think I've become allergic
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. games
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.
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
What a good story. Would
What a good story. Would have liked it ed hardy
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