While cannabis typically works well for most people, there’s also such thing as getting too high. It usually comes when you’re least expecting it and can make you take a serious turn for the worse.
It’s no secret that cannabis offers psychedelic effects and that’s the reason that many people use it, at least recreationally. THC is the compound inside cannabis which is responsible for the high and stoned sensations. CBD is another compound in the plant which is thought to contain medicinal value and make you feel relaxed and comfortable but without any high or cerebral effects.
There are different situations in which cannabis can make you feel a little shaky, but that depends on several factors. Before we go any further though, we need to be clear that cannabis – even in high doses – is non-lethal and does not cause serious harm. For example, there is no known clear case of a person dying from a cannabis overdose ever, and this is considered by most to be impossible. However, getting too high is unpleasant, and it often comes from eating cannabis edibles or from smoking too much.
What Makes Someone Get “Too High”?
The obvious culprits here to mention are novice users, and especially young teenagers or the elderly (not to mention other people with underlying medical conditions). The people in these groups are probably the most likely to feel too high. That also goes for first-time users. It also often depends on the circumstances or situation where cannabis is used.
Cannabis edibles often get novice users too intoxicated
Cannabis edibles are another big culprit here, and that’s to do with the way they enter the system via the stomach. It’s also harder to dose accurately when taking edibles, as opposed to smoking or vaping. When cannabis is taken via the stomach, it takes a while to work itself through the digestive tract and into the bloodstream. It also gets filtered by the liver when consumed, and this is an additional factor. It takes up to three hours for the effects of cannabis edibles to be felt by some people, and that’s not always a good thing in terms of timeframe.
Then, there are those people who abuse cannabis by overly smoking, vaping, or eating it even though they already feel the full effects. It could be a party where a pipe or bong is going around, or a novice smoker wants to impress the crowd. If that newbie also consumed alcohol, that could also have an effect on how the cannabis affects them.
These days, there are also highly potent cannabis concentrates, extracts, and tinctures that can get you 15 or even 30 times higher than smoking conventional cannabis. Even a veteran cannabis user can feel some wobbly effects from “dabbing” (the process of heating cannabis concentrates to a high temperature), and that’s also something to bear in mind.
What To Do When You Get Too High
The first piece of advice you need is – DON’T PANIC – everything is going to be just dandy, soon. For now, try and sit down quietly in a cool, comfortable room, concentrate on your breathing and relax, nothing bad is going to happen to you. You may feel sweaty, confused, and even have a headache for a while but usually, a few hours sleep will have you feeling right as rain.
A snack and some water can help tremendously if you’re feeling to high
The next thing to do is to sip some water (or even soda as the sugar could make you feel better even if it’s not so healthy). The more hydrated you are, the better, and it could be that you were dehydrated in the first place and that’s why you were affected badly.
A snack is also a good idea to give you something else to focus on, other than how bad you’re feeling. Some people swear by bananas when they encounter adverse effects from cannabis, but you can choose other food as well. The last thing you’ll be thinking about is calories at this time.
When things have calmed down a little, even if you aren’t feeling 100%, try to go for a relaxing stroll around the block or take the dog for a walk. The more you distract your mind from the negative feelings, the better. When you get back from the walk and if you’re feeling up to it, take a lukewarm-to-cold shower or bath and relax further. No, you don’t need an ambulance, and you don’t need a 3 am visit to the emergency room, no matter how bad you think you feel.
Take Some CBD Oil or Vape Juice
CBD, as mentioned at the beginning of this article, is a compound inside cannabis that, according to some, offers numerous health benefits but doesn’t make you feel high. CBD also works directly against THC to reduce anxiety or paranoia that some people feel when cannabis hits them badly.
As Martin Lee, author of Smoke Signals famously wrote, “Cannabidiol (CBD) balances the buzz and softens the euphoria–or, in some cases, the dysphoria–induced by THC, which can make people feel very loopy and weird. CBD is the yin of THC’s yang.” As such, there’s a unique, symbiotic relationship between THC and CBD. CBD enhances the pain-numbing effects of THC and also reduces the paranoia that it can cause in some people.
If you ever find yourself becoming too high, just pop a few drops of highly concentrated CBD Oil under your tongue. You can also vape or smoke CBD flowers (hemp buds) or take some CBD in the form of E-liquid in a vape pen. Many people find that CBD helps to calm things down and causes the enhanced or overwhelming sensations to dissipate naturally.
Knowing Your Limits
When all is said and done, you can avoid getting too high by understanding and gauging your tolerance level to cannabis. If consuming edibles, for example, start low with a 5 or 10mg dose and taper up from there. Patience is the key as it takes up to a few hours for the full effects of edibles to be felt.
If smoking or vaping THC-heavy cannabis start with one or two small puffs, wait for ten minutes and see how you’re feeling. You’ll know by then if you’ve reached your desired level or need a little top up.
