Why smoking weed makes your eyes red

One of the most characteristic aspects of a marijuana high is bright red eyes. Even if you put on perfume, wash your hands, and try to look as normal as possible, red eyes can easily break through your camouflage. Luckily, bloodshot eyes are temporary and painless — they just make you look damn good. Why is this even happening?

Weirdly, weed eyes have little to do with smoking, even though we usually associate them with it. This physical response occurs when your blood pressure drops and your heart rate increases, all due to the THC in your system.

When your blood pressure drops, your blood vessels and capillaries, including those in your eyes, dilate. This dilation increases blood flow, turns your eyes red, and lowers intraocular pressure. Because of this, some experts believe marijuana could be a viable treatment for glaucoma.

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Do your eyes get red regardless of the consumption method? It all depends on the strength and amount of THC consumed, as well as your individual sensitivities. For example, some people are more sensitive to smoke and therefore joints in their eyes can redden more. There are also people who might be allergic to smoke or cannabis.

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Bloodshot eyes depend on many factors. To prevent them, stick to low-THC strains. If your eyes are bloodshot, you can try drinking some water, using eye drops and waiting for the effects to wear off.

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The redder your eyes are, the more your blood pressure drops and the stronger the THC. That’s why bright red eyes are usually a pretty good indicator that someone is pretty high.