In recent years, marijuana use among patients with various conditions is getting popular. In a legalized state like California, you can easily access it from licensed dispensaries with a medical cannabis card online.
But, there’s one thing about marijuana no medical consumer likes. Getting too high. THC is a major high-causing agent found in the cannabis plant. Medical studies report that taking high-THC strains may make consumers anxious.
So, what to do when you get uncomfortably high? What are the major factors that influence how long cannabis high lasts? Read on to learn more.
Also Read- Why Should You Get a Medical Marijuana Card?
THC – A Psychoactive Cannabinoid
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is a cannabis cannabinoid. It’s responsible for causing high effects associated with marijuana use.
When you smoke marijuana, THC enters the bloodstream and then reaches the brain areas within a few seconds. It’s similar to the naturally occurring chemical compounds in the body. And, it binds to the cannabinoid receptors present in the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, and cerebellum. These brain regions are responsible for controlling different processes, such as pleasure, thinking, memory, concentration, etc.
THC mimics anandamide. Thus, when attached to the cannabinoids, it plays the anandamide’s role and stimulates the brain cells to release more dopamine.
Tetrahydrocannabinol can lead to a wide range of side-effects, such as euphoria, alertness, etc. In case the THC high effects are too strong, it may cause dizziness, anxiety, and depression.
How Long Cannabis High Lasts?
Usually, it lasts from 2 to 10 hours. However, how long you experience the high effects depend on various factors-
Method of Consumption
How quickly you feel the high effects, and how long they last depend on the consumption method. If you are smoking or vaping, you are more likely to experience the effects within 2-10 minutes and they last for up to 8 hours. The cannabinoids will reach the bloodstream via the lungs immediately.
However, edibles take a bit longer to kick in—usually 30-60 minutes. In some cases, it may take 2 hours. And, the effects last for up to 24 hours.
Concentrates & oils contain high concentrations of chemical compounds, thus deliver high effects instantly. And, the consumers may feel the effects for the whole day.
Also Read- Try These Smokeless Cannabis Consumption Options Amid COVID-19
Dosage
Dosing is important, especially when you taking edibles or trying a new strain. The amount you take makes a great difference.
It’s simple to determine in case of smoking since you know how many puffs you took. When you feel high, you can stop taking more puffs. However, in other consumption methods, it’s quite difficult to determine dosage. It’s not easy to know the right dosage of edibles for each patient.
So, it’s advised to read the label carefully and follow the instructions when trying new edibles.
Type of Strains Consumed
The higher the potency of cannabis, the longer the high effects last. Different cannabis strains contain different levels of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids. For some consumers, THC effects are good while others feel uncomfortable after inhaling it.
It’s good to check the cannabinoid profile of cannabis products before buying them. Also, you should do some experimenting on how your system responds to different cannabinoids.
Other Factors
Different consumers receive different effects from cannabis use. This is because every person’s body processes substances differently. For example, if your body processes cannabinoids quickly, you may experience a high faster than your friends’ highs.
Moreover, the frequency of cannabis consumption, how long have you been consuming, etc. affect the cannabis high. So, knowing your tolerance is important to determine how much to consume, when to stop, etc.
So, the equation to find how long you feel the high effects is-
Length of high = (dose x concentration) / (metabolism x tolerance) x method of consumption
What’s The Solution?
When you feel too high, which make you uncomfortable, follow these quick sober up methods-
Relax
Firstly, sit on the couch and relax. Drink some water. Cannabis high isn’t something that lasts forever. Also, you can counteract its effects. Give it some time, and the high feelings will pass completely.
Now, let’s talk about can you die from cannabis overdose? It’s a big NO. There’s no evidence showing that overdosing on marijuana can cause death. It’s true that you may feel uncomfortable with excessive cannabis consumption, but you won’t expire, trust us.
Go to Sleep
Find a quiet place in your home, and sleep. Stay calm, and take deep breaths through the nose, and breathe out through the mouth. Focus on the breathing process.
A quick nap can help you counteract the high feelings by providing you relaxation and time to eliminate cannabis from your body. You will wake up with a fresh mind.
Go Out For a Walk
If you are unable to sleep, it’s good to go out to take in some fresh air. Remember, don’t go far from your home—you can visit a local park—to avoid getting lost or anxious.
However, you shouldn’t go out if you are feeling light-headed or difficulty standing. Stay at home and ask for a friend’s help instead.
Black Pepper
There’s evidence that a compound in peppercorn called caryophyllene can help enhance the sedative effects of tetrahydrocannabinol, thus providing the calming effects.
So, sniffing the black pepper box can help you get relief. You can also chew some peppercorns. However, it’s good to take some black pepper in your bag if you spend most of your time away from your home.
Do Things You Enjoy
To ease high feelings, you can try some entertaining activities. The objective is to distract yourself. Here are some suggestions-
- Watch a favorite series on Netflix
- Listen to the music
- Play a video game
- Eat some delicious foods
- Do painting and sketches using a pencil
- Talk to your friends on the video call
Try CBD
CBD is a non-psychoactive compound, which can help you counteract the THC effects. The major difference is the type of cannabinoid receptors they interact with. CBD provides relaxation and calming effects, which may nullify the high effects of THC. However, you should take a low CBD dose.
Key Takeaways
Experiencing high by consuming too much cannabis is common. And, you need not panic as the effects don’t last forever. Additionally, you won’t die from a cannabis overdose.
How long the high effects last depend on the type of strains consumed, dosage, delivery method, and individual variables such as tolerance, metabolism, etc.
To ease high effects, you can try various methods. Relax and sit in a calm room. Drink some water and practice deep breathing. Go out for a walk to get some fresh air (please don’t if you feel uncomfortable in doing this). Try sniffing or chewing some peppercorns.
To avoid getting uncomfortably high, seek professional help for cannabis consumption for managing your condition. To get legal access to marijuana, get a medical cannabis card online today.
