Relax you are just experiencing what is known as a “whitey” or “greening out”.
Any cannabis consumer can tell you that if there’s one feeling no one enjoys and that’s the moment when you realize, “I’m too high.” Perhaps the edible or Cannabis Oil kicked in three hours late. Perhaps you tried to impress a group of friends by breathing in a little bit too deeply. You might have just tried concentrates like Cannabis Oil RSO also known as FECO (Full extract Cannabis Oil) for the first time and were caught off-guard by their potency. Or maybe you are just a low tolerance consumer? Some people have a low tolerance and cannot handle THC products that well. Others handle it very well, especially if they are used to taking alot of chemical medications like pain killers, morphine, anti depressants, anxiety medication, anti inflammatory medication.
There are a thousand ways it can happen, but once it does, the resulting experience can be uncomfortable and people respond differently, some get sweaty and paranoid, some want to vomit, its just an indication of too much THC in the body.
Don’t panic! You are fine and everything is okay. Contrary to what you may have heard, there have been zero reported cannabis overdose deaths in the thousands of years of human consumption, so despite how paranoid, anxious, freaked out or sweaty you may get, you won’t die from excess consumption!
Most symptoms of “greening out” (using too much cannabis) will go away within minutes to a few hours, with no lasting effects beyond a little grogginess. Just give it some time and these feelings will eventually past.
Below are tips for reducing the cannabis high effect to help you overcome any unwanted psychoactive effects.
Know your limits before consuming. Self-titrate with your medications. This basically means taking small amounts and waiting to evaluate the effect that dose has on you. If you are new to cannabis consumption or are trying a new method of administration, take it slowly, especially when consuming edibles. Edibles can take up to two hours to have an effect, so trying a second edible before the first one takes effect can stimulate an anxious, panicked state. If you are administering by inhalation methods the effects will be felt quite quickly so wait until you are comfortable that the effect has subsided before taking more of your medication.
Administering cannabis as suppositories will not produce a psychoactive effect as the cannabinoids enter the bloodstream without being processed in the liver. There is no high feeling associated with this method of administration and is recommended for not only reducing the cannabis high but actually being the best way to administer high doses of THC oil.
Hydrate. Don’t forget to hydrate! Whether you prefer water or juice, make sure you have a nice cold beverage on hand (preferably non-caffeinated). This will help you combat dry mouth and allow you to focus on a simple and familiar act – sipping and swallowing. Keep in mind that by “hydrate,” we don’t mean “knock back a few alcoholic beverages.” If you’re feeling the effects of your strain a little too aggressively, stay away from alcohol as it can significantly increase THC blood concentrations.
Keep some black pepper on hand. If you find yourself combating paranoia and anxiety, a simple household ingredient found in the can come to your rescue: black pepper. Many swear by the black pepper trick, even Neil Young! Just sniff or chew on a few black peppercorns and this should provide almost instantaneous relief.
Keep calm and rest. Find a calm and quiet place where you can rest and breathe deeply. Remember that the intense discomfort you’re feeling will pass. Just take some deep full breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. Focus on the sound of your breathing and just rest a while. Sometimes sleeping it off can be the best alternative to stopping a strong high, but for some it’s not always that easy to turn your brain off. Once you’ve found a quiet area, lay down and let yourself relax. If drowsiness and sleep are quick to onset, take a little nap to rejuvenate yourself. Should you be unable to fall asleep, just get comfortable until you feel strong enough to spring back up.
Try exercising or going out for a walk. Exercise is one of the best ways to sober up in a hurry because it causes a release of endorphins in the brain. Endorphins are neurotransmitters that are released when a sudden trauma or stressful event occurs with the purpose of temporarily blocking pain signals. This is the same reason a stressful event can take time to “set in” or the reason many report a lack of pain immediately following an injury. When endorphins flow, the stress of your excessive high will melt away, too (plus, it’ll help take your mind off of how incredibly stoned you are). Although you may not always feel like exercising, give it a try and see what happens.
Take a shower or bath. As unpleasant as it may seem, hopping in a cold shower for a few minutes can help you calm down from a marijuana high very quickly. If a shower isn’t available, just splash a bit of cold water on your face. This works because cold water triggers what’s called the “mammalian diving reflex,” or an immediate decreased heart rate, as a means of survival. It will also drop your body temperature, conserve energy and preserve excess oxygen (and thus THC).
Distract yourself. All of the activities that seem so entertaining and fun while high are also a great way to distract yourself while you try to come back down to Earth. Some suggestions include: Watching a funny cartoon or series. Listen to your favorite music. Play a fun video game on your mobile phone. Snuggle with your significant other. Talk to your friends (who are hopefully right by your side, reassuring you). We suggest staying off social media as this may only make you more anxious.
Whatever distractions you prefer, make sure it’s a familiar activity that gives you warm fuzzy emotions. Your brain will hopefully zone in on the positive feelings and give you a gentle reminder that you are safe and just fine.
Eat something. Word on the street is that food will bring you down from a high. Many use this as reason enough to avoid eating while stoned (at least for a little bit), but it can come in handy for those who want to come down from a cannabis/marijuana/dagga high. Although we’re still not certain why food helps people come down from a high, some suggest that, because fatty foods bind with cannabinoids, they will be metabolized faster. Others speculate that consuming food increases blood flow to the stomach while pulling it from the brain thus decreasing THC’s psychoactive tendencies. Bottom line? A healthy meal may just be the answer.
Try some CBD. If THC is the “Ying” then CBD is the “Yang”. CBD is essentially nature’s antidote to the high THC can produce. In simple terms, CBD works by blocking THC from binding with the cannabinoid receptors in your brain, toning down the effects from THC. You can order and buy Hemp CBD Oil online in South Africa which has the same effect as cannabis CBD. Never hurts to have some on hand just in case. We recommend the 300mg Elxinol Hemp CBD oil from Hemporium or the 2000mg from Cibdol.
Research indicates that ibuprofen may counteract some effects of THC, especially when it comes to memory and mental acuity. If you have access to cannabidiol (CBD) capsules or tinctures, they can also balance the overdose of THC. CBD is an excellent anxiety-fighting compound, and it can be used to counteract the psychoactive effects of THC. Check out our article about how CBD’s anti-anxiety mechanisms work by modulating the receptor signaling associated with THC. CBD works by blocking THC from binding with the cannabinoid receptors in your brain, reducing the effects of THC. Hemp CBD Oil can be legally purchased online and will have the same effect as CBD from full spectrum cannabis plants.
Citicoline is a natural supplement available cheaply online and has the effect of reducing the THC psychoactive effect in most, but not all users. It is worth trying as it has many other health benefits.
Understanding how long the effects will last. A typical high will wear off in about three hours, with the main effects spiking about 30 minutes after administration. However, when you eat cannabis or administer too much by other methods, the effect can take longer to wear off and can last as long as six hours or more. Taking smaller doses helps dramatically and has great effect in reducing the cannabis high. If you take an exceptionally high dose of cannabis the effects can last much longer. The high comes from the THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) content in cannabis. Physical effects manifest themselves as bloodshot eyes, dilated pupils, dizziness, dry mouth, increased appetite, shallow breathing, and slower reaction time. Psychological effects appear in feelings that are energetic, euphoric, happy, relaxed, and uplifted, but it can also generate anxiety and paranoia in some users.