How to Sober Up from Weed

How to sober up from weed? Whether you are a casual consumer or a cannabis connoisseur, the intensity of a cannabis high can sometimes catch you with your pants down. Even the most decorated of cannabis veterans can tell you of a time when they’ve outdone themselves and were struggling to come down from the high.  There is no worse feeling than the moment you realize “Oh no, I think I’m too high.” Maybe that joint you smoked had a bit too much kief sprinkled on it, or better yet, maybe those edibles decided to take a little detour before eventually hitting you over the head with a brick.  Regardless of whether you have overindulged in your edible stache or have taken one too many puffs, in this article we will be sharing some sure-fire ways on how to sober up from weed and combat that cannabis tailspin when you get too high.

Signs That You Might be Too High

Some telltale signs that you might be too high:

• Feelings of dizziness and/or nausea
• Intense feelings of paranoia and/or anxiety
• Lack of coordination or loss of motor skills
• Accelerated or irregular heartbeat
• Heavy sweats or the chills
• Tingling feeling in limbs (Extreme overdose can lead to numbness of limbs)
• Sensory overload
• Increased heart rate
• Problems with short term memory

How Long Does it Take to Sober Up From Weed?

Before we dive any deeper it is important to cover some ground on the duration of the typical high and how long it takes to actually sober up from it. You probably already guessed it, the method of consumption plays a large factor in all of this.  The general rule of thumb is that when inhaled, the cannabis high typically has a duration of 3-6 hours. When administered orally, it has a duration of approximately 6-12 hours, sometimes even extending even further depending on the amount of THC consumed. These tips won’t outright stop the high, but they will aid in alleviating any strong symptoms of discomfort and get you feeling closer to normal.

How to Sober Up From Weed – 8 Ways to Combat Getting Too High

Don’t Fly Too Close to the Sun

This isn’t really a way to combat the cannabis high, but rather the most effective tools at your disposal. Like dealing with many other problems in life, it’s always better to be proactive rather than reactive.  Pay attention to your own tolerance when smoking in groups. Just because everyone else has a high tolerance, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you do as well. The best way to learn how to sober up from weed is to avoid smoking too much in the first place! Learn how to take your foot off the gas and put it onto the breaks, know your limit and play within it.

Take a Cold Shower

This may sound like an absolutely awful idea, but you can rest assured, the benefits of a cold shower are enormous both inside and outside of the high. It comes at no surprise that many people use cannabis as a treatment for their anxiety. But funny enough, overuse of the herb can actually induce paranoia and anxiety in its users. That said, if you’re too high, the feelings of anxiety and paranoia can be reduced with a cold shower. The sheer coldness from the shower sends your body into alert mode, quickly helping to remedy the effects of the haze and get you feeling sharp and back on your A-game. The science behind the cold shower is nothing new, in fact, athletes frequently use ice baths to speed up recovery. But you may be wondering, “how does this have to do with me being too high?” Cold shower therapy works its magic by using the cold as a stressor to trigger several helpful responses in the body.  Research suggests that cold showers may even stimulate the locus coeruleus, which is the brain’s principal source of noradrenaline, a key compound in the regulation of depression and anxiety.

CBD

The non-psychoactive compound cannabidiol (CBD), found in the cannabis plant has had the luxury of receiving several decades worth of research and clinical trials to prove its efficacy. CBD’s prowess in alleviating symptoms of anxiety and paranoia can be applied to the symptoms of cannabis overconsumption.

Research has suggested that CBD may play a role in the reduction of the effects of THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis.

With that being said, CBD consumed alongside THC has shown to alleviate any unwanted effects such as paranoia and anxiety. Another clinical trial from 2013 found similar results with their patients as well. In both articles, the volunteers showed noticeable differences in their cognitive abilities when CBD was coupled with THC.

CBD is another probable solution if you’re wondering how to sober up from weed!

Black Peppercorn

If this sounds a bit outlandish, then you are not alone in your skepticism. As it turns out, black pepper and cannabis actually have similar chemical traits with one another. Research suggests that sniffing or chewing on some black pepper can actually answer the question of how to sober you up from weed.  Due to its terpene beta-caryophyllene, black pepper has the ability to subdue the cannabis high by providing near-instant relief to those who are suffering from cannabis-induced paranoia and anxiety. Try sprinkling some pepper on your food or chewing a few black peppercorns. You could also gently sniff some ground pepper to get the same calming effects.

Eat Food & Hydrate

If you’ve consumed cannabis before, you’re probably aware of the cottonmouth it produces. Regardless of whether you’re high or not, staying hydrated is essential to good health and well being. Drinking water may help to alleviate symptoms of headaches experienced when dehydrated. On the same note, maintaining moderate blood sugar levels will aid in easing the symptoms of discomfort. It’s important to note that low blood sugar levels may lead to sub-perceptible feelings of fear and paranoia during the high. Adequate consumption of carbohydrates will combat this and ensure that your blood sugar levels don’t take a dive off the deep end. Note: Excercise caution when consuming mangoes while high. While the fruit is abundant in Vitamin A, it also contains a terpene called myrcene that could both increase the duration of your high and intensify the psychoactive effects of THC.

Eat some citrus fruit

Citrus fruits are rich in a terpene called Limonene. Limonene is found in the rinds of citrus fruit as well as certain strains of cannabis. Research into Limonene has uncovered that the terpene helps to tame anxiety and paranoia by producing “anxiolytic-like effects.”

Avoid Crowds, Loud Spaces, and Hot Environments

The sensory overload experienced during a high can be taken to an extreme when overconsumed. Mild noises can be perceived as sharp pangs, the slightest sensation of warmth can be experienced as a stifling heatwave, the list goes on… Being alone or with a few well-trusted friends in a calm well-ventilated area can take away a lot of the pressure during the high. With that being said, steer clear of nightclubs, bars, crowded restaurants, or any other large public areas that could induce paranoia. As discussed before, cold showers have the ability to tame the effects of the cannabis high and get you feeling sharper. That said, avoid environments with elevated temperatures at all costs as they do tend to increase your heart rate. These environments are not limited to steam rooms, hot tubs, and/or bathhouses. The increase in heart rate well won’t serve you well during an episode of extreme paranoia.

Sleep

If you’re feeling heavy-headed, getting some beauty sleep will help make the moment go by much quicker. That said, this remedy requires you to be in a safe place such as your home or a trusted friend’s place. Cannabis is notorious for its efficacy in treating patients with insomnia, so it comes at no surprise that the sleep-inducing effects would be present even through overconsumption. Note: As a safety precaution, ensure you won’t vomit in your sleep, better yet sleep on your side or stomach to ensure that if you do vomit, you won’t choke on it.

Final Thoughts on How to Sober Up From Weed

Getting too high happens to even the best of us. While it is important to maximize your enjoyment with cannabis, safety is paramount and should come before all else. Hopefully these tips will help you navigate through treacherous waters in the future- Or better yet prevent the experience altogether. Stay safe and enjoy!