What is Greening Out?

Get Support and Answers on the Marijuana Equivalent of Blacking Out

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What is greening out? All cannabis users should know the potential effects of consuming marijuana products without attention to tolerance level or consumption. While there are certainly dangerous substances out there on the streets, you could be at risk of greening out even with the purest weed.

Greening out is the term for a marijuana overdose. It typically surfaces a few hours after you consume the drug in a quantity that’s too great for your body to handle. Physical symptoms include high blood pressure, impaired motor function, nausea, vomiting, and more. You may also experience anxiety and panic attacks.

This situation could be worsened if you happen to be combining substances.

If you or a loved one experience greening out, particularly if it has occurred more than once, you should consider seek medical attention.

Purpose Healing Center can help keep you comfortable and safe while the marijuana products leave your system. We provide you with around-the-clock care for weed and other dangerous substances. Keep reading to learn more about how to identify greening out.

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Greening Out: What Happens When You Have Too Much Marijuana?

Unfortunately, many people who partake in marijuana believe that there are no adverse effects if they consume too much cannabis.

While drinking alcohol leads to drunkenness and blacking out, smoking weed also has some ill effects if you’re unaware of how your body will handle the drug.

Greening out is simply the term for when you go overboard in consuming cannabis. This goes a step beyond simply feeling high from the drug; it triggers uncomfortable symptoms ranging from physical sensations to psychological discomfort.

The most severe physical and psychological symptoms of greening out tend to take place in people who have never used marijuana before.

Because they have no idea of their tolerance for the drug, it’s easier for them to over-indulge. Consuming edibles with unknown strengths can also result in greening out, especially if you lose track of what you’ve already eaten.

What Type of Marijuana Use Leads to Greening Out?

You likely already know that your cannabis product can vary significantly depending on what it is laced with and the THC content of the particular cannabis plant. Greening out symptoms tend to happen more frequently with weed that has a higher THC content. If you have a particularly potent strain, it can result in an overdose faster.

Of course, you might also experience a negative reaction if you decide to mix weed with substances like alcohol or other drugs. The effects of greening out result in an unpleasant experience, but it could prove to be life-threatening if you’re mixing marijuana with other substances.

Keep in mind that many young adults will struggle with greening out because they are too new to the drug to know their tolerance. They might also be unaware of underlying mental health conditions that worsen the unpleasant feelings of greening out. If it happens to you, simply stay calm and seek help or a safe space.

Physical and Psychological Symptoms of Too Much Cannabis

If you drink too much alcohol, you likely already know the signs: slurred speech, impaired motor skills, dizziness, and even blacking out. These are all signs that you should seek medical attention and stop drinking as soon as possible. But what are the symptoms of greening out?

Here is what you can expect from both the physical symptoms and the psychological side effects of consuming cannabis in high doses.

Physical Symptoms of Greening Out

The first signs that your marijuana use has crossed the line are often physical. Your initial discomfort is more easily pinpointed than some of the psychological signs of marijuana abuse.

Especially if you have someone sober with you while you use cannabis, it may be easy to identify when it’s time to stop using and start considering medical attention.

Some of the physical symptoms can include:

Slurred speech
Rapid heart rate and elevated blood pressure
Paler skin
Dry mouth
Nausea and vomiting (cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome)
Abdominal pain
Loss of motor skills and coordination
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Headache or migraine
Sweating

Even if you only experience one or two of these warning signs, you should heed them as a red flag and discontinue marijuana use for the time being. A greening out experience could last up to 24 hours, so abstain until all symptoms are resolved.

Smoking weed tends to dissipate from your system faster, and symptoms might only last for a few hours.

Psychological Effects and Mental Health Challenges

You don’t necessarily have to have a marijuana overdose to experience some of the adverse mental side effects of the drug. Most people have experienced or know someone who has experienced an intense period of paranoia while under the influence, for example. Greening out simply takes it to a new level.

One of the most common symptoms of greening out is heightened anxiety. In turn, this leaves you prone to more serious panic attacks–even if you have never experienced these outside of drug use. While under the influence, you might also experience mild hallucinations.

Other symptoms include confusion or disorientation, especially as the effects of the drug wear on. You may also be overwhelmed by the stimuli in your environment, becoming hyper-aware of your senses and your surroundings. Lights might seem brighter and noises might seem louder.

When to Seek Medical Help for Greening Out

A one-time occurrence of this phenomenon may not warrant a stint in a residential addiction treatment program. However, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take it seriously if you experience some of the above symptoms when consuming marijuana.

Any time your symptoms become overwhelming and extremely uncomfortable, you should seek medical help as soon as possible.

A rehab center like our offerings at Purpose Healing Center can set you on the path to a newly sober lifestyle or an emergency room can give you the immediate medical attention you require.

The good news for many people is that there aren’t many reported deaths from greening out. While you may be at a greater risk of motor vehicle accidents and the like, it doesn’t lead to increased mortality.

Yes, you will feel uncomfortable and miserable, but it typically isn’t lethal unless you’re mixing other substances. Seeking professional help is still a good idea for your overall well-being though.

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Exercises for Home Use When You Have Too Much THC in the Body

Milder symptoms of greening out (especially psychological symptoms like heightened anxiety) can be handled on your own if you have someone to help you. A cannabis overdose isn’t life-threatening even though it could feel that way at the time.

Practice some of these exercises next time you struggle with too much cannabis use:

Escape from stimuli: Because your senses are heightened, it can be beneficial to get to a place where there is minimal sensory input. A cool, quiet, dark space is preferable. Get comfortable and plan to stay here for a few hours or even a full day, depending on how much you consume.
Practice square breathing (or any deep breathing exercise): Dialectical behavior therapy teaches several great deep breathing exercises. Square breathing means you inhale, hold, exhale, and hold, each for an equal time. You can also inhale for four, hold for seven, and exhale for eight.
54321: Name five things you can see, four things you can hear, three things you can touch, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. Grounding exercises like these will help anchor you in the present moment.
Stay hydrated: Keep drinking water because hydration will help the experience to pass faster. You could also sip on fruit juice to boost your blood sugar and minimize side effects.

Consuming too much weed might challenge your coping skills. Remember that symptoms will eventually subside if you remain calm and apply some of these resources.

A therapist or licensed counselor equips you with the coping skills necessary to manage anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions.

Preventing Cannabis Overdose

Just because there is a risk of greening out doesn’t necessarily mean that it will deter everyone from smoking weed. While panic attacks may be uncomfortable, they do pass, and many people are apt to continue their drug use without intervention and help from a licensed detox facility like Purpose.

That being said, there are some things you can do to prevent greening out without entering an intensive addiction treatment program.

Consuming cannabis in moderation is one way to avoid this occurrence. Look for variations of the drug with lower psychoactive compounds that are less likely to trigger these uncomfortable symptoms. In between your consumption, be sure to take breaks to keep from overloading your system with the drug in the first few hours.

You can also benefit from maintaining a stable blood sugar level. This means that you should eat a meal before you start to consume marijuana, as well as stay hydrated. Try not to consume marijuana mixed with other substances that could trigger more serious adverse effects.

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Getting Help for Cannabis Addiction

It doesn’t matter what your personal tolerance levels might be. If cannabis users find themselves turning to the drug to cope with the stresses of daily life, seek professional help for substance abuse and underlying mental health conditions that contribute to use.

Purpose Healing Center provides a safe space for you to get the help you need if you’re using too much weed.

We’ll start with a detox program where you will have 24/7 access to medical care and counseling. As you come down from your high and embrace your first sober days, you may need medication-assisted treatment to remain comfortable. Our team provides you with everything you need in a safe space.

From here, you can transition to an inpatient or intensive outpatient programs, depending on your unique treatment plan. Both programs offer support and give you coping skills to stop using too much weed.

A safe space exists if you want to seek help to put substance abuse behind you and get a handle on your mental health that may be worsened with drug use.

Let Purpose Healing Center Help You Today

If you’re struggling with any of the unwanted symptoms found here, then it may be time to consider if continued use of cannabis products is truly in your best interest.

Our warm and welcoming admissions team is here to answer your questions and help you handle the health risks of quitting marijuana abuse.

The good news is that we also accept many private insurance policies and most forms of AHCCCS to make receiving treatment more affordable and accessible.

We can verify your benefits and talk with you about the out-of-pocket costs in a quick fifteen-minute phone call.

Reach out to us today to learn more about how you can avoid life-threatening substance abuse issues and finally start to live your life sober.