Overconsumption Recommendation
What happens when you get too high? How can you come down more quickly? Let’s break it down. When you dab or smoke, the hundreds of cannabinoids that are found in your flower or concentrate enter the bloodstream through your lungs and begin to interact with your endocannabinoid system. Many cultivars are now being bred for ultra high THC content which can lead to overwhelming psychoactive effects. With edibles, the Delta-9-THC is digested and converted by your liver to 11-Hydroxy-THC which is a smaller molecule that can more easily bind with your endocannabinoid receptors and lead to a more intense, long lasting high. So what’s the endocannabinoid system? Check out our previous post about the subject if you’re interested in learning more, but generally speaking it’s what allows you to experience the effects of cannabis. There are CB1 and CB2 receptors throughout your body that cannabinoids interact with to give you the positive effects of the plant. THC and CBD are only two of the most famous cannabinoids but there are also dozens of terpenes as well as THCA, THCV, CBG, CBN, and hundreds of other compounds in cannabis that can interact with your endocannabinoid system. Sometimes, however, too much THC in your system leads to feelings of discomfort, anxiety, or paranoia. This most often happens with newer consumers who are still learning their tolerance and limits, but no matter what your experience level is, we’ve put together this list of easy methods to help bring you down.
#1 Breathe. The first thing you should do if you’re ever feeling like you’re getting too high is take deep breaths. Good life advice at all times, in fact. Deep breathing changes the pH balance of your blood, increases oxygen to your brain, improves your blood pressure, and triggers the
parasympathetic nervous system to help you stay calm.
#2 CBD. If getting too high is a big concern, then keeping some cannabidiol (CBD) on deck may be the right move. CBD is the non-intoxicating sister of THC and is known to reduce the psychoactive effects of THC. Because it interacts with the same CB1 and CB2 receptors, taking
CBD “blocks” the THC molecules from binding with those receptors, thus further decreasing the high. No matter what the consumption method, CBD is a surefire way to mellow the effects. We have also heard conflicting opinions that CBD doesn't work reactively and must be done proactively. So load up on the cbd before your sesh if this is a concern.
#3 & #4 Lemon & Pepper. Limonene and Caryophyllene to be more specific. We’re always talking about terps, and even though we favor cannabis derived terpenes, lemon and pepper are a good source of Limonene and Caryophyllene as well, which science, history, and many anecdotal reports have shown helps people relieve symptoms of discomfort associated with getting too high. Limonene and Caryophyllene in particular have been shown to decrease anxiety and stress. Just more proof that the cannabis experience is always improved through consuming the full range of cannabinoids. Chew fresh ground pepper or squeeze some lemon into a glass of water for a quick dose of terps to help offset any uncomfortable feelings if you’ve had too much.
#5 Calamus Root. The use of calamus root to mitigate the side effects of cannabis goes back to Ayurvedic medicine, which is an Indian practice dating back over 5,000 years. Smoking ground up calamus root with cannabis is said to “neutralize the toxic side effects of cannabis” according to an Ayurvedic textbook.
Finally, this is as good a time as any to answer the age old question: Is it possible to die from a marijuana overdose? You already know the answer is no. Nobody’s ever died from overdosing on cannabis and many suspect it’s not even possible. The long answer requires some math, but here we go. Scientists use something called LD50 to define the Median Lethal Dose of a toxin, radiation, or pathogen - which is equal to the amount of a substance that would kill the person consuming it 50% of the time. For example, the LD50 of caffeine is approximately 75 milligrams per kilogram of weight, which means that a 150lb adult who drinks 75-100 cups of coffee has a 50% chance of dying from a caffeine overdose. For cannabis, the LD50 in animals has been shown to be around 1000 milligrams per kilogram of weight, which means a 150lb adult would need to consume about 70 grams of pure THC (which would equal about 90 grams of hash that tests at 80% THC) in a single sitting. Like we said, not gonna happen.
