Any novice smoker’s biggest fear with cannabis is getting too high. There are plenty of ways this can happen. The most common is underestimating an edible, but a first time concentrate user can easily be caught off guard as well. Or, maybe you just smoked too much of some strong cannabis and now you feel uncomfortable, scared, and all you want to know is, “when will this end?”
The good news is there are lots of ways to counteract a cannabis high. In some cases, like the “edible overdose”, the damage is done, and you can’t uneat it. However, there are ways you can bring yourself down to reality, calm down, and try and enjoy the experience. We are going to share some of our favorite tips with you below.
Just relax – it’s temporary!
The first step you should take is to realize that everything is fine. You just consumed a relatively harmless substance, and it will run its course and then you will return to normal. The worst symptoms of greening out are anxiety, nausea, and a racing heart. You can rest assured that besides those, nothing will happen to you. No one has ever died from cannabis, and you certainly won’t be the first! Just keep reminding yourself that it’ll be over within a few hours at most.
Try and dose more carefully in the first place
It won’t help you after the fact, but you can prevent this minor inconvenience altogether by practicing safe cannabis consumption. If you are a first time cannabis user, you may not know your tolerance. If you are smoking flower, start with one puff and wait a few minutes – assess how you feel.
If you are vaping concentrate or taking your first dab, go small – there is no way for you to know just how much more powerful these methods of consumption are! If you are eating edibles, start with 5mg at most. A standard dose may be 10mg, but even that can be too much for a lot of people. We live by the mantra “you can always eat more, but you can never go back and eat less!”
Sip on some water and try and eat
Staying hydrated is important in general, but if you get too high, water can be your new best friend. Not only will it combat that nasty cottonmouth that excess cannabis consumption can cause, it will help you with any nausea. Water will also relax you, and help you focus on something as simple as swallowing.
You can also try a snack – many people report that eating after smoking will bring them back down. If nothing else, making a snack will be a good distraction for a few minutes!
Try smelling or chewing some black pepper!
This one sounds weird, we know. But, there are tons of people that swear by this trick. If you get too high and fall into a pit of anxiety or paranoia from excess cannabis, the aroma and taste of black pepper can provide seemingly instantaneous relief. If you are at a house, you definitely have some pepper somewhere!
Find a relaxing spot to analyze your thoughts
If you are at a party and find yourself overcome with anxiety from greening out, the noise and people can make things worse. Find a comfortable, quiet spot and focus on your breathing. If you have any experience meditating, now is the time to put it to practice! If you don’t, try this: Breathe deep in through your nose, out through your mouth.
Focus on the sound of your breathing and the feeling of your chest rising and falling. There are tons of apps that can help you with this.
Better yet, if you’re in the right setting, sleep it off. Cannabis can make you sleepy as it is, and a quick 30-60 minute nap could be all it takes to feel better. By the time you wake up, the peak of your high will have come and passed.
Take a walk
Another great method for combating an uncomfortable cannabis high is taking a walk. This is a healthy habit in general, but getting some fresh air is one of the best ways to bring yourself back down to earth.
Now, its important for you to be careful with this tip. If its night time and you’re out all alone, taking a walk might not be the safest option, especially with your senses lowered. In this case, grab a buddy, or just step outside and admire the scenery, focus on things like trees, mountains, fields, etc.
Take a hot shower or bath
Again, this one is setting dependent. If you’re in a park, or at a party, this may not be an option. But, if you’re at home, or you can get home quickly, a hot shower or bath is one of the most therapeutic ways to calm yourself from cannabis induced anxiety.
Find distractions
Distracting yourself is the best way to pass the time if you’re too high. Time seems to pass even slower, making the anxious, uncomfortable feelings even more unbearable. That’s why its important to stimulate your mind and keep busy.
Some of the best things you can do are simple household chores that you need to do anyways. A load of laundry, loading/unloading the dishwasher, sweeping or vacuuming, or yard work are great options. Or, try something more fun and actually try and enjoy your high!
- Video games (especially if you have friends you can play with!)
- Listen to music
- Watch an episode of your favorite show
- Do a puzzle
- Engage in good conversation with friends (you can even call up a friend if you’re alone)
- Cook a meal
There are a seemingly endless number of ways you can distract yourself. These are just some of the ones I use when I find myself in this situation. It really doesn’t matter what you do, all that matters is you keep your mind busy
Consume THC’s counterpart – CBD!
When you get too high, it’s really an excess of THC that’s causing you angst. To combat it, you can consume CBD. This non psychoactive cannabinoid has been shown to greatly lower the effects of THC.
At the end of the day, there is nothing for you to worry about if you think you’re too high. You can try some of these tips, but above all, just remember that it isn’t forever. There is really no need, but you can always call a medical professional if you think something is seriously wrong. They will help calm you down, and remind you what we just told you – its just temporary discomfort.
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