Why Does My Poop Smell Like Weed: The Most Common Reasons

Photo by HighInBC - Attribute to yogi Bushby, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

You step into the bathroom and catch an unexpected scent: your poop smells like weed.

It sounds odd, but plenty of people notice it. Here is what is known about the possible causes, and what is not.

The Science of Smell

Smell starts when odor molecules travel through the air into your nose. There they reach specialized cells known as olfactory receptors, which send signals to the brain’s olfactory bulb.

It’s normal for stool to have a distinct odor, but its intensity and character can vary.

Diet, gut microbiota, digestive processes, hydration, and medications are some factors that will influence the way your shit smells.

The Most Common Reasons Why Your Poop Smells Like Weed

No study has looked at weed-smelling stool directly. One useful clue: cannabis gets its skunky smell mainly from sulfur compounds, and sulfur compounds also give stool and gas much of their odor. The same causes can explain why your farts smell like marijuana.

If you’re wondering why does my poop smell like weed, below are the possible reasons:

Recent Marijuana Consumption

Many people assume recent cannabis use is the cause. Your body does excrete most of a THC dose in stool: a review of cannabinoid pharmacokinetics reports that most of it leaves in feces rather than urine, mainly as metabolites such as 11-OH-THC.

Cannabis also contains aromatic compounds, but no research shows that they or THC metabolites make stool smell like weed.

So a link to recent use is possible but unproven, whether you smoked or ate edibles.

Cannabis is for adults 21+ where it is legal. Marijuana remains illegal under US federal law outside narrow exceptions, and state laws differ.

Diet

Some foods can leave stool with a pungent, skunky smell.

For instance, foods rich in sulfur compounds, like onions, garlic, eggs and meat, can make stool smell stronger, and sulfur smells can resemble the skunky note in cannabis.

Highly processed foods, spices, or heavily flavored ingredients may also produce distinct odors during digestion.

Gut Microbiota

The bacteria in your gut, known as gut microbiota, play a vital role in digestion and in how stool smells.

Changes in gut bacteria can change fecal odor. Whether cannabis use changes gut bacteria enough to affect smell has not been shown.

Metabolism and Elimination

How quickly food moves through your gut and how fully it is digested also affect odor. Food that reaches the large intestine undigested gives bacteria more to break down, which can mean a stronger smell.

Personal Hygiene and Cleanliness

Residual odors in the bathroom can linger and be mistaken for other smells. Good ventilation and regular cleaning help clear them.

Why Your Poop Turns Green

Does weed make your poop green? Smoking weed and consuming marijuana edibles are unlikely culprits. Instead, it can be a result of the following:

Diet

Green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, or broccoli can give your stool a green hue. Foods or drinks with green food coloring can also temporarily change the color.

Rapid Transit Time

When food moves quickly through the digestive tract, bile does not have time to be fully broken down. Bile is green, so fast transit can leave your poop green.

Medications and Supplements

Certain medications and supplements, such as iron supplements or antibiotics, can change stool color. If you’re taking any medications, ask your healthcare provider about side effects.

If green poop comes with other symptoms like abdominal pain or diarrhea, or keeps happening, consult a healthcare professional.

However, in most cases, green poop is nothing to be overly concerned about, especially if it resolves on its own.

When To Seek Professional Help

A brief change in stool odor is usually harmless and linked to diet.

There are times when it’s important to seek professional help.

If you notice persistent changes in poop odor, especially with abdominal pain, diarrhea, or unexplained weight loss, consult a healthcare professional.

If you have questions about your digestive health, or the odor persists despite diet changes, a healthcare provider, particularly a gastroenterologist, can provide a thorough evaluation and guidance.

Conclusion

A weed-like smell in stool most likely comes from sulfur compounds linked to diet and gut bacteria. A link to recent cannabis use is possible but has not been proven.

Cannabis does not appear to turn poop green. Green stool is usually from diet, fast transit, or medications.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does marijuana smell like?

Marijuana has a pungent, skunky, or earthy aroma that is easy to recognize. Its scent varies by strain and by batch.

Does Marijuana smell like poop?

No. Marijuana has a distinct pungent, skunky, or earthy aroma, while stool has a different odor profile, even though both owe part of their smell to sulfur compounds.

Does weed make you poop?

Some people notice changes in bowel habits after using cannabis, but the effect is not well established and varies from person to person.

Sources

• Human Cannabinoid Pharmacokinetics, Chemistry & Biodiversity
• Identification of a New Family of Prenylated Volatile Sulfur Compounds in Cannabis Revealed by Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography, ACS Omega
• Symptoms & Causes of Gas in the Digestive Tract, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• Schedules of Controlled Substances: Rescheduling of FDA Approved Products Containing Marijuana From Schedule I to Schedule III, Federal Register (U.S. Department of Justice, DEA)