We have all been there: That last doobie was the proverbial nail in the coffin. Your heart is pounding, and your forehead is having a case of the sweats. You noticed that you haven’t moved from your friend’s couch in nearly 45 minutes. The out-of-body experience that is occurring as you are stuck on the couch intensifies more and more with each passing second. You are pretty sure that you are about to die (note: you are probably not about to die.) You are experiencing the effects associated with consuming too much THC. Fret not, fellow stoner! There are a few things you can do to offset that bad high. Let’s figure out how to sober up from weed.
What does consuming too much cannabis feel like?
Consuming too much THC can be quite a terrible experience if you are not prepared. Overconsumption of THC can produce the following symptoms:
- Increased rapid shaking of the hands
- An out-of-body or astral-like experience
- Light to moderate sweating
- Paranoia
- Hallucinogenic thoughts
- Removal of social anxiety (talking &interacting more than usual)
- Increased heart rate
- An overwhelming feeling of fatigue (i.e. ‘couch-lock)
Most of the symptoms can occur mildly when consuming the appropriate THC, yielding a pleasant experience.
The myth of overdosing on THC
Yes and no. ‘Overdosing’ from consuming too much THC is an urban legend. To this day, there has yet to be someone who has died from the overconsumption of cannabis. However, you can overindulge in too much THC that your body is not prepared for. The feeling associated with consuming too much weed can be avoided with the proper dosage. For consumers who rarely partake in consuming cannabis, any amount between 1 to 2.5 milligrams of THC is all that is needed. For consumers who suffer from ailments such as social anxiety, insomnia, or search for a euphoric experience from cannabis, any amount between 2.5 to 15 milligrams is recommended. For individuals who are more seasoned with consuming cannabis, any amount between 15 and 30 milligrams is all that is needed. This dose will create more substantial euphoric effects and increase the duration of the impact associated with the consumption of cannabis. Finally, for those with a significantly intense tolerance to THC (i.e., ‘stoners’), an amount between 30 and 50 milligrams is advised. If you can moderate your level of cannabis consumption, the symptoms of consuming too much THC can be avoided in their entirety.
How to sober up from too much THC
There are several ways to sober up from weed—one of the most popular ways to come down from being high in CBD. THC, the psychoactive compound responsible for getting consumers high, can be counteracted with CBD. Theoretically, the CBD will assist in the offsetting of THC. This is done by CBD metaphorically bullying the THC off of the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the body’s Endocannabinoid System, or ECS. Since CBD is virtually legal everywhere, this method of sobering up from weed is quite accessible.
Another method to assist with the comedown from being high is time. All highs cannot last forever. Most consumers who experience a terrible euphoria from consuming too much THC are often not in direct physical danger from experience. The average high can last anywhere from 4 to 12 hours. If you are in a safe place, then pop a squat and wait it out. Feel free to take a nap while the psychoactive cannabinoids run their course. 99.9% of the time, no one is severely injured from the overindulging of cannabis. Chances are, you will also be acceptable.