Too High? How to Come Down From a Weed High Fast

What helps you come down from a weed high?

To come down from a weed high faster, drink water, eat something, get some fresh air and settle into a calm spot; a few black peppercorns or a little CBD may also take the edge off. There's no instant off switch, but these moves can make the ride a lot smoother. Here are some ideas:

1. Drink water: Staying hydrated can help take some of the intensity out of the high.
2. Rest and relax: Find a quiet, comfortable place where you can chill out and let the high fade over time.
3. Eat something: Some people find that food, especially carbs, helps them feel less high.
4. Fresh air: If you can, step outside or open a window. Fresh air can help clear your head.
5. Distract yourself: Listening to music, watching a movie or talking with friends can help take your mind off how high you are.
6. Light exercise: Some people find that a little light exercise helps them shake off the high faster.
7. Chamomile tea: Herbal teas like chamomile can help you relax and ease the anxiety that sometimes comes with cannabis.

Keep in mind that the high varies from person to person and depends on how much you took. If you're feeling unpleasant or uncomfortable effects, your best bet is to wait it out and let them wear off naturally.

How long does it take for a weed high to wear off?

How long a high takes to wear off depends on the person and how much they took. In general, the psychoactive effects of smoked weed last 2 to 6 hours, though they can last longer if you took a big dose or if you ate edibles, which take longer for your body to process.

To come down, it helps to stay hydrated, rest and relax somewhere calm, eat something and stop consuming more weed. Distracting yourself and patiently waiting for the effects to fade on their own can help too.

Everyone experiences cannabis differently, and factors like tolerance, body weight, metabolism and dose all affect how long and how strong the high is.

Signs you're too high: what greening out feels like

Greening out happens when the CB1 receptors in your nervous system take in more THC than they can handle, which leads to a bunch of mental and physical effects that can be scary, uncomfortable and (if you have a heart condition) potentially dangerous.

It's pretty easy to tell when it's happening to you. Most of the symptoms are obvious. Here are some of them: 

1- Nausea:

Cannabis is known for helping with nausea. We've all heard how much it can help cancer patients dealing with an upset stomach and loss of appetite from chemo.

But if you feel nauseous while or after using cannabis, there's a good chance you're greening out.

2- Dizziness:

Feeling a little off balance isn't unusual when you're high. But when you green out, the dizziness gets worse. Your best move is to lie down and close your eyes. If the room's still spinning, you've probably gone past your THC limit.

3- Paranoia:

Paranoia often comes with being high, so having paranoid thoughts doesn't automatically mean you overdid it, but it's a clear sign to put the joint down for now. 

If you've never felt paranoia, it usually starts as a sense of unease, like something isn't right. That can snowball into intrusive, disturbing thoughts, like feeling watched or followed. You might also get jumpy and overreact to movements or sounds.

4- Anxiety:

Some studies suggest cannabis can help with anxiety, and plenty of people use it for that, whether now and then or regularly. But anxiety and weed need balance: low, careful doses of THC may help, while high doses can actually trigger anxiety.

5- Racing heart:

If you don't have any heart problems, you'll probably be fine once the THC wears off and your heart rate settles down. But if you have an underlying condition, like heart disease, high blood pressure or anything else that affects your heart, it's best to avoid cannabis completely until you talk to a specialist.

6- Drowsiness:

Drowsiness is one of the most common side effects of cannabis. Many people with insomnia and other sleep problems report that its sedating effect helps them a lot.

When you green out, though, that drowsiness can get really heavy. 

7- Cottonmouth:

Cottonmouth has nothing to do with being dehydrated. What's really going on is that THC slows down saliva production.

You're not at risk of dehydration, but weed can give you mild to severe dry mouth, and it's genuinely uncomfortable. That's probably also why long-term cannabis use has been linked to gum disease. 

When it hits, drink plenty of water so your mouth doesn't get too dry.

What to do if you green out

If it happens, don't panic. The next few hours might be rough, physically and mentally, but it will pass. 

You can't fatally overdose on THC, and there are ways to soften or shorten the effects and figure out what works best for you. Here are some tips for when it happens:

1- Reach for terpenes:

Terpenes are the oily aromatic compounds found all over the plant kingdom, and they play a big role in both the recreational and medical effects of cannabis. 

When you're greening out, beta-caryophyllene and limonene are the terpenes you want on hand. The good news: both are easy to find, in black pepper and lemons, respectively. 

For a quick fix, chew a few black peppercorns, and get your limonene by eating a couple of lemon slices or drinking some lemon juice. 

2- Drink water:

Dry mouth is a common side effect of cannabis, especially when you green out.

Water is usually the best choice since it's the easiest to grab, but juice and herbal tea (with little or no caffeine) work too. Ideally, skip alcohol and caffeinated drinks: they can dry you out, and caffeine can ramp up anxiety.

3- Take a little CBD:

Some research suggests cannabidiol (CBD) can counteract some of THC's effects, so a little CBD may help take the edge off. 

4- Take a shower: A shower can wake up your senses and help fight off some of the bad effects you're feeling. 

5- Change your surroundings:

Sometimes just getting up, moving around and walking somewhere else can calm your nerves. Try stepping outside for a few minutes. Fresh air gets you away from any lingering smoke smell and can give your senses a little boost.

You can avoid greening out by learning your limit and smoking with someone you trust who can help you through it, and if you do go past that limit, by using the tips above to ride it out. 

How to keep from getting too high next time

If you want to avoid greening out when you smoke weed, here are a few things to consider:

1. Stay hydrated: Drink enough water before, during and after smoking. Staying hydrated can help keep your blood pressure steady.
2. Smoke in a comfortable, relaxed setting: Find a calm, safe place where you feel at ease while you smoke. Avoid stressful or awkward situations that can raise your chances of a bad high.
3. Watch your dose and what you smoke: If you tend to green out, consider smoking less or trying lower-THC strains. Some people find that CBD-rich strains are gentler and less likely to cause bad effects.
4. Don't overdo it: Smoking too much raises your risk of greening out. Go easy and don't push past your personal limits.
5. Change positions slowly: If you get up after smoking, do it slowly and avoid sudden moves. That can help prevent a sudden drop in blood pressure.