*If you’re feeling uncomfortably high after smoking cannabis, there are several steps you can take to help mitigate the effects.
Some people find relief by relaxing in a safe and comfortable environment and allowing the effects of cannabis to gradually wear off over time. Others engage in calming activities like listening to music or meditating. In more extreme cases, medical assistance may be required.
In the clip above, per Business Insider, neurosurgeon Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains why marijuana users sometimes get “bad trips.” His documentary “WEED” explores the effects of cannabis on our bodies and the benefits of medical marijuana.
Depending on your circumstances, you may seek to sober up and quickly reduce the effects of being high after smoking weed. Below are eight ways to do so via Good RX Health (this list has partially been edited).
- Watch your dose and potency
High doses and high potency of cannabis really increase your risk of unwanted effects, so one of the best ways to avoid feeling too high is to not get too high in the first place. Start by checking in on how much you are smoking and how strong your cannabis is. If you aren’t sure, go slowly in the beginning. The same is true for edibles.
- Give it time
There’s no magical way to sober up fast, and you could only create more stress, anxiety, and frustration by trying to force yourself into getting unhigh. Rather than fighting against yourself, the best approach is to give it time.
Symptoms of being too high almost always end with time. If you have inhaled cannabis, you can expect to be feeling more normal within 3 hours. If you have used a cannabis beverage or edible, the effects will peak within 2 to 3 hours. But you can expect to feel quite fuzzy for 6 to 10 hours.
- Stay calm and use relaxation
If you are having bad side effects of cannabis use like paranoia, anxiety, or panic, you may want the high to end as quickly as possible so the distressing symptoms can fade. Rapidly ending the high may not be possible. Still, you can help to reduce the unwanted effects by staying calm and using relaxation techniques.
- Find a distraction
You need time to pass for the high to wear off. But if you only focus on your symptoms and side effects of cannabis use, you could feel more uncomfortable. Instead, you need to find a distraction (listening to music, watching a movie, going for a walk).
- Drink water, but avoid coffee and beer
There is evidence to suggest alcohol actually increases the amount of THC in your bloodstream, which would only boost the high feeling. Caffeine may not help either. Instead, grab a bottle of water to stay hydrated and allow your body to process the cannabis from your system.
- Avoid other substance use and folk remedies
Like with alcohol, other substances may not help you sober up the way you’d like. If you are feeling too sleepy and lethargic, you may think that you can improve the situation by taking a stimulating drug like cocaine or prescription stimulants used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, you should avoid adding new substances.
Stimulants like cocaine and meth can create delusional thinking and hallucinations on their own. Combining them with cannabis could increase the risk of paranoia.
- Use a safety plan
If you find yourself needing to sober up often, you could benefit from a safety plan. Your sober safety plan can outline:
- The problems you experienced during the last unwanted high
- What helped
- What didn’t
- What caused the problems in the first place
Create your safety plan while you are sober and share the plan with your friends. That way, they will know what to do when you’re feeling too high.
- Seek out professional assistance
At times, people may have a scary reaction to cannabis and may require professional care to manage symptoms and help them sober up. If you ever find yourself or a loved one extremely agitated, panicking, or behaving in odd ways, emergency department care can help.
READ MORE: Entrepreneur Gloria Govan Aims to Shift Negative Perceptions Around Cannabis | EUR Video Exclusive
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