Symptoms of Greening Out: Recognize & Manage Cannabis Overdose
You’re smoking a blunt. It started out as fun. But now your heart is racing, waves of anxiety hit you and your environment begins to feel strange. If this sounds familiar, you may be experiencing the symptoms of greening out. Is greening out dangerous?
Good news is that this feeling is temporary and there are many ways to help manage and prevent greening out from occurring. Greening out is the slang term to describe unpleasant and distressing symptoms caused by excess consumption of cannabis, marijuana and other THC-based products. Simply put, greening out is when a person overdoses on THC.
Greening out on THC is rare but can still happen on some occasions. The experience can be confusing because it can impact a person both physically and psychologically. You may experience symptoms of nausea and dizziness, as well as racing thoughts about something you said 10 minutes prior. Knowing the common symptoms of greening out can help you understand what is happening and how to take control.
What is Greening Out?
Greening out is a condition that can occur for many first-time weed, cannabis, or THC users. It can even happen to more experienced THC users. It happens when you consume too much THC, whether through smoking, vaping or an edible. Some people may only experience symptoms for a few moments, while others can end up feeling sick for hours.
THC is a psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis, weed and marijuana. It produces an altered state of consciousness, feelings of euphoria, relaxation and a heightened sense of being. Once THC enters the system, it binds with the CB1 receptors in the brain. This affects serotonin levels. This interaction is what alters a person’s state of consciousness.
When someone is greening out, there is overstimulation of the brain, prompting the system to produce unnaturally high levels of serotonin. Though serotonin is also known as the “happy hormone”, when there is too much, it can cause adverse effects.
What are the common symptoms of Greening Out?
Common physical symptoms
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dizziness and lightheadedness
- Chills, sweating and clammy skin
- Rapid heart rate
- Loss of mobility
- Fatigue
- Respiratory issues
Common psychological symptoms
- Anxiety or feelings of panic
- Paranoia and distressing thoughts
- Confusion and difficulty focusing
- Distorted perception of time
- Mild hallucinations
- Development or worsening of psychiatric disorders
How long does Greening Out typically last?
When you’re in the middle of it, the first question is always: how long will this last? The most crucial thing to hold onto is that the feeling is temporary. Greening out can typically last the duration of your THC high. However, this can also vary greatly and is dependent on several factors. These factors include how much THC is consumed, the level of THC in the product and individual factors like body weight, tolerance and metabolism.
The THC concentration plays a big factor in how long the greening out can last. More potent products like dabs and edibles are more likely to cause a green out. Edibles also take longer to go into effect, which leads people to believe they are not working and take more. This then leads to overconsumption because they are unaware of the potency.
A typical cannabis high can last anywhere from 1 to 24 hours. Dabbing produces instant effects that can last anywhere from 1 to 3 hours. Smoking or vaping THC can last anywhere from 1 to 3 hours and linger on for up to 8 hours. When eating an edible, the effects can take about an hour to kick in and can last for up to 24 hours.
Knowing how to manage the experience is important, as the only real remedy is giving your body time to process everything. There isn’t a shortcut to sobering up from an edible.
Why are Edibles more susceptible to Greening Out?
You may wonder why edibles are often linked to a bad high or greening out. When you smoke, vape or dab, the effects of THC are felt almost instantly. However, with edibles, there is a significant delay in the onset of effects. Because the product has to be digested, it can take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes before you can feel its effects. This delayed onset is the biggest reason people accidentally consume too much.
It’s a classic mistake: someone takes an edible, waits an hour, feels nothing, and assumes it wasn’t strong enough, so they take another one. This is often called “dose-stacking.” The problem is that the first dose was still processing. When both doses finally kick in, your body is hit with a much larger amount of THC than you intended, leading to the overwhelming symptoms of greening out.
To make matters more intense, the effects of edibles last much longer than those from smoking. It can often go for six to eight hours or more. This means that if you do end up feeling too high from an edible, the uncomfortable experience can be a much longer waiting game.
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Is Greening Out dangerous?
Greening out is more commonly found in people who use other substances alongside THC, like those who consume alcohol before using cannabis. New cannabis users are also more likely to experience greening out. This is because their bodies have not built up a tolerance for the substance.
Regardless of the cause, remember that the intense feelings won’t last for the entire duration. The experience of greening out has a peak. After that, the uncomfortable physical and mental signs will begin to fade. While it feels frightening, a green out is not physically dangerous in the same way an alcohol overdose is. It will pass, and you will be okay.
5 steps to take if you are too High and may be Greening Out
Remember, greening out is temporary and you are not in physical danger. The most important thing is to make yourself feel safe and comfortable while your body processes the THC. The only way to stop greening out is to ride out the entirety of your THC high naturally. Knowing what to do can turn a frightening experience into a manageable one.
- Find a Safe, Quiet Space. If you’re in a crowded or noisy area, the first step is to move to a calm room. Dimming the lights and reducing sound can significantly decrease feelings of paranoia and anxiety.
- Sit or Lie Down. Dizziness and a spinning sensation are common symptoms. Getting comfortable in a seated or lying position prevents falls and helps your body relax.
- Sip Water. Hydration is key. Sip cool water to help with dry mouth and to give you a simple, repetitive task to focus on. A light snack can also help you feel more grounded.
- Try a Simple Distraction. A powerful tool is to focus on your breathing: inhale slowly through your nose for four seconds, hold for four seconds, and then exhale slowly through your mouth for six seconds.
- It’s Temporary. This is crucial. Keep telling yourself, or have a trusted friend remind you, that these intense feelings will pass. You just need to give it time.
Following these steps will help you navigate the peak of the experience until you feel more like yourself again. This is especially common for people new to cannabis edibles, as their delayed effects can easily lead to taking too much by accident.
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Too much THC can lead to greening out as well as to an addiction to the substance. The best way to handle an overwhelming cannabis experience is to prevent it from happening at all. Understanding what can lead to greening out empowers you to make choices that keep your experiences positive and safe.
“Start Low, Go Slow.” This is especially crucial with edibles, which can take over an hour to take effect. Instead of taking more if you don’t feel anything right away, wait at least two hours to understand the full effect of your initial dose. “Set and Setting.” This means paying attention to your mindset (set) and your environment (setting). Using cannabis when you’re already anxious or in a stressful, unfamiliar place increases the chances of a negative reaction.
Professional behavioral treatment programs like Hotel California by the Sea provide treatment for marijuana abuse. We offer treatment at all levels of care including detox, residential, PHP and IOP. We utilize evidence-based methods such as CBT, DBT and group therapy. Hotel California by the Sea is dedicated to helping clients reach their goals in sobriety and overcome their addiction.
References:
https://www.beachviewrecovery.com/post/greening-out-symptoms-a-comprehensive-guide
https://leafwell.com/blog/greening-out
https://zinniahealth.com/substance-use/marijuana/greening-out
