How To Not Cough When Smoking Weed & Smooth Weed Strains For Cough-Free Sessions

Ah, the quest for a smooth hit. There’s one common challenge many of us cannabis smokers face: the dreaded cough that comes with a potent and beloved puff. 

The cough itself won’t draw us away from smoking, but it sure isn’t a prized part of a session.

Thankfully, there are strains out there that don’t deliver a harsh aftermath. These strains are characteristically known to provide a smooth smoke, which can be traced back to several factors. 

Let’s dive into what makes a weed strain smooth and Herb’s top smoothest strains for a cough-free smoke (or at least a reduced-cough smoke).

Can’t stop coughing after smoking weed? You’re definitely not alone.

Inhaling any kind of smoke can irritate the respiratory system, as it often contains numerous harmful particulates and chemicals that can harm the delicate tissues of your lungs and throat, leading to coughing.

The heat from the smoke itself can also be a source of irritation, causing a temporary burning sensation in your throat and possibly your lungs.

Coughing is your body’s natural reflex to such irritation, helping to expel foreign substances that enter the airways, including smoke. Smoking also increases mucus production in the lungs and throat, and coughing helps to expel this, keeping your airways open and clear.

The belief that coughing after smoking weed intensifies your high is largely a myth.

Coughing intensely can temporarily reduce the amount of oxygen reaching your brain, leading to you feeling more lightheaded. Some mistakenly interpret this lightheadedness as an intensified high.

Coughing can also cause a temporary spike in your blood pressure and heart rate, potentially increasing blood flow to the brain. While this might theoretically enhance the delivery of THC to the brain, the effect is generally minimal.

Overall, the intensity of your high is more closely related to the actual amount of THC you inhale rather than the act of coughing.

When it comes to weed strains, there are Sativas, Hybrids and Indica strains to choose from.

Indica strains are associated with feelings of deep relaxation and sedation. Some believe that Indica strains cause them to cough more compared to others, but this likely isn’t a real phenomenon. 

The tendency for cannabis smoke to make you cough have more to do with the growing, curing, and storage process of the cannabis flower rather than the specific strain. That being said, there are strains known to be more soothing on the throat compared to others, which we can thank genetics for.

Gelato 41 has earned a reputation as a smooth weed strain thanks to its balanced terpene profile and naturally creamy, dessert-leaning genetics. It’s the kind of strain that’s known for going down easy—less bite on the throat, more soft, flavorful pulls.

There’s just something about the way Bloomz grows their Blazed THCa flower that takes that smoothness even further. Each hit feels light, silky, and surprisingly gentle, even on longer sessions.

Other smooth-strain favorites offered in the Blazed Exotic line include Animal Mintz and Bacio.

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Blue Dream is one of the favorite strains on the market, and for very good reasons. It is a strain with delicious berry flavors, and a potent high that contrasts with its mellow nature.

Blue Dream is a Sativa-dominant hybrid. This strain is appreciated by rookies and connoisseurs alike because it provides balanced effects, with a smooth and manageable experience.

Its THC content is around 15-25%, being a strain with a high content of the psychoactive compound; its experience is actually really balanced and peaceful. It’s also one of the best tasting weed strains that fall under the Sativa category.

Maybe just from the name alone, you know what this strain is all about. Big Smooth is an Indica-dominant hybrid that generates smooth effects while you can take big, cloudy hits without feeling overwhelmed or throat-clearing.

Big Smooth is a fun and interesting choice that provides a relaxing and sleepy high while enjoying its fruity flavor in big clouds of smoke.

In small doses, it is ideal for beginners who want to forget about the world and relax.

This Indica-dominant hybrid has a particular aroma and sweet taste, like freshly baked blueberry pancakes. Each puff is as smooth as a cloud, making it easy to consume in large quantities.

Tangie is one of the smoothest strains you can find on the cannabis market. 

Its genetics have a bit of Skunk in them, which makes its flavors and aroma citrusy and pungent, but don’t let this intimidate you, it is a smooth strain full of citrus flavor that is quite enjoyable while taking potent hits.

This is a sativa strain that will give you an energy boost, full of fruity flavors and a shot of energy to start your mornings with the best attitude.

The Green Crack strain is a sativa variety that offers herbal aromas and smooth and pleasant smoking sessions.

It is an ideal strain for daytime use due to its highly energizing effects, which make it the perfect wake-and-bake.

Green Crack is known for its incredible taste and aroma. An easy on the lungs and throat strain that is enjoyed by beginners and experienced stoners alike.

Harlequin is a CBD-rich cannabis strain. This combination of low THC and high CBD can make Harlequin one of the best alternatives for mellow smokes.

Harlequin is a unique sativa. It is known to be a smooth weed, perfect for those who are new to cannabis and want to have pleasant experiences where the taste of cannabis is enjoyed without overwhelming the throat.

The Harlequin experience will make you feel pleasantly relaxed with copious amounts of mental clarity and a positive yet euphoric mood that calms the mind.

Smooth strains deserve smooth technology. Premium cultivars have unique terpene profiles and carefully managed cannabinoid ratios that are best consumed using a device like a dry herb vaporizer. That’s because dry herb vapes can delicately heat flower without combustion, which can otherwise degrade terpenes and lose their effects.

Dry herb vapes like the PAX FLOW let you load 0.25-0.5g of ground herb and achieve much more efficient extraction than with typical smoking, thanks to their advanced hybrid heating system. Experience ultra-smooth draws thanks to the widened airpath, which delivers 4x more airflow than other PAX dry herb vapes.

When you’re paying high prices for flower, you deserve the same level of technology. The PAX FLOW that treats your flower with the respect it deserves.

If coughing ruins your sessions, Upstate Elevator’s 10mg THC Ruby Red Ranch Water solves the problem entirely.

Zero smoke, zero harshness, just grapefruit flavor and functional mushrooms (lion’s mane, cordyceps, reishi) that add benefits beyond the THC. Start with half a can for mild effects or commit to the full 10mg for a stronger experience.

The mushroom blend creates a perfectly balanced vibe, uplifted but grounded, energized but calm. It’s not trying to replicate smoking but instead offers something different that works better for people whose lungs don’t want to face the harsh wrath of combustion.