10 Tips To Reduce Your High

In this day and age, more people around the globe have easy access to pot, whether it’s medical, recreational, legal, or illegal. Unsurprisingly, some are still a little too green for modern day green, and may find themselves stoned out of their minds, paranoid, and probably trying to find a way to counteract the killer cottonmouth. Seasoned stoners lovingly refer to this as “rookie syndrome” or “greening out”.

But fear not, it’s definitely not as bad as it may seem in the moment. For starters, you won’t die; no one ever has from weed alone. Second, coming down from a cannabis high is much easier than one might think. Beginners are most likely to fall into the too-stoned abyss, but it can happen to anyone, especially when trying new edibles or concentrates. Below is a list of 10 tried and true methods to bring yourself back down to a comfortable level of high, or to completely sober if that’s what you’re going for.

1. REMEMBER TO BREATHE

While this might seem pretty obvious, it can be quite difficult when you’re anxious, coughing, and borderline hyperventilating. So once again, remember to breathe. Slow, deep breaths (such as when practising meditation) are a great way to gather your thoughts and relax a little bit. Just close your eyes for one or two minutes and think about nothing but the words “breathe in” and “breathe out”, and give no attention to any anxious thoughts.

Not only is this something you can do when you’re too stoned, it’s also good to do throughout the day to achieve optimal blood oxygenation.

2. DON’T PANIC

One of the most important things to remember when you’re greening out is to remain calm. No matter how high and crazy you might feel, just keep in mind that your symptoms will begin to lessen within minutes, and should disappear completely in an hour or two. Waiting it out can be kind of a drag sometimes, but it’s good to know that you’ll only continue to feel better and better over time.

3. TRY SOME LEMON PEPPER

Lemon pepper? Seriously? Yes, seriously. As strange as it may sound, studies show that many terpenes found in everyday foods interact with the terpenes from cannabis, catalysing a variety of different effects. This is commonly referred to as “the entourage effect”. The active terpenes in pepper and lemon (piperine and limonene, respectively) are known to counteract the effects of psychoactive cannabinoid THC.

Most people have some pepper and a lemon or two laying around the kitchen. Simply squeeze the juice from one lemon into a glass of water, crack a peppercorn or two into it, and drink. Essential oils that have either one or both of these terpenes could also be very helpful.

4. STAY HYDRATED

We all know about cottonmouth and how unpleasant it is, especially when you’re not enjoying your high anyway. What’s worse is, if you happen to be anxious already, the feeling of dehydration can lead to lightheadedness, which makes those paranoid feelings even worse. Keeping a water bottle close by is one of the best things you could do for yourself if you plan on smoking that day.

5. A CUP OF JOE

A nice, hot cup of coffee might not completely mitigate your high, but it can help you get re-centred. As we already know, caffeine is the perfect pick-me-up when you’re feeling groggy and out of focus, so it makes sense that it can come in handy when you’re feeling this way because of weed. Just make sure you don’t overdo it with the caffeine, otherwise you may start to feel shaky and even more anxious.

6. CANNABIDIOL

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is nature’s medicine to pretty much everything. But many don’t realise that it’s also an effective way to tone down the effects of THC. It’s not a bad idea to have some CBD oil in your medicine cabinet for a rainy day, or for everyday for that matter. Even if you live in a state or country where cannabis is still frowned upon, it’s relatively easy (and legal) to find quality CBD products online.

7. GET OUT AND EXERCISE

Exercise is important for overall well-being, but it’s also a great way to reduce your cannabis high. When we exercise, our bodies release endorphins in the brain. Endorphins are neurotransmitters that block signals of pain, stress, and trauma. Even though exercising technically won’t make you “unhigh”, it can relieve the stress associated with being too stoned, which in turn leads to feelings of relaxation. Also, exercising can help take your mind off the unsavory side effects of your high by forcing you to focus on what you’re doing.

8. GET SOME REST

A short nap is the best way to recharge the mind and body. Somewhere in the ballpark of 20 to 30 minutes is ideal, so make sure to set an alarm. If you nap too long, you could wake up feeling even more groggy. This is an affliction referred to as sleep inertia. According to Mark Rosekind, who co-authored a 1995 NASA study on this topic, “a 26-minute nap would improve performance by 34% and alertness by 54%”.

9. EAT SOMETHING

The reason why food makes you less high has yet to be determined, however, anecdotal evidence suggests it’s very effective. Some experts believe that because lipids (fat cells in food) bind with cannabinoids, it causes them to metabolise faster. Others suggest that food decreases the psychoactive effects of THC by increasing blood flow from the brain to the stomach. To date, there is no evidence to support either of these theories, although they both seem plausible.

10. COLD SHOWER

Do you ever wake up in the morning feeling completely out of it? So you drag yourself to the bathroom and splash a couple handfuls of cold water on your face. Does it help? Of course it does! The shock of cold water invigorates the senses and snaps us back to reality quite quickly. In this same vein, taking a cold shower, or even just splashing some cold water on your face, is a stoner-approved method to decrease your high.

Keep in mind that none of these suggestions are the be-all and end-all method to cure your cannabis overhigh. However, even if these options don’t take your high away, they could at the very least help you relax so you can enjoy yourself. Bookmark this on your phone so you can have it handy on your next pot adventure. Happy smoking!