Are you allergic to marijuana?

Are you allergic to marijuana?

Are you allergic to marijuana? Did you even know it was possible? Well, apparently there are people allergic to cannabis. Hard to believe? With the growing acceptance of weed across the world, there are a staggering 158.8 million people who use this drug. And, this will grow as it becomes legal in more countries. Even if you do not use cannabis, chances are you have met or know someone who does. It is not about not liking the weed, but about people who can have an allergic reaction. Although it is pretty safe and great for treating many medical conditions, there are some problems.

Are you allergic to marijuana symptoms like pollen

Not everyone who has allergies is born with them, they can develop throughout life. This can be a major problem for people who develop an allergic reaction to cannabis. People develop symptoms similar to pollen allergies. And, it is difficult to avoid as cannabis is in the air everywhere. So, what are the signs of being allergic to weed?

Symptoms of a marijuana allergy

While cannabis is well known for many medical benefits, those with an allergy might not agree. The symptoms can include:

• hay fever
• red or watery eyes
• sneezing
• vomiting
• congesting
• a runny nose.

Some cannabis allergies are similar to contact dermatitis when someone handles the plant. One study showed marijuana can cause skin irritations such as:

• inflames and red skin
• itchiness
• dry, scaly skin

In a worst-case scenario, marijuana can cause anaphylactic shock, which can be life-threatening when your airways close and blood pressure drops. When this happens, you need urgent treatment.

Cannabis allergy risk factors

When your body sees something as a threat, it works to protect you against them. But, your immune system can cause a reaction. There are risk factors that can put you more at risk of developing a weed allergy. You may be more at risk when you are allergic to certain foods that have protein properties that are similar to weed. This is called a cross-reaction. You could become allergic to cannabis if you are allergic to:

• grapefruit
• chestnuts and almonds
• bananas
• tomatoes
• eggplant
• peaches

Marijuana sensitivity

People with pollen sensitivities can develop a cannabis allergy the more they are exposed to the plant pollen. This can happen if you live in an area where it is grown. With the legalization of cannabis people’s sensitivity to it is increasing.

High levels of THC

Cannabis reproduces by growing separate male and female plants. The females are most sought after as they grow more flowers or heads. These are what people smoke to get high. Male plants are not usually used much as they have few flowers that develop into weak heads. The more heads on a plant, the more THC it produces. THC is the chemical in weed that gets people high. Marijuana growers isolate female plants from the males so they do not pollinate to produce higher levels of THC.

How to diagnose a cannabis allergy

A doctor will do a skin prick test to find out if you have an allergy. This will show if you are allergic to anything in particular. To so this, a doctor will spread a small amount of the suspected allergen in the area they will test. You will have an allergic reaction like itchiness in the area within 20 minutes if you are allergic. When there are no symptoms, you do not have an allergy. A blood test is another way of testing for allergies. During analysis of the blood, they look for specific antibodies that match different substances. The more antibodies found your blood sample, the more likely you are to allergic to the substance tested for. Blood tests are preferable as you are less likely to have an allergic reaction. It takes up to a week to get the results.

How to prevent an allergic reaction to cannabis

Avoid being around cannabis to prevent an allergic reaction. And, if you use it for recreation or for medical purposes you will need to stop or you could have a severe reaction. When you work with the cannabis plant and develop an allergy, you will need to wear a face mask and gloves. You may also need to take an allergy medication to prevent or reduce the symptoms. If the pollen affects your breathing, you should also carry an inhaler in case you have a reaction.     Now you know the symptoms and what to do about it you will recognize them if it happens. This can be a tough call, particularly for those who use it for medical reasons.