Well then, here we are.
You didn’t, perhaps, decide to dip your toes into the wonderful world of edibles? And the dose was maybe just a little stronger than you were expecting, or ready for? Or maybe you ate a weed cookie, didn’t feel anything after 45 mins, and decided to dive back in?
Look, it happens. Don’t beat yourself up. But if you want to get rid of that whitey and avoid a weed hangover here are some helpful tips on how to recover from edibles if you have had too much of a good thing.
What are the effects of edibles?
Firstly, it’s important to remember that edibles take longer than other methods of consuming cannabis to kick in and can have a stronger effect than expected. So even if you’re an experienced weed connoisseur, you can still find yourself in a situation where the unwanted effects overtake those fun experiences.
The more enjoyable effects that we can expect from eating a pot brownie include feelings of euphoria, a marked reduction in anxiety, an increase in appetite, a general feeling of full relaxation, a lowering of pain, and decreased rates of inflammation. All sounds great, right?
Edibles can be the perfect way to get that THC or CBD kick without exposing the respiratory system to any smoke or vapor. But there can be some negative side effects associated with higher doses than expected or larger doses than what you are used to.
The effects we are speaking of can include an increase in heart rate, difficulty concentrating, feeling dizzy or light-headed, varying degrees of paranoia with increased panic symptoms, and nausea.
If you think you may have eaten a little too high of a dose, the first thing to do is to just try and relax. This isn’t always the easiest thing to do, but the last thing you want is to get yourself really worked up. Remember, it is impossible to overdose on cannabinoids (THC, CBD, etc.), so everything will be fine! It might just take a little while before the effects wear off.
How long does it take for edibles to wear away?
This depends on a bunch of factors, so there really is no one straight-up answer. But, in general, the effects of edibles shouldn’t last more than about four to six hours. If you ate a really big dose and have zero THC tolerance this could stretch out to 8 to 10 hours (or even a full day) – but that’s pretty rare.
When we eat cannabis, the body converts the delta-9 THC to 11-hydroxy THC. This form of THC is more psychoactive than delta-9 and can cause a slightly altered high when compared to smoking or vaping.
It also hangs around in your system for a little longer. Cannabinoids are fat soluble, and so they are stored in fat cells, where they can take up between 3 days to 3 months to be totally metabolized and excreted – It all depends on how often you smoke, vape, or eat edibles. If you rarely indulge, then it should take longer than about a week for the body to clear any lingering signs of cannabis.
What are the quickest ways to recover from edibles?
There’s no one surefire method to reduce the effects of edibles, but there are a couple of things that can help cut down the negative effects.
- DRINK PLENTY OF WATER – Keeping yourself hydrated is key in making sure those negative psychoactive effects do not intensify to unmanageable levels. Water is your best friend, but other hydrating drinks can also help. Coconut water, ginger tea, and Gatorade can all help.
- EXERCISE OR MOVEMENT – A bit of physical activity can help to speed up the process, as well as reduce the intensity of the edible high. Keep in mind that edibles can raise your heart rate, so you don’t want to be doing anything overly strenuous. Going for a walk, a swim, or doing some yoga can help to reduce the effects of the edibles.
- RELAXATION TECHNIQUES – If you are feeling like the psychoactive effects are a little overwhelming, you might want to try some meditation and breathing exercises. These can make a huge difference in your mental state, and really help bring those anxiety levels back down. Guided meditation is great in these circumstances, as it takes away any responsibility to work through the meditation by yourself. Just simply lie back and listen to those dulcet tones of the guide, and slowly come back to a relaxed state.
- EAT – Eating some healthy and nutritious food can help you come back down to earth. Its best to go for some nice juicy fruit or a healthy sandwich, but as long as you don’t stuff yourself full of fried food then you can really go for whatever you like.
How to stop an edibles hangover
Just like an alcohol hangover, weed hangovers are real – and while they are nowhere near as headache-inducing as too many shots of tequila, they can definitely slow you down the next day.
There are very few actual studies that have been dedicated to the effects cannabis can have on you the following day and it is still debated how the ‘weed hangover’ really manifests. One study showed that the majority of people feel lethargic and irritable the following day after smoking cannabis. However, this is massively dependant on the volume and potency of what is consumed.
To avoid an edible hangover, it’s all about prevention. Start by eating a snack with some fiber or carbohydrates before you start consuming edibles. This will help to slow down the rate of absorption and reduce the chances of edibles-induced anxiety or stomach upset. Keep hydrated throughout the experience and get a good night’s sleep and you should wake up just fine.
How much edible is equivalent to a joint?
Impossible to say. One of the slightly negative things about edibles is that a single gummy bear can have more than 3 joints worth of THC packed into it, and unless there’s a full readout on the label there’s really no way to tell how much you are about to consume (unless the person who made it is experienced in dosing edibles).
The average edible from a dispensary will usually have between 10 to 20 mg of THC.
