What is Greening Out?

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Get Details on the Cannabis Equivalent of a Black Out

Many people have heard of “blacking out” – a condition that often results in symptoms like memory loss, loss of vision, or loss of consciousness after drinking too much alcohol. For cannabis users, the equivalent of blacking out and the associated symptoms is often called greening out.

But, what is greening out and what are the signs? And should you seek medical attention if you’ve been greened out for a long time?

You may already know that greening out can be uncomfortable, but is it as dangerous as overdosing from the consumption of alcohol or other substances? Rest assured, Catalina has got your answers!

Keep reading, and we’ll talk more about what it means to be greened out: what it feels like, the most common symptoms, and how to get help at Catalina Behavioral Health if marijuana or its byproducts have become unwanted parts of managing daily life for you or a loved one.

What is Greening Out?

“Greening out” is the marijuana equivalent to “blacking out” from alcohol. It is a term used to describe experiencing symptoms from consuming too much cannabis product, whatever its form.

Unlike blacking out from alcohol poisoning, however, greening out symptoms are most often uncomfortable rather than potentially life-threatening. Greening out is typically only dangerous to cannabis consumers with a pre-existing medical condition or when used with other illicit drugs or alcohol.

Of course, it is also quite dangerous when operating a motor vehicle, as the delayed reaction times and clouded senses have led many to DUI charges and/or preventable accidents on the road.

What Does Greening Out Feel Like?

First off, greening out doesn’t feel the same for everyone. Some people notice physical symptoms like nausea and vomiting at the outset, while others experience psychological symptoms like paranoia or anxiety, or cannabis psychosis in more extreme cases. The common symptoms of greening out vary depending on the potency and strain of marijuana products used and a cannabis user’s experience with marijuana products.

As THC enters your bloodstream, it causes your blood vessels to dilate. Blood pressure decreases and heart rate increases. Effects of greening out include:

• Slurred speech
• Loss of coordination
• Disorientation
• Vomiting
• Anxiety or panic attacks
• Increased heart rate
• Feeling clammy or sweating
• Pale skin tone
• Out-of-body experiences and mild hallucinations
• Sense of doom
• Lightheadedness
• A drop in blood sugar
• Passing out (losing consciousness)

The amount of time that you’ll experience the symptoms of greening out depends on several factors like how much weed was ingested, the method of cannabis consumption, typical marijuana habits, and lifestyle habits.

The use of concentrated cannabis products, such as wax, shatter, or rosins, through vaping or heating a ‘dab’ to get high, can also produce a more intense high and can lead to ‘greening out’ more readily, especially for inexperienced users.

How THC Works in the Body

Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC is the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis that results in feeling “high”. It interacts with cannabinoid receptors in the brain and central nervous system that already exist throughout the human body. CBD (cannabidiol) and other cannabinoids in weed also interact with these receptors, though CBD is known for its medical benefits rather than its ability to produce the feeling of being “high”.

Even people who do not smoke marijuana have cannabinoid receptors that interact with THC-like cannabinoids occurring naturally in the body. These receptors exist from birth. The endocannabinoid system plays a role in several biological functions, including eating and metabolism, memory and learning, growth and development, reproduction, anxiety, and more.

When you ingest weed, how soon you feel the effects depends on the method of consumption. Individuals who smoke weed experience the effects faster because when you smoke, it causes more rapid absorption of THC. With edibles or tinctures, it takes longer to experience the effects of THC.

How Much Weed Do I Need to Consume to Green Out?

Each person, their endocannabinoid system, cannabis use habits, and the way that certain weed strains will affect them are all different. This makes it almost impossible to determine the exact amount of cannabis needed to experience a greenout.

Using marijuana with alcohol or other substances can make it more or less likely you will green out. Other factors contribute including how hydrated you are, the last time that you ate, and whether you’ve been getting adequate sleep can affect whether you’ll green out after consuming cannabis.

4 Tips for Managing a Green Out

It is easy to become overwhelmed by the adverse effects of exceeding your body’s tolerance for marijuana. Fortunately, marijuana overdose alone is not life-threatening. Marijuana accounted for a little more than 10% of emergency room visits in 2021.

In cases where marijuana was not consumed with other illicit drugs, none of these were fatal. As long as other substances are not involved and you do not have a pre-existing medical condition, try these strategies for managing green out at home.

1) Stay Hydrated or Eat (if You Can)

Staying hydrated and being sure to drink plenty of water will prevent greening out and also help symptoms subside. Your body will need to filter THC out of your bloodstream after it is ingested and water will help your body do this. You should avoid alcohol after smoking too much, since it dehydrates you and makes your liver and kidneys work harder to filter your blood.

Drinking fruit juice can also raise blood sugar, helping you feel better after consuming too much THC. Some people can eat light snacks to feel better, but you should avoid fatty foods or alcohol.

2) Consider Home Remedies for Greening Out

Herbal remedies can also relieve the symptoms of greening out. Try chewing lemon rinds or black peppercorns. They are said to reduce anxiety and discomfort because of their clarifying and calming properties.

3) Stay Calm and Distract Yourself

Distraction is another useful technique, especially to manage psychological symptoms. Lay down somewhere, watch a movie, listen to music, or call a friend. While different people react differently to high doses of marijuana, the adverse effects of greening out are uncomfortable. Meditating or deep breathing can also help with relieving anxiety and staying calm while you ride out the uncomfortable symptoms of greening out.

Finally, if you are with someone who is greening out, help keep them calm. Remind them they are in a safe space and find them somewhere quiet to relax. Offering distractions and encouraging them to drink water can help with the physical and psychoactive effects of too much cannabis consumption.

4) Should I Try to Sleep if I’m Too High?

While you can go to sleep while high, you should use caution after consuming cannabis products with excessive amounts of alcohol or hard drug abuse. It is possible to sleep off the symptoms when you are greened out.

However, some people struggle to sleep because marijuana increases heart rate and makes it hard to calm down, and this can even increase anxiety. No matter what, if you are close to greening out, quitting further consumption of cannabis is crucial.

What Causes a Person to Green Out?

Many factors contribute to how likely it is a person greens out. Mixing marijuana with alcohol or other drugs, the way that marijuana is consumed, the potency, an individual’s tolerance, and a person’s well-being.

Although many consider it a factor, body weight alone does not contribute to your tolerance or likelihood of greening out.

The Method of Marijuana Consumption

While people feel the high from smoking weed faster, consuming edibles is more likely to cause greening out. Since eating/drinking marijuana takes longer to feel the full effect, it’s not uncommon to ingest more than expected. Body weight also does not always affect how fast your body processes THC.

Cannabis Use with Too Much Alcohol and Other Substance Abuse

Mixing cannabis with cocaine, opioids, psychedelics, or any other drugs, causes a greater risk that you’ll experience greening out symptoms. Using cannabis products while drinking alcohol or taking prescription medications can also cause adverse side effects.

Using Marijuana with High Levels of THC

Potent strains of cannabis might have higher levels of THC than a person is used to. When you consume marijuana from a more potent strain, you’ll need to use less to experience the same level of “high” that you are used to. If you consume your usual amount, you may experience adverse effects or feel too high.

Having a Low Tolerance for Weed

The frequency with which you smoke weed also impacts how much you’ll be able to consume before greening out. Individuals who smoke frequently are less likely to experience greening out than those who only smoke occasionally.

Your tolerance for marijuana products can also be lower if you consume it on an empty stomach if you are dehydrated, or if you have not gotten enough sleep.

Is it Possible to Consume Too Much Cannabis?

Yes, it is possible to consume too much weed. When a person consumes excessive amounts of marijuana, either by smoking it, eating it, or otherwise ingesting it, it can cause increased heart rate, anxiety, paranoia, increased risk of panic attack, sweating or clamminess, and other unpleasant symptoms.

Can You Die from Too Much Marijuana?

Unlike overdose from opioid or alcohol abuse, there is a very low risk of dying from ingesting too much marijuana. While marijuana abuse has been linked to a greater chance of mortality, these risks typically come from doing things like operating heavy machinery or driving while under the influence of marijuana.

In most cases, the symptoms of eating too many edibles or smoking too much weed will subside as your body processes the THC, and it’s unlikely and nearly impossible that you will fatally overdose from THC alone.

Is Greening Out Dangerous?

While you can experience uncomfortable physical and psychological symptoms when smoking or otherwise consuming too much weed, typically it is not dangerous. The exception to this is cases where marijuana is mixed with other substances and when an individual has a pre-existing medical condition that may be affected by smoking weed or consuming cannabis edibles. These individuals may need medical assistance after greening out.

How Long Does Greening Out Last?

When a person greens out after smoking weed, the effects usually only last a few hours. However, this changes depending on a person’s tolerance, how much THC was in the weed, and how much they smoked.

With edibles, the effects can last a few hours but some people also experience symptoms for a few days after consuming them. This changes depending on a person’s metabolism and how their body processes THC molecules.

Do I Need to Seek Medical Help if I Consume Too Much Cannabis?

While the physical and psychological symptoms of greening out are uncomfortable, most cannabis users feel better with time. It is important to remain calm, stay hydrated, and be around people that you trust after consuming too many cannabis products.

While most people can manage cannabis overdose at home, some people do seek medical attention. Individuals with certain conditions might have adverse reactions from using marijuana. For example, people with seizures have an increased risk of seizure after greening out and schizophrenics may experience worsened delusions.

How Do I Know If I Have a Problem with Marijuana Abuse?

Cannabis use starts innocently for most people. They may try a little weed to help them relax or have fun when they are with friends. When you start to use marijuana as an escape though, something that started innocently enough can become a habit.

Over time, you can even become dependent on marijuana to feel like yourself. Some people even turn to marijuana to ease anxiety and panic attacks, depression, unresolved trauma, or other mental health conditions.

The best way to address possible marijuana addiction is to take a drug assessment with our team at Catalina. During a cannabis assessment, you’ll work with our treatment specialists who will ask questions about your medical and mental health history, cannabis and other substance abuse habits, stressors in your life, and family history.

Then, they will use this information to determine the addiction treatment programs or support that would most benefit you, either with us or elsewhere as determined by need.

How Do I Know If I Have a Problem with Weed?

Marijuana is one of the more common recreational drugs, particularly as many states have moved to make it legal. It is quite possible to use cannabis without becoming addicted, just like many people drink and do not develop a drinking problem.

However, it is estimated that approximately 10% of cannabis users become addicted and 3 out of 10 users develop marijuana use disorder.

Here are the most common signs that cannabis usage is detrimental:

• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms or irritation when you can’t smoke
• Avoiding social situations where you can’t consume marijuana
• Needing more cannabis to feel the same level of high
• Having troubles at work or legal consequences from being high
• Spending too much money on weed
• Reduced social activities and loss of hobbies
• Engaging in dangerous activities like driving while high
• Depending on marijuana to feel “normal”
• Trying repeatedly to quit without success

Like with alcohol, it’s possible to overuse marijuana despite it being legal. If you or a loved one are experiencing signs like these, it may be time to consider treatment for cannabis addiction at Catalina.

Get Effective Support for Marijuana Recovery at Catalina

Often, marijuana dependence is not taken as seriously as addiction to substances like alcohol, opioids, and others. However, heavy marijuana use can still negatively impact your life in many ways.

If you have heard things that hit close to home in reading our article on greening out, whether in your own life or someone you love, our caring staff is ready and waiting to help.

If you’ve decided to take a closer look at how marijuana use affects you, staff at Catalina Behavioral Health are waiting by the phone. You can reach us any time of day to set up a drug assessment, discuss treatment options for marijuana, and verify your insurance for services.

Don’t hesitate to reach out for our support today!

References

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3481537
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK425742/
3. https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/PEP22-07-03-001.pdf
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7055953/
5. https://www.cdc.gov/marijuana/health-effects/addiction.html