What to do if you green out
Stop using cannabis. Sit or lie on your side. Sip water. Move to a cool, quiet room. Most green outs pass in 4 to 8 hours with no treatment. Call 911 if you have chest pain, trouble breathing, a seizure, or you faint.
symptoms of greening out from weed
What a green out is
A green out is acute cannabis overconsumption. THC binds CB1 receptors in the brain and gut. High doses cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sweats, pale skin, a fast pulse, anxiety, and confusion. ER visits tied to cannabis rose in several US states after legalization. Deaths from cannabis alone are rare, but panic and vomiting can send people to the hospital.
Green Out Symptoms from Concentrates vs Flower: Flower Wins on Safety
First 30 minutes
- Stop all cannabis. Set down the vape, joint, or edible.
- Lie on your side, not on your back. This keeps your airway clear if you vomit.
- Sip 2 to 4 ounces of water at a time. Do not gulp.
- Loosen tight clothing. Put a cold cloth on your neck.
- Eat a small amount of bland food if it stays down: crackers, toast, rice.
- Ask one person to stay with you. Keep lights low and noise down.
Edibles run on a slower clock
Inhaled THC peaks in 15 to 30 minutes. Edible THC goes through the gut and liver. Effects start in 30 to 90 minutes and peak at 2 to 4 hours. Total duration can reach 6 to 12 hours. A common error is eating a second dose at 45 minutes because nothing happened. That stacks the dose. A green out from an edible lasts longer than one from smoking.
What not to do
- Do not use more cannabis. THC does not reverse THC effects.
- Do not drink alcohol. It adds to dizziness and nausea.
- Do not drive, bike, or use machinery.
- Do not take a cold shower or swim. Fainting is a risk.
- Do not drink large amounts of caffeine.
When to call 911
Call 911 or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 if any of these happen:
- Chest pain or pressure
- Trouble breathing
- Seizure
- Fainting, or no response when you say their name
- Vomiting that continues past 1 hour
- A resting pulse above 120 beats per minute that does not drop after 30 minutes of rest
- Talk of self-harm
- Any child who ate an edible
Children who eat cannabis edibles need medical care. Call Poison Control at once. Keep the package so staff can read the THC milligrams.
Home remedies and their limits
Evidence for most remedies is thin. Black pepper and lemon peel hold terpenes such as beta-caryophyllene and limonene. Reports say chewing peppercorns eases anxiety. Clinical data is sparse. Small studies suggest CBD may blunt some THC effects. Do not count on either one.
After the green out
Sleep. Drink water. Eat a normal meal. Write down the product, the dose, and the time you used it. Legal US edibles list THC per serving. A standard starting dose is 2.5 mg of THC or less. Wait 2 hours before eating more. Inhaled flower and vape pens are easier to titrate because effects arrive in minutes.