Being a lifelong member of the cannabis community means inevitably overdoing it on occasion. 

Ask some and they’ll tell you there’s no such thing as being too high. Others arguing the exact opposite.  In any case, there comes the time in the life of every seasoned stoner when you need to get un-high as quickly as possible.

It could be that you’ve overdone it before an important engagement of some kind. Or perhaps you could do with having all of your five senses firing on all cylinders for a planned activity or excursion. In any case, you’re acutely aware of the fact that you’re completely wasted and have limited time to get your feet back on the ground.

A troubling scenario to find yourself in, but one that presents a fair few avenues to explore.

Getting Un-High with More Cannabis…?

One of which being to do the opposite of what seems sensible at the time – consume even more cannabis. Hardly the first logical solution that comes to mind, but one that can nonetheless make a big difference.

In this case, we’re talking about cannabis with a high CBD content and as little THC as possible. Or perhaps, a pure and/or concentrated CBD product that contains next to no THC whatsoever. If you know your cannabis, you’ll know that CBD is the second most abundant cannabinoid it contains. You’ll probably also know that CBD isn’t psychoactive, meaning it isn’t going to get you high regardless of how much you consume.

But what you might not know is that the way CBD gets to work on the brain can actually counteract the effects of an OTT or unwanted high. Activating the CB1 receptor in the brain (and a whole bunch of other receptors), can help you get grounded when time is a factor. Studies have shown that not only does CBD block the THC activation of the CB1 receptor, but it can also reduce the elevated heart rate associated with a THC high.

On the downside, human testing found that CBD isn’t quite as powerful in combating the effects of THC in people as it appeared to be in initial laboratory tests. Nevertheless, there’s a ton of evidence to suggest that CBD can support the process of getting rid of an excessive or unwanted high faster than would otherwise be possible.

Experts suggest that in order to combat a high as quickly as possible, it’s worth reaching for a fast-acting tincture or CBD concentrate. Just as long as it contains little to no THC, you should be feeling significantly less impairment a short while later.

Alternative Ways to Get Un-High

It’s easy to get high, so you’d be forgiven for thinking it would be just as easy to get un-high. Unfortunately, it’s not quite as straightforward as it could be.  Time really is the only effective weapon against the effects of THC – just as is the case with alcohol. Your body needs as much time as it needs to process the THC and get it out of your system, which is difficult to hurry along by conventional means.

Still, there are plenty of options available for at least minimising the impact and effects of the THC as it makes its way through and ultimately out of your body.  None of the following are going to immediately bring you back to reality, but could make it far easier to cope with whatever you have to deal with:

1 – Don’t Panic

Easier said than done, but the most important rule in the book nonetheless. The reason being that the more anxious you become about the high you want to get rid of, the more likely you are to succumb to an outright attack of overwhelming anxiety and/or paranoia. After which, getting your feet back on the ground anytime soon is pretty much out of the question.

Accept your lot for what it is and at least try to think logically about what’s happening. Take a deep breath, give yourself a pep talk and try to convince yourself that you’re probably not nearly as high (or as doomed) as you think you are.

2 – Drink Plenty of Water

It’s a myth to suggest that you can ‘flush’ cannabis out of your system, simply by drinking a ton of water. But it’s not to say that drinking plenty of water cannot help get you back on your feet when things take a turn for the worse.  This is because nothing is more important for the human body’s detoxification processes than hydration.

The more dehydrated you are, the longer it’s going to take for the THC to stop doing its business. Hence, you need to avoid dehydration at all costs.

3 – Take a Cold Shower

If you’re expecting this to be a pleasant experience, you can forget about it.  Cold showers are awful at the best of times – doubly so when attempting to combat an excessive or prolonged high. But awful as it may be, it’s a great way of bringing you and your senses back down to earth.

It’s essentially a case of assaulting your senses and exposing yourself to something that takes your mind off what’s happening for a few minutes at least.  If you can bear just 5 minutes under a cold shower, you’re almost guaranteed to feel more grounded afterwards.

4 – Avoid Stimulants

A strong cup of coffee and a can of Red Bull to counter the effects of THC?  Pretty much the worst idea in the book. Caffeine, stimulants and excessive quantities of sugar only stand to push you more in the direction of anxiety and paranoia.

Instead, focus on basic hydration and eat a healthy meal. Rather than reaching for the usual junk food, stick with fresh fruits, cheese and nuts – all of which are known to help speed up the body’s detoxification processes.

5 – Take a Nap

Last but not least, one of the best things you can do (time permitting) is to treat yourself to a nap. Not the easiest thing to do if you’re in a state of blind panic, but even 15 minutes of shut-eye can make all the difference in the world.

Even if you don’t fall asleep, half an hour or so relaxing and unwinding in a dark and quiet room could be just the ticket.