Have you or a friend overdone it with the edibles and gotten way too high? Instead of freaking out, read this guide to find out what you should do.
It happens, even to the best of us. Sometimes you just get way too high. Especially when you overdo it with edibles, it's not fun… at all. Edibles are a great way to medicate or to consume THC in general, but a lot of people underestimate them and overdo it.
They come in many different strengths, so a bit of one edible doesn't equal a bit of another. Plus, it can take between 45 minutes and 2 hours to feel the high as the THC and other cannabinoids enter your bloodstream through the digestive tract.
This is why you should always pay strict attention to how strong each edible is before you eat it. Read the label, ask the dispensary, ask your friends, just make sure you know what you are about to consume. Then, be patient enough to wait the allotted time before having more.
However, if you or a friend has over-imbibed, here's what you can do to come back down to earth:
1. RELAX AND TRY TO CHILL
If you've eaten way too many THC-laden goodies, you are not going to die, and you won't even need medical treatment. Time will cure all, even if you don't do anything else. That said, it'll help if you can calm down, relax, and chill.
Side effects of too much cannabis can include increased heart rate, anxiety, paranoia, reduced reaction times, and in rare cases, mild hallucinations. Keep telling yourself that it's only the weed and you'll be back to your normal self sooner or later.
Take long, deep, soothing breaths and try some of these ways to pass the time:
- Relax in a warm bath
- Watch your favorite movie
- Go to bed and sleep it off
- Listen to your favorite tunes
- Light a scented candle if that's your kind of thing
Whatever you do, don't try to fight the high. That'll only make things worse.
2. HYDRATE AND HAVE A SNACK
Smoking marijuana can give you cottonmouth and the munchies. Edibles can do the same thing. If you've overdone it, dehydration only makes things worse. When you hydrate, go with plain water or a sports drink. Caffeinated beverages will dehydrate you even more, and alcohol only increases the effects of the THC.
THC is fat soluble, so eating something simple, easy to prepare, and although there's no firm research on that, a little fatty, might help clear your bloodstream a little bit. And even if it doesn't, the simple act of eating and drinking will distract your mind and help you feel more grounded. They don't call it comfort food for nothing.
3. BLACK PEPPERCORNS CAN REDUCE YOUR HIGH
If you don't normally keep whole black peppercorns on hand, add some to your emergency stash. Just sniffing them is enough to calm some people's anxiety and paranoia. If that doesn't do the trick, chewing on them is like a magic bullet for runaway highs. Try it—we swear it works, and the research agrees.
Don't believe in magic? Here's your daily dose of science. Just like weed, black pepper contains terpenes that can bind to the endocannabinoid receptors in your brain. When the pepper ties up all those receptors, it locks out the THC. As your brain becomes less activated by THC, your high starts to drop. See—science!
The limonene in lemons and the pinene in pine nuts might do the same thing.
4. BURN IT OFF
Racing thoughts won't let you relax? Instead of fighting it, get up and do something instead. Just leave the driving and operating heavy equipment alone until you feel like yourself again. As long as you stay within familiar surroundings and you're not dizzy, you're good to go for a run, take a walk, or enjoy a little yoga.
Not only is exercise a great distraction; the same chemical process that's responsible for the legendary runner's high can chill an edible high that's out of control. Exercise triggers your body to produce an endocannabinoid called anandamide, which can help much like the black peppercorns. Plus, all that breathing and blood flow helps speed up your body's natural ability to clear THC from your system.
5. CBD IS KIND OF LIKE A THC ANTIDOTE
Science and experimentation have proven that CBD works directly against THC. Cannabis with low CBD and high THC will naturally give you a more mental high. As CBD content starts to increase in relation to THC, the reverse happens. The effect becomes more calm, soothing, and physical—and much less psychoactive.
So if you're feeling way too high, try taking some CBD oil for instance. You could eat an edible containing mostly CBD, but that'll take hours to bring you down just like it took you hours to get too high. Instead, keep some CBD oil on hand for such occasions. If you don't live near a dispensary, they're legal and available to order in many countries and states.
Interestingly, there are numerous CBD products available that can potentially help you counter too much THC. CBD can be consumed in a variety of different ways, from tasteless Softgel Capsules (ranging from 4% to 10% CBD) to simply buying a bottle of CBD oil complete with its own handy dropper. This way, you can either place a dose under your tongue or add it to food or drinks if you get a bit too high on edibles. You can even pick up Sleep Well CBD to leave you feeling refreshed after a good night’s rest. With so much choice available, you are bound to find a product that suits your needs.
