Can You Be Allergic to Marijuana? Here’s How to Tell

Can you be allergic to marijuana? Yes. A 2024 review describes cannabis allergy as an IgE-mediated allergy that most often causes eye and nose symptoms, hives or skin swelling and can, in some cases, be life-threatening. This guide covers the symptoms, who is more likely to react and how an allergist tests for it.

Pollen, pet dander and some foods are familiar allergy triggers, and the cannabis plant can be one too. Its usual signs are sneezing, itchy or watery eyes and hives, and many people with a cannabis allergy also react to some fruits, vegetables, nuts or cereals. An allergist can test for it, and anyone who has had a serious reaction should carry epinephrine as their provider instructs. For breathing problems rather than allergy, see our post on medical marijuana and asthma.

What Is a Marijuana Allergy?

In a marijuana allergy, the immune system makes IgE antibodies against proteins in the cannabis plant, and the 2024 review notes that five of these allergens have been characterized so far. As with other allergies, a person with a cannabis allergy can react when using, eating or handling cannabis products.

Allergic reactions to marijuana may occur from smoking or vaping marijuana, as well as eating marijuana products, inhaling some marijuana smoke or vapor, or even just touching a marijuana plant. How strongly someone reacts depends on their own sensitivities and tolerance levels, and a serious reaction needs medical care.

Marijuana Allergy Symptoms

Symptoms can follow smoking or vaping, eating, or touching the plant, and many look like those of other allergies. Examples include:

• Red and watery eyes
• A runny or congested nose
• Hay fever-like symptoms
• Sneezing
• Swelling under the skin (angioedema)
• Itchiness
• Inflamed or red skin
• Hives
• Asthma symptoms after contact with the plant

Risk Factors of a Cannabis Allergy

There are certain risk factors that may make a person more likely to suffer from an allergy to marijuana. These include:

• Allergen cross-reactivity: Cannabis allergies are more likely to be present in people who suffer from other allergies, especially allergies to substances that contain similar proteins and properties to the cannabis plant. A 2024 review describes cross-reactions mainly with fruits, vegetables, nuts and cereals, so people with a cannabis allergy may also react to some of these foods.
• Sensitization: Using cannabis very regularly or being exposed to it on a regular basis may also cause a person to develop an allergy over time. A study at an allergy center near Omaha, in a Midwest region where cannabis plants are common, found that 61% of the patients it skin tested reacted to cannabis. Those who spend lots of time around the plant may gradually develop a sensitivity to it due to the amount of pollen they inhale and come into contact with. This process is called sensitization.
• THC content (no proven link): All types of cannabis have their own THC and CBD ratios, with some containing much more THC, the compound that causes the high, than others. A 2024 review says the true number of people with cannabis allergy is unknown and likely underestimated, and it does not tie the risk to THC level.

How Do I Know If I Have a Marijuana Allergy?

Testing yourself by using cannabis and watching how your body responds may be unsafe, so how do you find out if you have a marijuana allergy? An allergist can run tests for a possible cannabis allergy, and you can tell your marijuana doctor what they find.

Marijuana Allergy Diagnosis

Typically, when diagnosing an allergy, doctors carry out a simple skin prick test. They place a tiny amount of allergen on the skin, prick the surface and then measure the response. There isn’t currently a standard skin prick test for cannabis, but an allergist may still offer these tests:

• Skin tests: A doctor may be able to offer a variation of the skin prick test to check for cannabis allergies. They’ll prick the patient’s arm or back with a small amount of cannabis allergen and wait for around 20 minutes to check for a response. If an allergy is present, the patient may have red, itchy, or inflamed skin in the pricked area. However, these tests are not 100% reliable.
• Blood tests: Another option to diagnose cannabis allergies is a blood test. Specifically, a test for IgE antibodies to cannabis extract may be used. A 2024 review notes that tests for single cannabis allergens are not yet widely available. The blood test measures the number of IgE antibodies to cannabis in the blood and can suggest whether you have a marijuana allergy. Like the skin test, it can give misleading results.

Marijuana Allergy Treatment

Testing can point to a cannabis allergy, but it does not treat one, and preventing a reaction is a separate question. There is no established treatment for cannabis allergy itself yet.

For people with the allergy, that usually means avoiding cannabis, and for mild symptoms an allergist may suggest allergy medicines to ease them. People who have had a serious reaction should carry epinephrine as their provider instructs, in case anaphylaxis occurs.

The lack of a specific treatment is hard news for people with a cannabis allergy who also hold a medical marijuana certification for a condition such as cancer, and they should tell their certifying doctor. Researchers are still working out how to diagnose and manage cannabis allergy. Contact us to learn more.

What Should You Do If You Think You React to Cannabis?

In short, cannabis allergy is a recognized allergy, and a 2024 review notes it can sometimes be life-threatening. If you feel like you’ve experienced symptoms after using marijuana in the past, ask a doctor about allergy testing.

Last updated October 17, 2026 by the Dr. Green Relief Editorial Team.

Sources

• Ebo DG et al. IgE-Mediated Cannabis Allergy and Cross-Reactivity Syndromes: A Roadmap for Correct Diagnosis and Management. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2024 (PubMed)
• Stokes JR et al. Cannabis (hemp) positive skin tests and respiratory symptoms. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2000 (PubMed)
• MedlinePlus. Allergy Skin Test
• Sutton BJ et al. IgE Antibodies: From Structure to Function and Clinical Translation. Antibodies (Basel). 2019 (PubMed)
• MedlinePlus. Anaphylaxis
• NIDA. Cannabis (Marijuana)
• The 2026 Florida Statutes, s. 381.986, Medical use of marijuana (Florida Senate)