Friday May 6, 2016
420 Culture
It can happen when you least expect it: You just finished an awesome smoke sesh when you realize you’ve got to do something important – and you’re WAY too high to do it. Maybe it’s a last-minute trip to the bank before they close for the weekend or maybe you forgot a shift at work. Whatever your reason for needing to sober up from a marijuana high in a hurry, here are a few tips to help get you there.
CBD
If THC is the "Ying" then CBD is the "Yang". CBD is essentially nature's antidote to the high THC can produce. In simple terms, CBD works by blocking THC from binding with the cannabinoid receptors in your brain, toning down the effects from THC. Even if you live in a non-marijuana friendly state, you can still order online, which is legal in all 50 states and will have the same effect as cannabis CBD. Never hurts to have some on hand just in case. If you are in a legal state, Mary’s Medicinals sells a rescue tonic specifically designed to bring you down in a hurry.
Hydrate
Water is a great way to detoxify your body, so drink lots of it. Cranberry or orange juice also work well! Just don’t overdo it or you might flush important electrolytes out of your system resulting in hyponatremia, a condition caused by low sodium with symptoms like nausea, headaches, lethargy, confusion and irritability.
Exercise
Exercise is one of the best ways to sober up in a hurry because it causes a release of endorphins in the brain. Endorphins are neurotransmitters that are released when a sudden trauma or stressful event occurs with the purpose of temporarily blocking pain signals. This is the same reason a stressful event can take time to “set in” or the reason many report a lack of pain immediately following an injury. When endorphins flow, the stress of your excessive high will melt away, too (plus, it’ll help take your mind off of how incredibly stoned you are). Although you may not always feel like exercising, give it a try and see what happens.
Take a Snooze
Sometimes, a quick catnap is all that’s needed to come down quickly. Allow yourself 30 minutes to rest (much longer may cause you to feel even more groggy later) and find somewhere comfortable and away from distractions. Just remember to set an alarm if you’ve got somewhere to be or you may find yourself down for the count thanks to marijuana’s sometimes powerful sedative properties.
Eat Something
Word on the street is that food will bring you down from a high. Many use this as reason enough to avoid eating while stoned (at least for a little bit), but it can come in handy for those who want to come down from a marijuana high. Although we’re still not certain why food helps people come down from a high, some suggest that, because fatty foods bind with cannabinoids, they will be metabolized faster. Others speculate that consuming food increases blood flow to the stomach while pulling it from the brain thus decreasing THC’s psychoactive tendencies. Bottom line? A burger and fries never hurt anyone.
Find Friends
Friends can calm you down during a panic attack and can keep you grounded during bouts of confusion. They will also be able to take care of you should something go wrong, and will help you locate the remote control in the freezer when you’ve given up looking, too. Just make sure you pick the right friends :)
Challenge Yourself
Take your mind off of your unpleasant high by distracting yourself with something challenging. If you have friends over, suggest a game of some sort or pull out a book or video game. Just try to avoid overly complex mind games as they may have you feeling more frustrated than relieved.
Take a Cold Shower
As unpleasant as it may seem, hopping in a cold shower for a few minutes can help you calm down from a marijuana high very quickly. If a shower isn’t available, just splash a bit of cold water on your face. This works because cold water triggers what’s called the “mammalian diving reflex,” or an immediate decreased heart rate, as a means of survival. It will also drop your body temperature, conserve energy and preserve excess oxygen (and thus THC).
Try Another Type of Medicine
If all else fails, you can always try to counteract the THC with other medicines like ibuprofen or if you have a prescription for it, anti-anxiety medication.
Though there is no way to kill your buzz completely, you can encourage the high to move along faster with a few tips from someone who’s been there before. If you find yourself struggling with overconsumption and need to sober up quick from a marijuana high, use these tips to save you from a freak-out and help you get back on track.
