How To Sober Up From Weed: 10 Ways to Get Un-High

Approximately 16 percent of American adults regularly use marijuana. From its euphoric effects to its relaxing properties, there are many reasons to indulge in a cannabis sesh.

But sometimes, it ends up being too much of a good thing.

When you get a strain of marijuana with a high THC concentration or simply consume a little too much, you can feel too high. This can be unpleasant, and even dangerous in certain situations, like when you need to drive or do any task that requires your full focus and motor functions. That’s why knowing how to sober up from weed is important for all cannabis users.

Signs You’re Too High

You aren’t smoking your grandma’s Woodstock weed. THC concentrations have steadily increased in marijuana over the years. The result? A stronger high.

When you get a batch with a high THC concentration, or you simply smoke/consume a lot of marijuana at once, you might start to feel the usual positive effects fade to the background as some uncomfortable ones take over. That’s when you know you’re too high.

So, how can you know if you’ve had a little too much? If you begin to experience the following symptoms, you might be too high:

• Paranoia: THC interacts with the amygdala, the part of the brain associated with fear, and can result in paranoia.
• Anxiety: While low doses of THC can lower anxiety, high doses can increase it.
• Dizziness: Marijuana use can cause low blood pressure, which can lead to dizziness.
• Rapid Heartbeat: THC can activate the body’s fight-or-flight response, which leads to a rapid heartbeat.
• Nausea: While minimal or occasional marijuana use can reduce nausea, frequent use can increase the risk of nausea and vomiting.
• Confusion: THC interacts with parts of the brain associated with memory formation and can cause short-term memory loss and confusion.
• Drowsiness: While drowsiness might be the intended effect for those hoping to go to sleep, it can be a problem for users who need to remain alert and functional.
• Impaired Motor Function: Cannabis use impacts networks in the brain critical to producing movement, and can negatively impact motor function.
• Time Distortion: It’s common for marijuana users to experience time distortion — most commonly that time is moving slowly.

 

10 Ways To Sober Up From Weed

So your high turned from good to bad, and now you’re wondering how to get un-high. The question is: what sobers you up from weed? The truth is that allowing time to pass is the only proven way to come down from your high. However, there are some things you can try to make the process more pleasant. The exact timeline of getting unhigh will vary depending on the strain of cannabis you consumed, the amount, and the method of consumption.

1. Go To Sleep

If you’re finding the feeling and sensations of being high to be unpleasant, sleep can provide a nice break from the experience. You can take just a short nap, or lie down for a full night’s rest, depending on the time of day and how much relief you need. You will still be high while you’re asleep, but you won’t be awake to feel unpleasant symptoms like nausea, paranoia, or dizziness. Plus, sleep can make the passage of time feel faster — and time is the only true remedy for being too high.

2. Take Ibuprofen

Certain over-the-counter painkillers such as Ibuprofen might help reduce your high after smoking too much weed. In some studies, individuals using marijuana to reduce symptoms from chronic conditions such as multiple sclerosis or cancer who did not want to experience a high were able to effectively reduce their buzz by pairing weed with an anti-inflammatory drug. (Note: do not take Ibuprofen if you are experiencing nausea, as it can amplify this symptom).

3. Talk to a Friend

Like with anything unpleasant, focusing all of your attention on your high could make you feel worse. So try talking to a friend with whom you feel safe and comfortable to distract yourself. Choose a lighthearted, easy topic, and ask your friend to keep you distracted until you feel less high. Your friend might even share a story about a time they got too high, and how everything turned out just fine.

4. Have Some CBD

Ironically, in order to combat the effects of THC, you might consider relying on a different cannabinoid — CBD. Studies show that taking CBD before THC can reduce the chances of cognitive impairment and psychosis. It’s important to note that patients took CBD prior to THC to see these benefits, so if you are worried about getting too high, consume some of your preferred CBD product before any THC.

5. Go for a Leisurely Stroll

Going for a nice walk can help counteract the negative effects of too much THC because movement helps release the feel-good chemicals known as endorphins. A change of scenery can also be helpful if something about your environment is aggravating negative symptoms like paranoia and confusion. Just be sure to walk in a familiar area where you feel safe.

6. Take a Shower

Water is refreshing and calming. The feeling of the water washing over you and the sound of the droplets can provide new, positive sensations to focus on, and even offer the placebo effect of feeling like you’re washing the high away. You can even play with the temperature to see what helps you the most.

7. Eat a Light Snack

If you’re experiencing nausea, a mild snack that’s gentle on your stomach, like a banana or piece of toast, can help ease this symptom. Plus, eating something you really like can release dopamine, and help you feel calm and relaxed. If nothing else, the textures, tastes, and aromas of the food will give you something to focus on other than the feeling of being too high.

8. Stay Hydrated

Dehydration can cause many of the other symptoms of being too high, like dizziness, nausea, and rapid heart rate. So for those wondering how to sober up from weed fast, you technically can’t, but you can stop the effects from lingering longer than usual by staying hydrated.

9. Use Breathing and Relaxation Techniques

Certain breathing exercises have been shown to slow the heart rate and promote a sense of calm — two things people wondering how to sober up from THC are usually hoping to experience. There are two types of breathing exercises you can try:

• Box Breathing: This exercise involves inhaling for four seconds, holding the breath for four seconds, releasing the breath for four seconds, and holding for four seconds before repeating the cycle.
• Vagus Nerve Breathing: Your vagus nerve is the longest nerve in your body and helps regulate your parasympathetic nervous system, which controls your heart rate. In this exercise, you inhale through the nose for four seconds, hold the breath for seven seconds, and exhale through the mouth for eight seconds.

Overall, breathing techniques involving slow, long exhales signal to your brain that you are in a state of relaxation. So if you find either of these exercises too complicated to do when you’re high, you can also simply try taking slow, deep breaths in and slowly exhaling out, without any counting.

10. Seek Out Medical Attention

If you don’t start to feel better after trying some of the tips on this list or your symptoms become worse, seek medical attention. If you are caring for someone who is experiencing a “green out” (getting too high) and they become unresponsive, call 911 right away. While fatal marijuana overdosing is extremely unlikely, medical professionals will be able to provide IVs for rehydration and monitor your heart rate.

 

Sober Up From Weed: What Not To Do

In addition to there being a list of things you can do to reduce your high, there are also things you should definitely not do. Here’s what we suggest avoiding if you want to get un-high in a hurry.

• Caffeine: Coffee can actually enhance the feeling of being high, as well as aggravate confusion and memory loss.
• Alcohol: While you might think alcohol would calm you down, it can actually increase levels of THC in the bloodstream. 
• Stimulants: If you want to feel more alert, you might reach for stimulant drugs, such as cocaine or methamphetamines. However, these drugs only increase the risk of paranoia, rapid heart rate, and other unwanted side effects.
• Folk Remedies: You might have heard about folk remedies like eating peppercorn or sucking on a lemon. There is no evidence that these remedies work. Plus, when you’re high, it’s better to avoid unpleasant sensations (and sucking on a lemon sounds pretty bad, right?)

Ultimately, anything that might alter your state of mind or impact your nervous system is best to avoid when you’re trying to reverse a high.

How Long the Weed High Typically Lasts

Now you know how to sober up fast from weed (or at least how to minimize symptoms), but it’s important to remember that timelines will vary from one individual to the next. Factors including the strain, THC dosage, your history of usage, and even your biology will impact how long you remain high. This complexity is why the effects of cannabis differ from one person to the next much more than alcohol.

While there is no exact timeframe in which you can expect to feel sober, there are some things that can help you better predict how long it will take. A major determining factor is the delivery method:

• Inhaling. If you smoke or vape your weed, the THC goes into your lungs before passing into your bloodstream and then your brain. You will feel high fast — sometimes within seconds. The high should subside within a few hours but sometimes lasts up to six hours.
• Ingesting. If you consume your THC through edibles, like gummies or baked goods, the cannabis goes through your stomach, then your liver, then the bloodstream, and finally your brain. For this reason, it takes longer for your high to show up (roughly 30 minutes to two hours), but it also lasts longer. A high from edibles can last between 12 to 24 hours.

Being aware of these timelines before you smoke or eat THC can help alleviate some of your concerns, should you get too high. Armed with this information, at least you’ll know that the duration fo your buzz is normal, and nothing to worry about.

 

Getting Sober From Weed vs. Weed Detox: What’s the Difference?

Just because you don’t feel high — and possibly haven’t touched cannabis in several days — doesn’t mean cannabis isn’t in your system. This is important to know in case you need to take a drug test for your job or school. Alternatively, if you’re trying to conceive, you might want to detox from weed because cannabis can harm both male and female fertility.

Just like the process of getting unhigh, the passage of time is the only certain way to detox from cannabis. However, there are some proven and anecdotal methods that might speed up the process:

• Exercise: One study showed that exercising slightly increases the speed at which your body processes and releases THC.
• A Healthy Diet: While no food can help remove cannabis from your system, a healthy diet rich in fiber and antioxidants can boost your body’s natural detoxification processes.
• Detox Drinks: There is only anecdotal “evidence” that detox drinks like cranberry juice and green tea help flush out THC. However, this has not been scientifically tested.

There are other anecdotal cures, such as drinking vinegar, taking niacin supplements, or using special detox kits, that are not only unproven, but can also be dangerous. The best thing to do is give your body the time it needs to clear your system of THC. So, how much time is that, exactly?

Here are some general timeframes you might expect, for mild, moderate, and heavy cannabis users:

• Mild (less than once per week): THC might be traceable in your urine for up to three days after your most recent use.
• Moderate (roughly three times per week): THC might be traceable in your urine for five to seven days after your most recent use.
• Heavy (daily): THC might be traceable in your urine from 10 to 30 days after your most recent use.

The reality is that we can’t answer the question, “How long does weed stay in my body?” because it varies so drastically from one person to the next. Factors such as body mass, diet, metabolism, fat percentage, and other lifestyle habits can all impact how long it takes for weed to leave your body.

 

Tips to Help You Nail the Right High

The best way to come down from getting too high is to never get too high in the first place. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and when it comes to weed, cannabis lovers know an ounce can go a long way! Here are tips for nailing that ideal high that has you feeling good, without any of the negative side effects:

• Learn from the Past: If you know that half an edible was too much for you last time, try just a quarter this time.
• Eat Beforehand: Having cannabis on an empty stomach can amplify its effects, much like drinking alcohol on an empty stomach can.
• Know Your Ratios: If you’re just looking for a mild high, find a strain with a higher level of CBD than THC. A nice mild ratio is 3:1 CBD: THC.
• Keep a Notebook: Create a record of how much cannabis you have and which strains. This will help you understand your tolerance levels and create a plan for more reliably enjoyable highs.

Many cannabis lovers are able to find the right dosage and routine for their bodies, and avoid that dreadful feeling of being “too high.”

 

Elevate Your Weed Experience With Sky’s The Limit DC

Ready to cultivate your perfect cannabis-centric self-care routine? At Sky’s the Limit, we are passionate about serving our D.C. cannabis community with high-end weed products and accessories to help create the perfect buzz.

One of our knowledgeable and welcoming team members would be glad to learn about the weed experience you’re looking to have and make tailored product recommendations. You can also explore our inventory online, and if you have any questions about our products (or anything cannabis-related) feel free to contact us.