Too Hot? Too Cold? How Cannabis Messes With Your Thermostat

You light up, settle in... and suddenly can’t decide if you need a hoodie or an ice bath. One minute you’re sweating. The next, you're wrapped in a blanket burrito.
Turns out, cannabis can seriously mess with how your body regulates temperature — and no, it’s not just in your head.

One Joint, Two Seasons: Why Your Body Can't Decide

You’re not imagining it. That weird mix of sweaty forehead and freezing toes after smoking or vaping cannabis? It’s a real thing — and you’re far from alone.

Scroll through Reddit or talk to seasoned users and you’ll find the same theme:

“Why do I feel cold after weed?”
“Anyone else sweat like crazy after a joint?”
“My body temp goes nuts — is this normal?”

While it's not the most studied side effect, there’s a good chunk of biology behind it.
In short: cannabis can confuse your body's internal thermostat, mostly thanks to how THC interacts with certain receptors responsible for managing heat, cold, and everything in between.

Quick Science: How Your Body Controls Temperature

Your body is constantly juggling heat and cold, even if you don’t notice it. This balancing act — called thermoregulation — is mostly handled by a tiny but mighty region in your brain: the hypothalamus.

Here’s how it works:

• When you're too hot → blood vessels dilate, you sweat, your body cools off
• When you're too cold → blood vessels constrict, you shiver, and your body conserves heat
• It’s automatic — your brain reads internal cues and adjusts things on the fly

This whole system keeps your core temperature around 98.6°F (37°C) — give or take — no matter what’s happening outside.

But when you bring cannabis into the mix, this tidy system doesn’t always respond as expected...

THC and Thermoregulation: The Disruptor in Chief

The main reason your temperature feels off after cannabis? THC hijacks your thermoregulation system — mostly by messing with your receptors.

Here’s what we know:

• THC activates TRPV1 receptors, also known as “capsaicin receptors” (yep — the same ones that react to chili peppers)
• These receptors help the body sense heat and pain
• When THC binds to them, it can trick your body into thinking it’s hotter (or colder) than it really is

But that’s not all.

• THC also interacts with CB1 receptors in the brain, including in the hypothalamus — the command center for temperature control
• The result? A scrambled signal that can cause your body to overreact or underreact to real temperature cues

In animal studies, THC has been shown to cause both hypothermia (lowered body temp) and, in some cases, hyperthermia (increased temp) — depending on dose, route, and environment.

Human response?
Wildly individual. Some people run hot, others cold. Some both — within the same hour.

Feeling Cold? You’re Not Alone

If you've ever found yourself reaching for a blanket 15 minutes after getting high — even in the middle of summer — you're not crazy. Cannabis chills are real, and they’re surprisingly common.

What’s behind the cold sensation?

• Peripheral vasodilation:
  THC can cause your blood vessels to widen. This might seem like it would warm you up, but it actually pulls warm blood away from your core, making your body feel cooler.
• Drop in blood pressure:
  Some users experience a mild dip in blood pressure after consuming cannabis. That can lead to cold hands, feet, or a general “chilly” sensation.
• Metabolic shift:
  Cannabis may slow your metabolism temporarily, which can subtly impact how your body generates heat.
• Environmental amplification:
  Your perception of temperature can be altered — so a slightly cool room may suddenly feel freezing.

For some, this is mild and even pleasant. For others, it feels like being one hoodie away from hypothermia.

Or Maybe… You’re Overheating

On the flip side, some users don’t get chills — they get heat waves. And not the nice “beach-in-July” kind.

Common signs of cannabis-induced overheating:

• Flushed skin or red face
• Sudden sweating (especially upper body or palms)
• Racing heart or pounding chest
• Feeling like the room just got 10 degrees hotter

What causes it?

• THC-induced vasodilation can increase blood flow to the skin — which may trigger warmth, redness, or even sweating.
• Increased heart rate (a normal cannabis side effect) can make the body feel “revved up,” especially in warm environments.
• Anxiety and overstimulation — common with strong sativas or high doses — can mimic or magnify the sensation of overheating.

In extreme cases, people might experience something close to a “green out” — where heat, nausea, and panic combine into one unpleasant bundle. (If you've ever had to lie on the bathroom floor with the fan on, you know.)

CBD vs THC: Do They Feel Different?

While THC gets most of the attention (and causes most of the temperature weirdness), CBD behaves a little differently — and may even balance some of THC’s intensity.

Key differences:

• THC is the primary driver of thermoregulation effects: it interacts directly with CB1 and TRPV1 receptors, which influence how hot or cold you feel.
• CBD has low affinity for those same receptors — meaning it’s less likely to trigger strong temperature swings.

In fact, some users report that CBD-dominant products give a "neutral" body sensation — no chills, no sweats, just calm.

But it’s not magic:

• High doses of CBD can still affect blood pressure or cause mild dizziness, which might feel like a temperature shift.
• Most products contain a blend — so if there’s even a little THC, you might still get heat waves (or couch chills).

Bottom line:
If you're looking for a more stable, thermally boring experience — CBD is the calmer cousin.

What Affects Your Weed-Temperature Response

Why does your friend feel cozy and toasty while you’re bundled in three layers after sharing the same joint? Cannabis doesn’t hit everyone the same — especially when it comes to body temperature.

Key factors that shape your experience:

It’s not just what you’re using — it’s who you are, how much you take, and whether your thermostat already had a rough day.

Should You Be Worried? (Probably Not)

Cannabis-induced temperature swings might feel strange, but in most cases, they’re harmless and temporary.

If you’re feeling cold, grab a blanket. If you’re overheating, kick off the socks and drink some water.
These sensations usually pass as the high wears off — especially if you’re mindful about your dose, setting, and hydration.

When to pay closer attention:

• You consistently feel faint, dizzy, or nauseous
• The temperature swings come with anxiety or panic
• You’re combining cannabis with other substances that affect blood pressure

In those cases, it’s worth taking a step back — and maybe dialing it down (or talking to a healthcare provider if things feel off).

Otherwise?
Congratulations: your internal thermostat just got high with you.