Recognizing and Treating Greening Out
Understanding how your body responds to cannabis is of the utmost importance for your health. Strains, consumption methods, body weight, and genetic makeup all play a key role in how much cannabis your body can and should digest. When it comes to cannabis, one of the most common questions is what is greening out and how do I avoid it. In this article, we’ll give you all the information you need to avoid greening out, getting too high, and how to manage symptoms if you’re already greening out.
What Is Greening Out?
Greening out is a term used to describe when a person gets too high. Greening out is temporary and while very uncomfortable, it is not life-threatening and will pass. Consuming too much cannabis can lead to nausea, paranoia, anxiety, heart racing, dizziness, sweating, body shakes, dry mouth, dry eyes, and more. It can be incredibly overwhelming but fear not, it will pass.
What Are the Symptoms Of Greening Out?
While greening out is associated with a myriad of symptoms, anxiety, and panic attacks are the most reported symptom. Other symptoms include nausea, which can lead to vomiting, losing mobile function with an inability to move legs and arms due to a sense of heaviness, and feelings of dizziness or lightheadedness. People may turn pale and experience headaches, specifically migraines. Additionally, users may experience a rapid heart rate, which can lead to sweating, involuntary muscle spams (also known as the weed shakes), sweating, and overall discomfort. These are the most common symptoms of greening out.
Why Do People Green Out?
A few reasons why an individual might green out include:
- Accidentally overconsuming
- Low tolerance or new to cannabis
- Mixing cannabis with other substances including prescription medication, alcohol, caffeine, etc.
- The potency of the strain
How Long Will Symptoms Last?
Symptoms usually pass within a few hours. If you have consumed an edible, it may take longer, but rest assured, it will pass.
How Much Weed Is Too Much?
The amount of weed someone can consume varies from person to person. Factors like genetics, body weight, consumption method, strain, and how much food and drink a person has had that day all play a role in how high someone can get from weed.
Interestingly, there is also a correlation between someone’s metabolism and how cannabis affects them. A recent study conducted in March 2024 found that about one in four people have a gene that slows down the breakdown of cannabis in the body. This gene can lead to stronger and longer-lasting effects of cannabis because it takes longer to metabolize.
It is crucial to start using cannabis slowly to ensure you don’t green out. Responsible consumption is critical when trying any new substance you might be unfamiliar with.
Can You Overdose On Weed?
No, you can’t overdose on weed. Unlike other substances, cannabis is not life-threatening. If you’ve greened out and feel sick, just know that the symptoms are temporary.
What Do I Do If I’m Greening Out?
The first step to getting un-high or managing a “green out” is to ensure you’re in a safe and comfortable environment. Drink water to stay hydrated, as it may help ease some symptoms. It’s also important to eat a meal, as this can help balance your body. To calm down, try relaxation techniques or distract yourself with a favorite TV show or activity until the high passes. Remaining calm and patient is key to feeling like yourself again.
How To Avoid Greening Out
- Purchase cannabis from a reputable, reliable dispensary or delivery company
- Start slow and increase consumption
- Double-check milligrams of edibles and try 2.5MG to start. Work up from there.
- Avoid smoking from bongs, which may lead to a stronger high
- Stay hydrated
If you’re looking to try legal cannabis or CBD from a reputable brand and have it delivered to your door, head to trydoobie.com. If you have questions about how much cannabis to take, be sure to reach out to our Doobie Concierge at (888) 8DOOBIE or chat with them in the lower right corner of the Doobie website.
Disclaimer: The content provided in this article is for informational purposes only. Please consume cannabis responsibly and follow all local laws and regulations.
Photo by Elsa Olofsson on Unsplash
