“Greening out” is the term for an acute, temporary, and uncomfortable reaction resulting from consuming too much cannabis, specifically the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This experience leads to intense physical and psychological distress, often including nausea, dizziness, and severe anxiety or paranoia. While generally not life-threatening, this state can be deeply unsettling. Understanding how to manage these symptoms provides immediate relief while the body processes the excess THC.
First Steps to Regain Control
The immediate priority upon realizing you are greening out is to establish a sense of safety and calm, as anxiety often intensifies physical symptoms. Move to a safe, quiet, and comfortable location, such as a couch or bed, away from excessive noise or stimulation. Reducing sensory input helps prevent the feeling of being overwhelmed, which directly feeds into panic.
Once settled, focus completely on your breathing to bring your body’s response under control. Practice slow, deep breaths, inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth, which helps regulate your heart rate and ease feelings of panic. Remind yourself that the discomfort is a temporary reaction to a substance, and the feeling will eventually pass as your body metabolizes the THC.
Practical Strategies for Symptom Reduction
Simple physical actions can help mitigate the effects of the high. Sipping non-alcoholic beverages like water or a sports drink is beneficial, as cannabis use can cause dry mouth and dehydration, which worsens symptoms.
Consuming a small snack can also provide relief by helping to stabilize blood sugar levels, which may drop during intense intoxication. Foods containing fats or starches are often recommended as they can potentially slow the absorption of any remaining THC in the digestive tract, particularly if edibles were consumed. For psychological symptoms, grounding techniques, such as the “5-4-3-2-1 method,” can pull your focus away from internal panic and back to the present environment. This method involves identifying five things you can see, four things you can feel, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste.
Some people find relief from anecdotal remedies, such as smelling or chewing on black peppercorns. Black pepper contains the terpene beta-caryophyllene, which is theorized to interact with cannabinoid receptors, potentially moderating the psychoactive effects. Also, if available, consuming a product containing cannabidiol (CBD) may offer a counter-effect, as CBD is known to mitigate some of the anxiety and paranoia associated with high doses of THC.
Knowing When Medical Attention is Necessary
While greening out is rarely a life-threatening event, certain severe symptoms require immediate professional medical evaluation. Seek emergency medical attention if the individual experiences persistent vomiting that prevents them from keeping fluids down, as this can lead to severe dehydration. Other warning signs include chest pain, a severely irregular or racing heartbeat, or difficulty breathing that does not improve with calming techniques.
Severe psychological symptoms, such as extreme dissociation, hallucinations, or a panic attack that escalates into unmanageable distress, should also prompt a call for help. It is highly advisable to seek medical care if the individual has consumed other substances, such as alcohol or prescription medications, alongside cannabis, as this mixing significantly complicates the body’s reaction. Medical professionals are equipped to provide supportive care and monitoring until the intense effects subside.
Future Strategies for Safe Consumption
The most effective strategy to prevent future episodes is to adopt a “start low, go slow” approach to consumption. This is particularly important with edibles, where the effects can be delayed by 30 minutes to two hours and the full impact may not be felt for up to four hours. Beginners, or those trying a new product, should start with a low dose of THC, often 2.5 milligrams or less, and wait for the full effects to manifest before consuming more.
Understanding the product’s potency is essential, especially given that the THC concentration in cannabis products has increased significantly in recent decades. Always check the label for the THC percentage or milligram amount, and be cautious with high-potency concentrates. Consuming cannabis in a familiar, safe environment with trusted company, known as “set and setting,” can greatly reduce the likelihood of experiencing anxiety or paranoia.