Some people report getting the cold shakes when they get high, and others report feeling warm, making them ask "does consuming cannabis mess with our body heat one way or the other?" Don’t think that your body’s temperature regulation system is broken if you feel a sudden cold surge.
Cannabis products with varying degrees of THC, the psychoactive component of the plant, can affect your body temperature in a couple of ways, though most studies show pot is unlikely to cause a significant change unless you use it in very high doses.
In general, high doses of cannabinoids can lower body temperatures, with lab animals showing consistent decreases in temperatures following exposure to THC. There’s also some research which suggests it’s possible to become tolerant to the heat loss effects of THC, but only in female rats after four days, so the jury is still out on long-term effects in the human population.
There’s also some research which suggests it’s possible to become tolerant to the heat loss effects of THC, but only in female rats after four days, so the jury is still out on long-term effects in the human population.
How Cannabis Influences Body Temperature
Cannabis is a substance that affects people in a lot of different ways, with side effects ranging from dry mouth and red eyes to dizziness and paranoia. According to a 2017 study comparing the effects of THC and synthetic cannabinoids on lab rats, one of the primary effects of THC in lab animals is lower body temperature,
The hypothermia that results from THC is produced by certain cannabinoid receptors in the central nervous system, the research reported, while noting the effects of cannabinoids on body temp are considered “relatively straightforward.”
Researchers surgically implanted transmitters measuring body temperature or blood pressure into groups of rats. Then they injected THC and synthetic cannabinoids into the rats, and then monitored them for three hours.
After about 30 minutes, both THC and the synthetic cannabinoids resulted in decreases in body temperature. This was dependent on the dose they were given. Although they didn’t reach their lowest point until about 90 minutes.
A 2008 study from Brain Research tested how THC affected locomotor (body movements), brain, muscle and skin responses in rats. The animals were given three widely varying doses and then their responses to stimuli, including a tail pinch and social interaction, were compared to control subjects.
Lowest Temperatures Follow the Largest Doses
Another study, published in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, looked at two receptors in the body — one, called CB1, which is in the brain, and the other, CB2, which is found throughout the body — to untangle the chemical process at the molecular level that leads to certain marijuana side effects, including hypothermia.
The researchers, from Temple University, looked at the molecule nitric oxide and discovered that when they attached a cannabinoid with a substance that blocked nitric oxide from being synthesized, hypothermia more than doubled in rats. The study authors noted in a statement their results demonstrated “the possibility that (nitric oxide) plays a part in regulating the impact of cannabinoids on body temperature and other cannabinoid-mediated actions.”
CBD Found to Not Alter Body Temperature
By contrast, CBD does not appear to alter body temperature. Results reported in a 2011 review published in Current Drug Safety, suggest that CBD is non-toxic and does not affect heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature, and also doesn’t affect the gastrointestinal tract or alter psychological functions.
Furthermore, a 2017 study reports that CBD treatment of up to two weeks had no effect on blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, glucose and other levels. CBD, in general, has fewer side effects than products with THC, according to a host of research.
How Does the Body Regulate Heat?
The body has a brilliant system for regulating temperature that balances heat production with heat loss. This process is coordinated by the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that directs a number of body functions, including the operation of the nervous system.
Similar to a thermostat, the hypothalamus regulates temperature, with the goal of maintaining homeostasis. This means keeping the body temperature around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. It does this in response to multiple factors, both internal and external. For example, things like spicy foods we eat, the stress we go through and the heat outside. The hypothalamus doesn’t work alone — it coordinates with skin, sweat glands and blood vessels, the “vents, condensers and heat ducts of your body’s heating and cooling system.”
Marijuana and cannabinoids are known to have a strong effect on the hypothalamus’ regulatory functions, so it makes sense that they would affect the body’s temperature. Any body-temperature changes caused by marijuana are usually mild and pass quickly. If you feel chilly, it might be a good time to grab a blanket and cuddle up. Smoking likely won’t cause any significant issues related to body heat, but if uncomfortable symptoms persist, you may want to get checked out by a medical professional.