How to Sober Up From an Edible
- Education
- Cannabutter Digest
Cannabis edibles offer a tasty and effective way to enjoy the benefits of cannabinoids. However, their delayed effect can sometimes catch users off guard, leading to overconsumption and intense effects. If you find yourself in this situation, it’s essential to know how to sober up from weed,
particularly from edibles, safely. While there’s no magic cure, several strategies can help you manage the unwanted effects of consuming too much THC.
How to Sober Up from Weed: Stay Calm and Find Your Comfort Zone
Experiencing an overwhelming high from consuming edibles is common, especially for those with a lower tolerance level or who are new to this method of cannabis use.
The most crucial step is to stay calm and focus on relaxation techniques that work for you. Additionally, it’s important to maintain mental health during such experiences to avoid potential negative impacts.
Gentle Stretches: Relax your muscles and ease tension in your body.
Take a Warm Shower: The soothing warmth can help alleviate the unpleasant feelings associated with a weed high.
Interact with a Pet: The comforting presence of an animal can provide mental relief.
Call a Friend: A calming conversation with someone you trust can distract you from extreme anxiety.
Listen to Mellow Music: Soft tunes can help shift your focus and promote a sense of calm.
Distract Yourself: Engage in a relaxing podcast or light TV show to divert your mind from the psychoactive effects of THC.
Stay Hydrated
Dehydration can intensify the effects of THC, leading to more severe symptoms like dry mouth, dizziness, and confusion. Staying hydrated is key to mitigating these negative side effects:
Drink Plenty of Water: Consuming water helps flush THC out of your system and can ease the discomfort caused by an edible overdose.
Avoid Alcohol: Alcohol can exacerbate dehydration and increase the potency of THC, making the experience more intense and uncomfortable
Dehydration can intensify the effects of THC, making you feel worse. Even mild dehydration can lead to symptoms like:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Confusion
- Anxiety
Drinking water can alleviate these symptoms and help flush THC out of your system more quickly. Staying hydrated is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to manage an overwhelming high.
Additionally, understanding the risks of substance abuse, including potential addiction and health issues, underscores the importance of staying hydrated.
Eat Foods High in Complex Carbohydrates
Eating can help reduce the intensity of a weed high, especially when you consume foods rich in complex carbohydrates:
- Opt for Oatmeal or Bread: These foods can help block THC from further entering your bloodstream and help you sober up from weed more quickly.
- Avoid High-Fat Foods: Fatty foods can increase the absorption of THC, prolonging its effects and making it harder to sober up.
- Consider Pine Nuts: Pine nuts are a reliable source of terpenes, specifically limonene and pinene, which can assist in promoting mental clarity and aiding recovery from symptoms associated with high THC intake, such as short-term memory loss.
Use Eye Drops to Alleviate Redness
Bloodshot eyes are a common side effect of consuming cannabis products, whether it’s through smoking cannabis, vaping, or eating cannabis edibles. While eye drops won’t reduce the THC effects, they can help you feel more comfortable if you need to interact with others.
Avoid Alcohol at All Costs
Mixing alcohol with edibles is a recipe for disaster. Alcohol can amplify the effects of THC and further dehydrate your body, intensifying your high. If you’ve already had alcohol, stop drinking immediately, hydrate, and eat some complex carbs to mitigate the effects.
Additionally, combining alcohol with cannabis edibles can increase the risk of drug abuse, leading to more severe mental health and behavioral issues.
The Truth About Popular Remedies: Black Pepper and Lemon
No sufficient scientific evidence has emerged to support the popular claim that black pepper can help you sober up from a marijuana high. While one study suggests that the compounds found within the spice might be able to inhibit some of weed’s effects, eating black pepper kernels is no magic bullet.
Black Peppercorns: While some claim that chewing black peppercorns can counteract a THC high from a cannabis product, there’s limited scientific evidence to support this. However, it may offer some mild relief if you’re looking for a natural remedy.
Citrus Fruits and Lemon: Similarly, consuming citrus fruits like lemons or drinking lemon juice has anecdotal support but lacks solid scientific backing. That said, enjoying a glass of lemonade or lemon tea can be a comforting way to calm yourself.
Be Wary of Unproven Remedies
There are numerous suggested remedies online for sobering up from edibles, but not all are effective. It’s important to rely on proven methods and be cautious of trying unverified solutions, as they might not provide the relief you’re seeking. Additionally, unverified solutions can pose risks related to substance abuse, including potential addiction and other health issues.
Caffeine: A Double-Edged Sword
While caffeine is often used to counteract the effects of alcohol, it can be counterproductive when dealing with a cannabis overdose. Since caffeine can increase anxiety and jitters, it’s best to avoid it if you’re already experiencing extreme anxiety from high doses of THC. Additionally, consuming weed and caffeine together can exacerbate these negative effects, leading to heightened anxiety and paranoia.
Know When to Seek Professional Assistance
If none of the above strategies are helping and you’re experiencing severe symptoms, it’s crucial to seek help. While serious complications from edibles are rare, they can happen. Symptoms to watch out for include:
- Hallucinations
- Extreme paranoia
- Difficulty controlling your muscles
- Breathing troubles
- Vomiting
Inhaled cannabis leads to a quicker onset of effects due to the absorption of active ingredients through the lungs, contrasting it with the slower effects of cannabis edibles, which undergo a different metabolic process.
If you experience any of these, contact a medical professional immediately. Serious complications from consuming edibles are rare, but addressing them early is essential.
Consuming Cannabis Edibles Safely: Dosing Tips and Tools
Most issues with edibles stem from improper dosing and misunderstanding the delayed effect of THC products. If you’re new to edibles or have a lower tolerance, start with a low dose, around 2.5 mg, and wait a few hours to see how it affects you before consuming more.
Even experienced users of smoking or vaping cannabis might not anticipate the intensity of eating cannabis, so caution is always advisable. Weed use is prevalent in the United States, making it crucial to promote safe practices and strategies to mitigate the effects of intoxication.
For those who make edibles at home, LĒVO infusion machines, such as the LĒVO II, LĒVO C, and LĒVO Lux, offer precise control over the THC content in your recipes. Using these machines to create edibles with a higher percentage of CBD can help counterbalance the intense effects of THC, making your highs more manageable. The Cannabutter Digest Potency Calculator is an excellent tool for ensuring accurate dosing in your homemade treats.
Empower Yourself with Knowledge and Control
Understanding how to manage an overwhelming high from edibles is essential for anyone who enjoys cannabis. By following these steps and using the right tools, you can confidently navigate your experiences, minimize negative side effects, and ensure a safe, enjoyable time. Unlike smoking marijuana, consuming edibles offers a more discreet and convenient method, with different factors influencing the effects of each consumption method.
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FAQs
Can I sober up quickly from edibles?
There’s no quick fix. The best approach is to stay calm, drink water, and wait for the effects to subside.
Can certain foods help me sober up?
Foods rich in complex carbs, like bread, can help reduce the high. Avoid high-fat foods, which can increase THC absorption.
What are the common side effects of too much THC?
Side effects can include anxiety, dizziness, paranoia, and dry mouth. These usually subside within a few hours.
