Greening Out: What It Is and What to Do

Greening out means having more THC than your body and mind can handle, which can bring on nausea, dizziness, sweating, a racing heart, and waves of anxiety or panic. It feels awful, but for most healthy adults it passes on its own: usually within a few hours after smoking or vaping, and up to 6 to 12 hours after a strong edible. The best things to do are stop using cannabis, sit or lie down somewhere calm, sip water, and remind yourself it will wear off. Call 911 for chest pain, trouble breathing, fainting or a seizure, and call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away if a child or pet ate cannabis.

What does greening out feel like?

People describe it as a high that suddenly turns on them. It often starts with the room feeling too hot, the stomach turning, and the heart speeding up, and then the mind follows with racing or looping thoughts. The CDC notes that cannabis can raise heart rate and blood pressure right after use, which is part of why the physical symptoms can feel so alarming.

What to do if you're greening out

These steps work whether it is you or a friend. None of them speeds up how fast your body clears THC, but they make the wait much easier.

• Stop using cannabis. Put down the joint, vape or edible. Taking more never helps.
• Sit or lie down somewhere safe. Dizziness can lead to falls. If you feel sick to your stomach, lie on your side.
• Move somewhere calm and cool. Step away from loud music, crowds and bright lights. Fresh air or a fan often helps with sweating and nausea.
• Sip water. Small sips help with dry mouth and nausea. Do not chug large amounts.
• Eat something light if you can keep it down: crackers, toast, fruit or juice.
• Slow your breathing. Breathe in for about four seconds and out for about six. It helps calm a racing heart and panicky thoughts.
• Remind yourself it will pass. The feeling is temporary. Saying that out loud, or having a friend say it, really helps.
• Distract yourself. A familiar show, calm music, a shower or a simple task can pull your attention off your heartbeat.
• Rest. If you feel sleepy, sleeping it off with someone nearby is fine.

How to sober up from weed fast

There is no way to sober up from cannabis instantly. Your body needs time to break down THC, and nothing you eat, drink or do can skip that. What you can change is how uncomfortable the wait feels. Here is what is known about the most common tips.

How long does greening out last?

It depends mostly on how the THC got into your body and how much you took.

Some people feel tired, foggy or a little anxious into the next day. If symptoms are not easing on this timeline, or keep getting worse, get medical advice.

How to help a friend who is greening out

The most useful thing you can be is calm. Your friend is likely scared, and seeing you relaxed helps them believe it will pass.

• Stay with them. Do not leave someone who is very dizzy, vomiting or confused alone.
• Help them sit or lie down, on their side if they feel sick.
• Offer water and a light snack, and move them somewhere quiet.
• Talk in a calm, low voice. Remind them where they are and that it will wear off.
• Make sure no one drives. Arrange a ride or let them stay put.
• Ask what they took and how much, in case you need to tell a doctor or Poison Control.

When to call 911 or Poison Control

Most greening out passes without treatment, but some situations need help right away.

• Call 911 for chest pain, trouble breathing, fainting or not waking up, a seizure, severe confusion, or vomiting that will not stop.
• Get help if cannabis was mixed with alcohol or other drugs, or if you think a product may have been contaminated or laced. Only buy from licensed, lab-tested sources.
• Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 (free, confidential, 24/7) if a child or pet ate cannabis, even if they seem fine. Children can get very sick from edibles; the CDC warns about edibles that look like candy or snacks. You can also get help online at poison.org.
• Talk to a doctor if you have a heart condition, are pregnant, or take medication, and you felt unwell after using cannabis.

Is greening out dangerous? Can you die from it?

For most healthy adults, greening out from cannabis alone is frightening but not life-threatening, and it passes on its own. That does not make it harmless. The real dangers are falls and injuries from dizziness, crashes if someone drives, choking if a person vomits while very drowsy, extra strain on the heart for people with heart conditions, and the risks of mixing with alcohol or other drugs. Children who eat cannabis can become seriously ill. The CDC notes that edibles and high-concentration products can have delayed or unpredictable effects and raise the risk of poisoning.

Why do people green out?

• Edible timing. Edibles take 30 minutes to 2 hours to kick in, so people take a second dose too soon and both hit at once.
• High-potency products. Concentrates, dabs and high-THC vapes deliver a lot of THC in one pull.
• Low tolerance. First-timers, or people coming back after a break, feel much more from the same amount.
• Mixing with alcohol. Being crossfaded is one of the most common routes to feeling sick.
• Setting. Heat, crowds, an empty stomach or a stressful situation can tip a manageable high into a bad one.

Greening out vs cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome

Greening out is a one-time reaction to too much THC that clears in hours. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is different: it is a condition in some long-term, frequent users that causes repeated bouts of severe nausea, vomiting and stomach pain, often with a strong urge to take hot showers. If you use cannabis often and keep having episodes of vomiting, see a doctor. CHS usually only fully stops when cannabis use stops.

How to avoid greening out

• Read the label. In New York, a single edible serving can contain up to 10 mg of THC and a package up to 100 mg. Our edibles dosing chart shows what each amount feels like.
• Eat something first and stay hydrated.
• Skip alcohol when you use cannabis.
• Use somewhere comfortable, with people you trust.
• After a tolerance break, start back at a beginner amount.
• Learn how long effects last, especially for edibles, so you know when it is really time for more.

The Office of Cannabis Management's education library has more tips on safer use, and our responsible use guide covers the basics. This page is general information, not medical advice. Cannabis is for adults 21 and over.

Shop lower-dose options

Low-dose gummies and edibles make it much easier to stay in your comfort zone. Here is what is popular on each store's edibles menu right now; ask a budtender for 2.5 mg or 5 mg options. Brooklyn prices include tax (Staten Island prices are pre-tax).

Ask a budtender at QCD in Brooklyn or Staten Island

The easiest way to avoid greening out is to know what you are buying. At Quality Control Dispensary, every product is lab-tested and labeled with its THC content, and our budtenders will help you find a starting amount that fits your experience, from single pre-rolls to 2.5 mg gummies and measured tinctures. Browse Brooklyn edibles, Staten Island edibles, Brooklyn tinctures or Staten Island tinctures.

Our Brooklyn store is at 3169 Coney Island Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11235, open Monday to Wednesday 8am to 11pm, Thursday and Friday 8am to midnight, Saturday 9am to midnight and Sunday 9am to 11pm. Our Staten Island store is at 1172 Victory Blvd #4, Staten Island, NY 10301, open Monday to Thursday 9am to 10pm, Friday and Saturday 9am to 11pm and Sunday 10am to 10pm. Walk in, order ahead for pickup, or get same-day delivery in Brooklyn and Staten Island. You must be 21 or older with a valid government-issued photo ID.