It happens to every cannabis consumer. One minute you’re enjoying yourself with a relatively familiar state of mind, but before you know it, the experience devolves into one that is far from enjoyable. When you’re simply too high to deal, there are a few methods and practices you can exercise to bring you back to cloud nine from an incapacitating high.
First, it’s important to address the root cause of getting too high, rather than just the remedy. NO one wants to feel like they are not in control of their physical or mental faculties. It’s plainly unenjoyable as well as irresponsible. So, what causes people to get too high?
There are many reasons why a person may smoke or eat their way into unknown territory when consuming cannabis. The first and most common is likely just having a low tolerance.
Whether you’re a new cannabis user or one who has experience but is kicking up their dosage, tolerance plays a significant role in getting too high. Sticking to low-THC-containing strains initially will give new smokers an easing into the culture and help them find a suitable wellness regimen for their tolerance level.
In the case of experienced smokers stepping up their weed game, the dosage is likely the culprit of eliciting a bad reaction. For example, if you’ve primarily been a joint smoker, making a transition to water pipes will likely kick your highs up to the next level. If you’re trying concentrates like wax and shatter in a dabbing rib, forget about it. Those THC delivery methods are strong and the effects come on quick. Counter their potency with a reduced amount of flower or concentrate and gradually increase the dosage as you become accustomed to the experience.
The second most common cause of being too high is simply not known how much cannabis you’ve ingested. This is most often experienced with edibles. Edibles are not an exact science. THC content can be regulated relatively strictly, but the effects are experienced differently by each individual. Our bodies metabolize chemicals at different rates. This can lead to more intense effects being felt or those effects being delayed until the worst possible time. Most veteran users can vouch for that happening at least once in their tenure.
One more example can be found in the social pressure to feel we either need to keep up or show off with our peers. Filling your lungs to the brim or taking a bite big enough to choke a donkey may earn some accolades at the moment, but the choice could also set you up for a ride you were not prepared to take. Do yourself a favor and put your ego to the side around cannabis. This will ensure you can handle yourself around friends and strangers without any physical, mental, or other significant impairment.
As stated above, cannabis affects everyone differently and there are an array of factors that impact those effects. This includes tolerance, amount, and duration of consumption, just to name a few. As a result, there is no concrete guide for what to do when you get too high. However, there are several steps you can take to mitigate the effects and maintain your composure until the experience subsides.
The sudden effects of feeling too high can leave one with significant anxiety and confusion. Taking a few breaths and acknowledging you’re just too high will help you focus on the fact that while you do not feel so great, this is only temporary. And that’s the most important detail to remember. This too shall pass. No one has ever died from cannabis consumption in any amount. While you may feel as though you might, try to keep that fact in mind. Measured breaths and relaxing in a comfortable position will further reduce anxiety and potential physical consequences, like falling over.
If you’re an outside observer near someone in a state of panic regarding their level of intoxication, do what you can to convey the short-lived nature of the situation in a calm manner.
While it’s recommended for anyone using cannabis to remain hydrated, doing so in a state of being too high can help take the focus off mental effects by stimulating physical. Cool water coating the mouth and throat can soothe irritated tissues and temper body warmth.
The body is always at work clearing toxins from the body and metabolizing nutrients into energy. Consuming light snacks, like fruit, nuts, and cheese, can distract the mind and ease the body into a state of heightened metabolism. This will provide a source of energy for the user, take their mind of a negative experience, and get the body working to further process the chemicals responsible for an especially strong high.
Believe it or not, black pepper has a following of users who swear by its ability to relax and calms the nerves.
Whole black peppercorns are reported to relieve the effects of anxiety. There is quite a bit of anecdotal evidence to support the method of reducing the effects of being too high. However, Dr. Ethan Russo, a board-certified neurologist, psychopharmacology researcher, and Director of Research and Development of the International Cannabis and Cannabinoids Institute, lends credence to the lore.
Dr. Russo’s work titled “Taming THC: Potential Cannabis Synergy and Phytocannabinoid-Terpenoid Entourage Effects” explores this phenomenon. According to the study, peppercorns contain specific terpenes, aromatic molecules produced in plants, which can counteract the effects of THC. The specific compound is called caryophyllene and it is a “high-potency selective CB2 agonist”. This designation characterizes caryophyllene’s ability to impede THC’s ability to reach the brain, constraining the psychological effects, while encouraging the physical effects. So, the cultural remedy is in fact rooted in chemistry that Russo and his colleagues back with confidence.
Making use of distractions can help alleviate the effects of an all too potent high. This can run the gamut when it comes to activities. You can try watching a television program, listening to music, making art, or playing a game. Simple activities that are comfortable and familiar will dull anxiety, encourage comfort, and keep someone distracted while the THC in their body runs its course. With any luck, they’ll come out the other end with a good story of what not to do when consuming cannabis.
Try to avoid activities that can be dangerous for a participant who is potentially confused or uncoordinated. For instance, cooking can be dangerous if one isn’t able to pay close attention when using knives or appliances. Driving is a whole different level of danger and should be avoided when high, altogether.
If you’re familiar with cannabis, chances are you’ve heard a thing or two about CBD. If not, CBD is a chemical compound found in the plant, contains no THC, and can even counter the effect of the chemical in the body. This makes it an excellent way to counter the anxiety and stress associated with being too high. A quick delivery method for CBD can be found in both flower and tinctures. CBD edible may take just as long as THC to become effective, so are generally not recommended for this particular use case.
