I once went to a meeting with a CEO where she told me a story about her boyfriend going to a social gathering where he smoked too much cannabis and greened out. She explained how he experienced panic and didn’t know what to do afterwards. He managed to get home safely and immediately slept it off, but the first thing he did when he woke up the following day was pick up his phone and saw that he had googled “how to not feel high” in his search to find a way out of his green out. This story made me laugh because I experienced the same thing and tried to panic-google a way out. And I’m sure it’s accurate to say we’ve all been here. And the thing about greening out is you only know about what greening out is and how you know you’re greening out after it has happened to you at least once.
Greening out is a phenomenon that can occur to cannabis consumers after consuming too much. It can be a disorienting and uncomfortable experience, but there are ways to prevent it. We’ll cover the basics of greening out and how to know when it’s happening, and what to do when it occurs.
What is Greening Out?
Greening out is a term that describes an adverse reaction to consuming too much cannabis over a short time or cannabis that is too strong. Usually, the culprit of green-outs are cannabis strains with a high amount of THC, and the consumer has a lower tolerance causing adverse effects to their bodies.
The experience can differ from person to person, but common symptoms can include nausea, dizziness, anxiety, and confusion that can occur after consuming too much cannabis. It’s not life-threatening, but it can be uncomfortable and unpleasant.
The cause of greening out isn’t fully understood, but it is thought to be related to a drop in blood pressure. When this happens, this can cause a person to feel ill and disoriented. It’s important to note that greening out differs from having a bad reaction to cannabis. A bad reaction can be more severe and include anxiety, paranoia, and hallucinations.
How to Know You’re Greening Out
Everyone reacts differently to cannabis, so pay attention to your body and how it responds to cannabis. If you feel dizzy, disoriented, or overwhelmed after consuming cannabis, you may be greening out. Other symptoms can include feeling faint, difficulty concentrating, or a sense of panic. Greening out can be challenging to identify since its symptoms are similar to dehydration or motion sickness. However, a few signs can help you determine if you’re greening out.
Symptoms of greening out include:
- Feeling faint
- Difficulty focusing
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Feeling disoriented
- Extreme cotton mouth
- Vomiting
- Dry eyes
What to do when you’re greening out
Breathe
If you feel any of these symptoms after consuming cannabis, it’s best to take a break and rest until the feeling passes. Taking deep, slow breaths can help to calm your body and mind.
Drink water
Drinking water and eating a snack can help to reduce the effects of greening out, especially if you’re experiencing cottonmouth. Rehydrating can help balance out the drop in blood pressure.
Oranges
Eating oranges can also help to reduce the symptoms, as they have natural anti-inflammatory properties. Any citrus-based foods can help with balancing out the adverse effects of overconsumption.
Balance it with CBD
If you have CBD oil sitting around, this is the time to use it! CBD is the yin to a cannabis strains yang. There’s a reason why strains with lower amounts of THC have little hallucinogenic effects. CBD can eliminate the effects caused by the THC and slowly take you out of your green-out because CBD is naturally non-psychoactive, which counters the THC in any strain making the cannabis product less risky of green-outs.
Sleep it off
If you can, try to find a way to relax, such as taking a warm bath or going for a walk. However, if you’re losing your sense of balance, it’s best to stay seated and still or, better yet, sleep to let the green-out pass.
Preventing a green out from happening
To prevent greening out, start with small doses and increase your consumption slowly. Start low and go slow. If you’re new to cannabis, it’s best to start with a low dose and wait to see how it affects your body before increasing your consumption. It is also essential to stay hydrated and take breaks between cannabis sessions. Be aware of your environment and the people you are consuming cannabis with. If you’re in an unfamiliar or uncomfortable setting, it can increase your risk of greening out.
Green outs happen to everyone
Greening out is a common but preventable phenomenon for cannabis users. By understanding the basics of greening out, knowing the signs of it occurring, and taking the proper precautions, you can reduce the risk of greening out.
Let us know in the comments what it was like for you when you greened out and what you did to get past it!
Please note this article is written for general and public education purposes only. Although we conducted our research on this topic from sources that are believed to be reliable. We do not claim the information presented here is accurate. The team at Very Jessica Fung is not responsible for injury, loss, or damage, personal or otherwise, that could occur when consuming cannabis and/or drugs. Please review the VJF legal disclosure for more information regarding our content.
