It happens to the best of us. Maybe you took an edible that decided to kick in all at once three hours late, or perhaps that new strain from the dispensary is way more potent than the budtender let on. Suddenly, the room is spinning, your heart is drumming against your ribs like a techno beat, and you’re convinced everyone in the grocery store knows you’re seeing through time. You just want it to stop. You're desperately wondering, how do you get rid of your high before your 4 PM Zoom call?
Panic is usually the first guest at the party. It tells you this will last forever. It won’t. THC has a half-life, and your metabolism is already working on it, even if it feels like your internal clock has stalled. The "green out" is a physiological response, often involving a drop in blood sugar or blood pressure, and while it feels like a medical emergency, it’s almost always just a very uncomfortable ride that needs to be steered toward a soft landing.
Stop Fighting the High and Start Managing It
The biggest mistake people make is spiraling into a "what if" loop. What if I never feel normal again? What if I stay this way? Honestly, those thoughts are just the THC talking. The chemical is bound to your CB1 receptors in the brain, and they are currently saturated. The goal isn't necessarily to "delete" the THC—that’s biologically impossible in an instant—but to mitigate the psychoactive effects and ground your nervous system.
Hydration is your first line of defense. Not chugging three gallons of water, which can actually cause other issues, but consistent sipping. Cold water helps. The physical sensation of cold liquid moving down your throat can act as a "reset" for your sensory awareness. Avoid caffeine at all costs. If you're already feeling paranoid, a shot of espresso is like throwing gasoline on a bonfire. It’ll spike your heart rate and make the anxiety peak.
The Black Pepper Trick: Terpene Chemistry in Your Kitchen
You’ve probably heard this one whispered in dorm rooms, but there is actual science behind it. Black pepper contains a terpene called beta-caryophyllene. According to a review published in the British Journal of Pharmacology by Dr. Ethan Russo, this specific terpene has a functional "cannabinoid-neutralizing" effect. It binds to the same receptors as THC but in a way that can help calm the high down.
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Don't just look at the pepper shaker. Grab it. Sniff it—carefully, don't snort it, or you'll just be high and sneezing uncontrollably. Some people swear by chewing on a couple of whole peppercorns. The pungent, spicy taste forces your brain to focus on a new, intense physical sensation, effectively distracting you from the psychoactive loop. It’s a grounding technique that uses biology to its advantage.
CBD: The Antagonist You Need
It sounds counterintuitive to consume more cannabis when you’re already too high, but CBD (cannabidiol) is actually a non-psychoactive antagonist to THC. If you have a high-quality CBD oil or gummy—one with zero THC—it can help "block" the THC from binding further to your receptors. It modulates the high.
Think of THC as a car's gas pedal and CBD as a bit of a brake. It won't stop the car instantly, but it’ll slow the momentum. Research suggests that CBD can reduce the anxiety and tachycardia (fast heart rate) often associated with too much THC. However, if you're using an "all-in-one" product that contains even a little more THC, you might just be adding to the problem. Pure isolate is best here.
Distraction as a Neurological Tool
Your brain is currently over-stimulated. Every thought feels like a profound revelation or a terrifying threat. To answer how do you get rid of your high, you have to change the channel in your brain.
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- Watch something mindless. Put on a cartoon you’ve seen a thousand times or a nature documentary (as long as it’s not the "predator chasing prey" kind).
- Coloring books. Even for adults, the fine motor control required to stay inside the lines forces the prefrontal cortex to engage.
- The 5-4-3-2-1 Technique. Acknowledge 5 things you see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you hear, 2 things you smell, and 1 thing you can taste. This is a standard clinical grounding exercise for panic attacks, and it works wonders for a bad high.
The Role of Blood Sugar and Food
Sometimes, the "bad" feeling of a high is actually just low blood sugar. Cannabis can cause a dip, making you feel faint, sweaty, or shaky. Eating something substantial can help you feel more "heavy" and grounded.
Complex carbohydrates are your friends. A piece of toast, some fruit, or a bowl of cereal can settle your stomach and give your body something to do other than process psychoactive compounds. Lemons are also a popular choice. Like black pepper, lemons contain the terpene limonene, which is known for its anti-anxiety properties. Squeezing some fresh lemon into your water or even just smelling the zest can provide a subtle shift in your mood.
Just Sleep It Off
If all else fails, the most effective way to deal with being too high is to go to bed. The world is too loud, the lights are too bright, and you're over-analyzing the way your own socks feel. Just lie down.
Put on some "brown noise" or a low-frequency ambient track. Focus on your breathing—deep belly breaths, not shallow chest breaths. Even if you don't fall asleep immediately, closing your eyes removes the visual over-stimulation that fuels paranoia. Usually, you’ll wake up a few hours later feeling much clearer, albeit maybe a bit "foggy" or sleepy.
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What to Avoid When You’re Peaking
There are a few "remedies" that people suggest which actually make things worse. First, don't take a hot shower. While it sounds relaxing, hot water can lower your blood pressure further, potentially causing you to faint or feel more dizzy. A lukewarm or cool shower is better if you really need the sensory change.
Second, don't try to "sweat it out" with intense exercise. Your heart rate is already elevated. Pushing it further with a run or heavy lifting can lead to a panic response. Keep your movements slow and deliberate.
Third, stop checking the clock. Time dilation is a hallmark of being high. Five minutes will feel like an hour. When you keep checking your phone, you convince yourself that you’ve been "stuck" this way forever, which spikes cortisol. Put the phone in another room.
Practical Steps for Next Time
Once you’ve come down and the world has stopped wobbling, it’s worth looking at why it happened so you can avoid it in the future.
- Check your dosage. If you’re using edibles, remember the "low and slow" rule. 5mg is a standard starting point; 50mg is a one-way ticket to the moon for most casual users.
- Look at the COA. If you buy from a dispensary, check the Certificate of Analysis. High THC percentages (above 25%) are much more likely to trigger anxiety than balanced strains.
- The Set and Setting Rule. If you’re already stressed, cannabis will often amplify that stress rather than delete it.
- Keep a "Safety Kit." Keep some black peppercorns and a bottle of pure CBD isolate in your drawer. Just knowing you have an "escape hatch" can often prevent the panic from starting in the first place.
The Actionable Bottom Line
When you're wondering how do you get rid of your high, the answer is a combination of biology and psychology. Start by smelling black pepper to engage your terpenes, sip cold water to ground your senses, and consume a small snack to stabilize your blood sugar. If the anxiety persists, use the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding method and move to a dark, quiet room. Remind yourself that THC cannot physically hurt you; it is a temporary chemical imbalance that your liver is already working to correct. Lie back, breathe through the peak, and wait for the inevitable fade.