What to Do if You Took Too Much THC
That extra bong hit was a bad idea. Or, maybe it was that second edible, or your first experience with globbing. Now, you’re beyond couch lock and into a full green out, dealing with the physical and mental consequences of consuming an overly large dose of THC.
What happens next will be different for every person. While some regular cannabis users can ride an intense high without a problem, other people may experience paranoia, bouts of extreme anxiety, panic attacks and hallucinations, along with physical symptoms like dizziness, nausea, vomiting, weakness, a loss of coordination and even passing out.
The good news is that whatever you are going through will eventually pass and you’ll survive to hopefully make better choices next time. CannaMD has answers to some of the most common questions about what happens when you take too much THC.
Is A THC Overdose Dangerous?
The first thing to know about taking too much THC is that while it can cause discomfort and in extreme cases may warrant medical attention, it’s not dangerous in the same way as an overdose on opioids such as heroin, oxycodone and fentanyl. Those drugs interact with areas in the brain that control heart rate and breath, and an overdose may trigger a heart attack or respiratory failure. THC primarily influences the relaxation of voluntary muscles and can have a moderating effect on blood pressure. As a result, there’s a near-zero chance of dying from a THC overdose.
A DEA fact sheet from 2020 states that “No deaths from overdose of marijuana have been reported.” Research published by the National Institute of Health also indicates that there have been no recorded instances of fatal overdoses in humans.
A research paper from 2014 does describe two cases where men in their 20s died after using marijuana, but fails to make a direct correlation between cannabis use and a cause of death. The same paper provides some theoretical numbers for what might be a lethal dose of THC. Based on laboratory research, the authors suggest that absorbing 2 grams of pure THC might pose a 50% risk of death for an average size person, while noting that there are many variables involved that could change those numbers.
Because THC is never fully bioavailable from smoked, vaped or edible sources, a user would have to consume much more than 2 grams of product to reach that threshold. Calculations from Drug Policy Facts estimate that a person would need to take in 70 grams of an average cannabis product for a lethal dose, which would be more than 5,000 times the normal rate of consumption.
How To Get Through A THC Overdose
The cure for a THC overdose is time, and the more you take in, the longer it will take. The process of breaking THC down into its non-psychoactive derivatives begins just minutes after you smoke or vape, or an hour or more after you consume edibles. Along the way, the high will often increase in intensity as the original delta-9 THC is converted to the even more psychoactive metabolite known as 11-Hydroxy-THC. This effect is most pronounced with edibles.
Highs from smoked or vaped cannabis typically peak within 30 minutes, and can last for several hours. A THC overload can double those numbers. Edibles can take up to two hours to fully kick in, with highs lasting as long as eight hours or more. The actual duration of a high, whether from smoking and vaping or from edibles will vary from one individual to another, and it’s also been shown that frequent users can develop a tolerance that shortens both the intensity and duration of a high.
As you wait for your body to convert and eliminate the extra THC, you should focus on rest and relaxation. Deep breathing can be an effective tool against panic attacks. Fighting anxiety, paranoia and negative thoughts can actually worsen these conditions. Instead, remind yourself that you are safe, and these feelings are temporary. If it feels like you are spinning out of control, the best answer is to sit or lie down, put on some relaxing music, close your eyes and avoid excess movement, as the loss of balance and dizziness caused by THC overload can lead to falls and accidents.
It’s important to stay hydrated while waiting out an extended high, and this can eliminate the discomforts of dry mouth and dizziness. But drinking large amounts of water or other liquids will not speed up the elimination of THC, as it is fat-soluble rather than water soluble. It accumulates in fat cells and is released over time.
Forget about cracking a beer or pouring a drink. Rather than promoting relaxation, drinking alcohol while high can worsen negative effects. Something to remember for next time is that drinking alcohol before using marijuana can significantly increase levels of THC in the blood steam, resulting in a more intense high.
Snacking on fruits, crackers and light bites can provide a sense of comfort, but it’s best to avoid heavy and fatty foods. Because THC is stored in fatty tissues, eating things like pizza, chocolates or potato chips could increase THC uptake and prolong the high.
Some cannabis users report that sniffing peppercorn essential oil or chewing on pine nuts and black peppercorn seeds can have anxiety-reducing effects. This would likely be due to their concentrations of beta-caryophyllene, which produces calming effects.
Internet sources suggest that a hit of vaped CBD or a drop of CBD oil under the tongue can help tame a THC overload. While there is some evidence that inhaled or sublingual CBD can mellow the effects of THC, it isn’t a guaranteed cure. What is clear is that taking a CBD edible while high is a really bad idea, as research indicates that this can extend and intensify the psychoactive effects of THC.
How Much THC Is Too Much?
It’s difficult to pin down exactly how much is too much when it comes to THC. The method of delivery can make a big difference. While smoked and vaped cannabis hits quicker and fades sooner, edibles take longer to kick in and can create what is known as a re-dosing trap. This happens when users consume a second dose because they don’t feel the delayed effects of the first dose. As a result, medical marijuana professionals advise starting with lower overall doses when choosing edibles.
An individual’s physical size and their percentage of body fat can play a minor role in the duration of THCs effects, but the speed of their metabolism plays a larger role. Neither size or metabolize can predict the intensity of THC’s effects on the brain.
The single greatest variable in THC tolerance is frequency of use. Anecdotal user experiences are backed by research confirming that regular cannabis consumption can create a tolerance to THC that allows for higher dosages without a corresponding increase in adverse effects.
Medical marijuana research defines 5mg of THC as a standard dose. This quantity is expected to deliver mild psychoactive effects regardless of how it is consumed, with few or no negative effects. Any numbers given here are for general reference and comparison. They should not be considered dosage advice.
Patients new to medical marijuana are generally advised to start with a 2.5 to 5mg dose of THC. This roughly equates to half a gummy, or two to three full puffs on a joint with 10 to 15% THC content. New patients are usually advised against starting with high THC concentrates, as it is quite easy to overshoot the 5mg mark.
Many regular cannabis users settle into a sweet spot in the 10mg to 30 mg THC range. This corresponds roughly to smoking an average size joint of 15% THC or a bowl of bud. A half dozen cartridge pulls will deliver a similar dose of THC, while a small to mid-size dab provides an estimated 20 to 40mgs.
Experienced users who have developed a tolerance for THC will often dose at 50mg levels or greater. Moving to this level should be done slowly and carefully, as this is where problems are more likely to appear.
When Should You Call For Help From Taking Too Much THC?
It’s a good idea to have someone who is sober or at least less impaired stay with you while you are working though a large dose of THC, both for your mental well-being and possibly your physical safety. Their presence can provide a calming effect, and may help you stay mentally grounded when you are suffering from time distortion, paranoia and symptoms of a panic attack. They should also pay attention to your physical condition, reminding you to breathe slowly, providing drinks and snacks and watching for signs of worsening physical conditions such as hallucinations or intense confusion.
If you start feeling extreme dizziness and a loss of vision, or have trouble breathing, it may be time to seek medical help.
A clinic or ER visit is definitely in order if you have extended bouts of uncontrollable vomiting, stomach convulsions, strong chest pains and a rapid heart beat. Have that sober friend call for a ride or drive you to help. And allow them to help you walk if you are really dizzy, because falls are one of the more common accidents related to THC overloads.
Why Does High Dose THC Cause Couch Lock?
A strong dose of THC can leave you feeling listless and lazy, and in more extreme cases nearly paralyzed. This phenomenon comes primarily from the way THC targets cannabinoid receptors in a part of the brain that controls voluntary movement.
In low to moderate doses, THC can provide beneficial effects by releasing neurotransmitters like GABA that encourage muscle relaxation. But higher doses of THC can overstimulate these receptors, flooding the central nervous system with elevated GABA levels that inhibit muscle movement, while suppressing neurotransmitters such as glutamate and acetylcholine that encourage movement. In extreme cases, this overstimulation may create what the medical community calls cannabis-induced catatonia. Aka couch lock.
THC also has direct effects on muscle performance by blocking the release of calcium ions stored within muscle fibers. Calcium plays a critical role in the contractions and relaxations of normal muscle movement. The muscle-relaxing effects of THC may be amplified by cannabis terpenes such as myrcene and linalool, which encourage muscle relaxation.
CannaMD Is Here To Help
If you have questions about medical marijuana, or conditions that qualify for medical marijuana treatment, our certified physicians are here to help. Call CannaMD at (855) 420-9170 or fill out a quick online application to see if you qualify for treatment.
