Key Takeaways:
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Don’t panic if you get too high — THC overdosing is very, very rare.
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Time-tested methods like hydrating and staying with a friend are good ways to feel less high.
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Take edibles within your tolerance comfort zone for just the right level of high.
Sometimes, too much of a good thing can be all too real. While most edible seshes hit that just-right target and land you in the chill zone, sometimes you just straight-up overdo it on gummies, or miss the mark when feeling out your tolerance levels. But don’t panic — a cannabis overdose is an exceedingly rare thing. You’re gonna be OK.
Most likely, you’ll just feel way too high for a while. And if that high isn’t where you want to be in the moment, here are a few things you can try to get unhigh, and do it safely.
Got Too High? Keep Your Cool
Getting to the point where you’re a little too high (a.k.a. greening out) can be a different journey for everyone. The limit can often depend on the potency of the edible or smokable, the person’s tolerance levels, what else they’ve consumed with their THC, and even the surrounding environment. But generally speaking, it’s not a cause for grave concern.
Long story short, overdosing on THC is possible, but it’s super rare. To date, according to the United States DEA, no one has ever died of a marijuana overdose. So while being high past your limits can make it dangerous to be in high-risk situations – you shouldn’t drive or operate heavy machinery if you’re high at all – having too much THC in your system is not likely to land you in the hospital.
The point is, getting unhigh starts with releasing yourself from that panic first. As long as you’re in a safe space and aren’t planning on getting up to any dangerous activities, taking a few breaths and focusing on what you can do to come down is the first step. From there, try a combination of simple, accessible physical and mental techniques to find your center again.
How To Get Unhigh – 10 Tips
Hydrate
Want to know how to get less high? Hydrate.
While it’s not the only thing you should do, staying hydrated is the first thing, and the foundation of becoming unhigh. No matter what methods you use to regain your chill, they should all involve drinking lots of water (not alcohol or coffee, the latter of which might make you feel even more nervous than you already do). In fact, it’s always best to stay properly hydrated whenever you pop a gummy, period – no one likes cotton mouth, anyway.
Get a Buddy
If possible, having a buddy is ideal when it comes to getting less high. They’ll help you stay focused, avoid hyperfixating, and keep you safe (maybe even safe from making bad choices). Bonus: maybe they’ll even play video games with you or make you a snack.
Have a Snack
Speaking of snacks, having a nice, healthy snack — like fruits, vegetables, or nuts — can help stabilize your blood sugar, which generally makes you feel more grounded and clear-eyed. These snacks in particular might help clear up the fog, as they contain particular terpenes that are thought to potentially help ease the freak out and bolster clarity of thought:
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Lemon
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Pine nuts
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Peppercorns
Focus On Something Else
If you’re already too high, focusing on how high you are is a great recipe for spiraling. Instead, shift your focus to a specific task or activity, preferably one that’s engaging but low-friction. For instance, try doing a puzzle, practicing an instrument, listening to your favorite album, or honing in on a repetitive task like folding clothes or organizing your closet.
Get Some Air
If you’ve got a buddy with you and you’re in a safe location to do so, try popping out and getting a little sun in the yard or going for a breezy evening walk. Not only can a walk give you something to focus on and clear your head a bit, but the light cardio also encourages circulation, which helps your body metabolize THC. The treadmill, walking pad, or stationary bike can help with that, too.
Take a Rinse
Similarly, a nice hot shower can help you feel refreshed and clear-eyed, while also being a calming exercise. And if you’re into the whole cold shower thing, a quick cool blast can help increase your circulation and metabolism, too.
Yap It Up
If you are fortunate enough to have a high buddy, just ask them to keep you talking, either engaged in a nice long convo to redirect your focus, or talking you down from greening out. A friend can not only serve as your voice of reason to keep you from freaking out, but a calming, comfortable presence also helps center you as you come down.
Just Breathe
Grounding techniques like deep breathing, counting breaths, and mindfulness meditation can often be key to breaking through a green out. The combo of deep focus, rhythmic repetition, and breath control can be relaxing, which helps lower your heart rate and avoid feeling overstimulated.
Take a Rest
Letting your body rest is often the key to putting your mind at ease, too. If you’ve got nowhere to be and are in a safe, cozy space to unwind, call it a night or have a little nap to let your body process that second gummy you took before the effects of the first one fully kicked in (a rookie mistake we’ve all made). Because sometimes, you just have to…
Wait It Out
Want to know how to stop being high? Let time do its thing.
At the most tippy top of extremes, lingering effects of greening out (and being high in general) can be felt for up to 10 hours, but the vast majority of highs — even the really legendary ones — last between 2 and 4 hours. If all else fails, take a breath, chill, rest your bones, and just wait it out.
FAQs
Can you overdose on edibles?
Not really. While it’s possible to have so much THC in your body that it’s toxic, you’d have to take a ridiculous, cartoonishly absurd amount of reputable off-the-shelf gummies for that to happen.
How much THC is in a gummy?
Depends on the gummy, but generally, you’ll find most gummies fall in the range of 5mg to 10mg THC per edible, with some low or microdose varieties falling down to the 2mg zone. Our Camino hemp gummies come in 2mg, 5mg, and 10mg varieties.
Is 10mg of edible a lot?
The question of “is 10mg of edible a lot” or not 100% comes down to the person. Everyone’s unique tolerance level is affected by their size, weight, history with THC, blood sugar levels, genetics, and even what they had to eat that day.
For most, 10mg is a good, solid high without going overboard. But what about you? Start low and go slow to figure out where your tolerance sweet spot is. Pay attention to what works for your body, and stay within your comfort zone. (For a deeper dive on dosing, check out our full guide here.)
And speaking of comfort zones, if you or someone you know got too high and feels physically unwell or would be most comfortable seeing a doctor, then please seek medical attention. Always heed a medical professional’s advice above all.
Disclaimer: Please consume THC responsibly. Start low and go slow, don’t drive high, avoid mixing THC with alcohol and certain medications, know your source, secure your stash from kids and pets, and consume with the proper set and setting.
Dan is a freelance writer, small business owner, and full-time creative living in Dallas, TX. In 15 years of writing, he’s been fortunate to collaborate with companies and publishers like Cannabis and Tech Today, Healthfully, Salon.com, ArtBase, The Seattle Times, USA Today, SF Gate, and many more.
Sources
Oklahoma State Health Department - Marijuana
United States Drug Enforcement Administration - Marijuana
Medical News Today - 8 Ways to Get “Unhigh”
LSA Recovery - How to Get Unhigh: Effective Ways to Sober Up Quickly
GoodRx - Greening Out: How to Get Unhigh, and How Long a Weed High Lasts
Healthline - Cannabis Too Strong? 11 Ways to Come Back Down
National Library of Medicine - Biochemical Pharmacology: Mechanisms of Cannabinoid Tolerance
