No matter if you’re a novice smoker, a seasoned toker, a chronic user, or a pure connoisseur of marijuana; sooner or later you’re likely going to have a ‘bad trip’ that totally messes with your mind and body and makes you wish the high would end, or at least mellow out a bit... but it won’t... it’ll just keep getting more and more intense and you’ll be pretty sure you’re going to die, or do something really stupid, or just completely lose it and start running around like a total lunatic. Oh come on, admit it... you’ve been there... we have!
Ok, so let’s get one thing straight; no matter how badly you're ‘trippin out’ or how too high and stoned you may be... you’re not gonna overdose and die. You may die from doing something else after smoking weed, but smoking pot in and itself is not going to kill you. Studies have proven that, and the National Cancer Institute has this to say, “Because cannabinoid receptors, unlike opioid receptors, are not located in the brainstem areas controlling respiration, lethal overdoses from Cannabis and cannabinoids do not occur.” That does not mean, cannabis is completely harmless... it’s not... but it also won’t kill you as long as you don’t do anything really stupid, or go nuts, when you’re high.
Along with the usual and most common, ‘smoked more than i should have’ reason, there are many other reasons why a person can overdose on weed; some are physical, some are emotional, some are psychological, some are lifestyle based, and some are based on an individual’s tolerance to weed.
So how can you keep yourself from getting too stoned and experiencing a hellishly, bad trip?
Simple... stay within your personal limits and don’t mix weed with other drugs, including alcohol.
Ok, you’re so high that you’ve gone beyond the sky and stars and so deep inside your head that the real world realty doesn’t exist anymore because you’re stuck in whatever reality is inside your head. Now what? How do you escape?
*Don't panic and keep calm: remind yourself the trip will end, eventually
*Keep yourself hydrated and eat snacks: water and food can be very satisfying
*Take some CBD: it will counter and lessen the effects of THC intoxication
*Try some black pepper: chew it or whiff it... that was Neil Young’s advice to Howard Stern
*Try some sugar: put a couple teaspoons in a glass of water and drink it
*Go for a walk: this one can be tricky as you might not want to see/interact with people
*Take a shower or bath: this can be very calming and helps to dampen the high
*Do something to distract yourself: watch tv, listen to music, dance, sing, do a puzzle, etc...
*Be with friends: hang out with people you trust and ask them to help you
*Go to sleep: many times, sleep is the only way out
Here’s couple of other unwelcome effects ‘too much weed’ can have on a person.
Cottonmouth
Also known as dry mouth or the pasties, cottonmouth is one of the most annoying symptoms of smoking too much weed. Once you have it, it can be almost impossible to get rid of. THC, the active cannabinoid in the marijuana plant, resembles the structure of anandamide, the endocannabinoid that slows saliva production. THC may also reduce saliva production itself.
If you experience the pasties, keep hydrating yourself with water, but more importantly, drink something sour, as this particular taste stimulates the saliva production, providing the mouth with some instant relief.
Having the munchies is the most common side-effect of smoking 420 pot... the fast food industry should be very thankful to marijuana stoners. What exactly causes the ravenous hunger that has you thinking fast, greasy, fast-fast is a good idea?
THC stimulates appetite by making us more sensitive to the aromas of food, as well as interacting with cannabinoid receptors in the section of the brain called the nucleus accumbens, which boosts the release of dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for the sensation of pleasure, so eating when high is amazing and that’s why even fast-fast tastes so freakin good!
Last but not least, THC interacts with the same types of receptors in the hypothalamus region; thus, it leads to the release of the hormone ghrelin... it strengthens hunger. This is what makes ‘having the munchies’ a perfect storm of hard-to-control binge-eating feast.
According to recent studies, marijuana helps regulate blood sugar levels, which is definitely positive. However, new users who suddenly smoke-a-lot in a short period of time may experience reduced blood sugar and green-out.
Greening-out can disconcerting and some symptoms are paling of skin, weakness, nausea, and temporary loss of consciousness. If this happens because of over consumption of marijuana... drink something that is rich in sugars, or have a good handful of your favourite snacks. These will give you energy and help to get you feeling like yourself again. Green-outs pass fast.
Although cannabis has high potential in the treatment of anxiety, depression, and PTSD, smoking too much marijuana at one time may, paradoxically, lead to anxiety and paranoia. Whenever you’re feeling anxious after smoking weed, don’t dwell on the emotions that are causing the anxiety. Instead, try putting yourself in a positive, relaxing environment, ideally with friends you enjoy being around.
As research around cannabis continues, it’s been thought that CBD (Cannabidiol), a non-psychoactive cannabinoid in marijuana, can actually counter the effects of THC and relieve stress. So try taking CBD products when you’re way too high as it may help to dampen/ soften the effects of the overwhelming high you’re on.
That’s the most important piece of advice when it comes to being too high. Try to shift your focus towards something other than that which is causing you to feel you’re too stoned as the more you think about it, the more likely you are to fall deeper into its grip... try doing some of the things suggested in the top-10 list above.
Whatever you’re experiencing is temporary, and it’ll all go away as the high dies out, and you’ll (hopefully) be able to laugh about it later:-).