Green Out

When a person “greens out,” they are experiencing an extreme reaction to cannabis. Most commonly, this occurs when a person takes too high of a dose, or if they are inexperienced with cannabis. Symptoms of a green out can include anxiety, paranoia, panic attacks, and vomiting. In severe cases, a person may pass out or have extreme dizziness that is very uncomfortable. While unpleasant, it is important to remember that greening out is not fatal, and the symptoms will dissipate after a few hours.

The definition of green out

The term “green out” probably derives from the term “black out” which refers to overconsumption of alcohol, leading to a loss of memory of what happened. With green-outs, however, the main symptoms are just the usual symptoms of consuming too much cannabis — but amplified to a much larger degree. Green outs may be influenced by a variety of factors, including dehydration, low blood sugar, or overheating. Mixing alcohol and cannabis can also increase the chances of this happening.

Most green outs are caused by edibles

“Green outs” can occur when consuming cannabis in high doses. In most cases, this involves eating edibles. A standard edible dose is 10mg THC — though for edibles, since the way our stomach acids affect THC cause orally administered cannabis to take much longer to kick in, sometimes people consume more before the process finishes — and the effects are amplified. If a person has a low tolerance for cannabis and eats an entire brownie, for example, their body is not prepared for the THC content in the food. The effects hit them forcefully, and they end up getting too high. This is especially likely in cases where someone assumes that a standard serving size of THC (in edibles) is five milligrams — when actually it is ten milligrams. When edibles are homemade, it can be difficult to determine the dosage, so be sure to “start low and go slow.” Other types of consumption that can lead to a green out are dab hits, bong rips, and any method where a large amount of cannabis is consumed quickly.

Symptoms

“Green out” is a term used to describe the symptoms of lightheadedness, nausea, and vomiting that can sometimes occur when someone uses cannabis. These symptoms are caused by the body’s inability to process the THC in cannabis. Green out can be a very unpleasant experience, but it is generally not dangerous and will typically resolve itself within a few hours. If you or someone you know is experiencing green out, it is important to drink plenty of fluids and rest.

Treatment of a green out

If you have consumed too much cannabis and are experiencing a green out, there are a few things you can do to help mitigate the discomfort. Drinking lots of fluids (not alcohol), lying down in a dark room, and listening to soothing music can help you settle the dizziness and nausea. Some consumers also swear by using CBD to “bring down” a high that is too intense — this is because CBD is thought to provide a counterbalance to the intoxicating effects of THC. However, many CBD-dominant strains also include THC, so be careful before you use this approach.  If you or someone you know is experiencing green out, it is important to stay calm and monitor them, give them fluids, and pay attention to their behavior. If their condition worsens or if they have other health issues that may be aggravated by the side effects of too much THC, seek medical help. In general though, the medical treatment for too much THC is to simply “wait it out” and sleep it off.