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Weed is a tremendous drug. It’s fun, it’s relaxing, and it makes you feel like a million bucks. But it can also mess with your head in ways that are not so great, like making you feel anxious or paranoid. And sometimes, when you’re feeling too good, you end up doing some things that you regret later, like making bad decisions and saying things you don’t mean.
If you want to sober up from weed, here are 6 tips that will help you do it:
- Be aware of your limits before consumption.
- Don’t panic! Stay calm and relax.
- Hydrate and eat a light snack.
- Try chewing on some black peppercorns.
- Get distracted.
- Try taking a shower or a bath.
Read on to know how long it takes to recover from weed intoxication and 6 ways you can ease yourself back into sobriety.
How Long Does It Take to Sober Up from Weed?
It Varies and Depends on Different Factors
How long a high lasts depends on your dosage, consumption, and specific factors like age, metabolic rate, and tolerance. The higher the THC percentage or milligram amount of a cannabis product, the longer the high lasts. However, it doesn’t necessarily equate to a more potent one. In fact, flowers and edibles are less intense than concentrates.
4 Hours for Most People
Sobering up from dabs could be more of a challenge than smoking a bowl, depending on how much you use, the flower or wax quality, and your body’s unique chemistry. Also, a regular smoker with a high tolerance will sober up faster than an occasional party-joiner. New studies show that the “window of impairment” for cannabis ranges from 3 to 10 hours. But for the majority, it’s approximately 4 hours.
30 Minutes to 2 Hours Based on Anecdotes
According to anecdotal evidence, a typical cannabis high lasts between 30 minutes and 2 hours. It’s possible to feel the effects for some time — in some cases, they can be rather prolonged. When you’ve consumed too much cannabis and feel too high, uncomfortable, or overwhelmed, there are strategies to help you come down and sober up.
How to Sober Up from Weed Intoxication
When you’re stoned off your gourd, it’s hard to recall the last time you were sober. But if you’re in a situation where you need to be, here are 6 tips that might help:
1. Be Aware of Your Limits Before Consumption
While everyone has different levels of tolerance, it’s important to know how much weed you can handle. Knowing your limits will help you avoid overindulging and becoming intoxicated. If you’re new to smoking pot, start with low doses and slowly increase them until you find a certain amount that works best for you.
Try products with 10% THC or less. You can gauge the effects better if you take only one hit or puff and then wait 15 minutes before trying again.
And the same holds true for edibles. Given the extended time required for these products to take effect, it is recommended that you refrain from increasing your intake while waiting for the results. Ensure to follow the dosage instructions and start with a low dose of THC (a few mg) to see how you react.
2. Don’t Panic! Stay Calm and Relax
Panic and anxiety can cause you to feel more intoxicated than you actually are, making you feel worse. Take deep breaths, relax your muscles and focus on something else to distract you from your worries.
Give it time to wear off if you have had too much cannabis. Trust us when we say these feelings will pass, and you’ll feel much better after a few hours.
And while it’s certainly possible to consume too much cannabis for your own good, there have been zero reported deaths from overdose. So as uncomfortable and sweaty as you may feel after consuming more than you’re used to, don’t worry: nobody has ever died from overdoing it with pot. You’ll be fine in a while, even if you accidentally overdo it.
3. Get Distracted
There’s no shortage of ways to divert your attention, so explore options. You may want to:
- Go for a walk (but if you’re too woozy to stand or walk, lie down instead);
- Chat or hang out with friends;
- Listen to music; or
- Watch a movie, show, funny cartoon, or documentary that you like.
Other activities that make you laugh and feel good are also helpful if you’re trying to come down from a high. You can try:
- Playing video games;
- Eating your favorite food;
- Coloring or drawing something; or
- Going on a supervised errand.
4. Hydrate and Eat a Light Snack
Hydration is essential at any time, but it’s especially important when you’re high on cannabis. When you consume cannabis, your salivary glands are inhibited, which may explain why your mouth dries out so much.
Even experienced stoners sometimes face issues with cottonmouth, so it’s smart to keep some water or candies on hand. You can also try snacking on some nuts, fruits, or cheese to see if it helps you make the mind-body connection.
Yes to Water and No to Alcohol & Coffee
Do grounding by focusing on swallowing or sipping a cold drink. But try to avoid caffeinated drinks.
Does caffeine make you less high? Combining caffeine and cannabis doesn’t seem to intensify the high, but it can help you feel its effects for longer. If you’re feeling anxious, drinking coffee may not help you relax, so think again before reaching for it.
Also, you shouldn’t reach for a cold beer if you’re already high because alcohol might intensify the effects of THC. The ideal choice would be to drink regular water or lemonade.
5. Try Chewing on Some Black Peppercorns or Lemon Rinds
Aromatic oils known as terpenes are present in cannabis and work together with cannabinoids like CBD and THC to either heighten or ease the high.
Terpenes boost alertness or reduce anxiety. And interestingly, you may already have some terpenes in your pantry: black peppercorns and lemon rinds. You can eat, drink, or smell them, especially if you want to tone down THC’s unpleasant effects.
The terpenes caryophyllene and pinene found in black pepper may counteract the psychoactive effects of THC. In addition, the terpene limonene found in lemons may also help reduce anxiety, which could be useful if you’re feeling on edge.
6. Try Taking a Shower or Bath
Does taking a shower take away your high? The refreshing feel of water can make you feel better, even with a bad edible high. Think of it as a mental type of hydration, a clean way to flush away the bad effects of too much THC.
A simple splash of cold water on your face is also an easy yet effective way to relax your body and mind. It keeps your heart rate stable and makes you feel calm.
How to Recover from Edibles
1. Eat and Hydrate
Does eating sober you up? Yes. Consuming food and water help with edible recovery by providing energy and allowing the body to soak up and excrete cannabinoids.
Choose hydrating drinks like water and coconut water instead of alcohol or caffeinated beverages. Eat clean by having healthier options such as nuts, fruits, and whole wheat bread.
2. Exercise
Exercise is a good physical activity that can help eliminate THC in the fat cells through sweating. But if you can’t handle intense exercise like running and lifting weights, choose lighter activities, such as walking or yoga.
3. Use Detox Pills
Eliminating the chemicals from your system more quickly can be made possible by using detox pills. But since they take so long to work, you might want to try something else.
There are various THC-specific detox pills available, and some of them begin to work an hour or so after use. These pills give you a boost of vitality, as they typically contain a number of different herbs, vitamins, and minerals.
4. Sleep
Naps are great for helping your body recover from intoxication, but they also have the added benefit of making your high feel shorter. Sleeping won’t ever ruin your edible experience, even if you wake up feeling groggy.
Feeling High When Sober
Heavy cannabis stoners have been observed to have elevated levels of THC in their systems for a considerable time after quitting.
One study found that chronic cannabis users required at least 46 days to achieve weed-free urine. Some people required as long as 77 days to return to their pre-intervention levels. Apparently, THC is stored in our fat tissues and released slowly into the blood over time. So it’s not impossible to feel the weed’s effects long after smoking.
FAQs – Sobering Up from Weed
How Long Does It Usually Take to Sober Up from Weed?
Heavy cannabis users experience withdrawal symptoms on day 1 after stopping usage and reach their peak 2 to 3 days later. In most cases, signs and symptoms subside after 2 to 3 weeks.
How Many Hours to Sober Up from Weed?
The high from smoking pot typically begins within minutes and can last for up to three hours. Ingesting cannabis causes a lag in the onset of the high. In other cases, the high won’t kick in for up to two hours after eating. However, the high tends to linger for hours.
How Long Does Weed Paranoia Last?
Most people report feeling better after around 4 weeks. However, other factors also play a role in paranoia, so it’s best to speak with your healthcare provider if your paranoid thoughts are getting serious.
References
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews – Magnitude and Duration of THC
British Journal of Pharmacology – Taming THC
Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics – Excretion Patterns of Cannabinoids
