How to Get Rid of Being High: What Actually Works When You’ve Had Too Much

It usually starts with a realization. Maybe the walls are vibrating slightly more than they should, or you’ve been staring at a bag of chips for twenty minutes without actually opening it. That "oh no" moment. We’ve all been there—or at least, anyone who has experimented with edibles or a particularly potent strain has. You want to know how to get rid of being high because the fun part ended about thirty minutes ago, and now you’re just anxious.

Panic makes it worse. Seriously. When your heart starts racing, your brain convinces you that you’re the first person in history to actually die from weed. Spoiler: You aren't. But knowing that doesn't always stop the internal spiral.

The biological reality is that THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is fat-soluble. It’s tucked into your systems, hitching a ride on your CB1 receptors. You can’t just "off-switch" it. However, you can definitely mitigate the intensity and steer the ship back toward sobriety.

The Myth of the Quick Fix

I’ve heard people suggest everything from taking a cold shower to eating a massive steak. Some of it works; some of it is just stoner lore. Taking a cold shower might shock your system, but it won't actually lower the THC concentration in your blood. It just gives your brain a new, very cold problem to focus on.

The real goal is managing the psychoactive load.

Black pepper is the most cited "secret weapon" in the cannabis community. It sounds like an old wives' tale, doesn't it? It isn’t. Pepper contains a terpene called beta-caryophyllene. Scientific research, including a study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology by Dr. Ethan Russo, suggests that this specific terpene can help tame the intoxicating effects of THC.

Go to your kitchen. Find the peppercorns. If you have whole ones, sniff them. Don't snort them—that’s a different kind of bad afternoon. Just inhale the scent or chew on one or two. The alpha-pinene in the pepper helps with mental clarity. It’s basically a biological override.

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Hydration and the Blood Sugar Connection

Drink water. Not soda, not a triple-shot espresso, just water. Cottonmouth is annoying, but dehydration also makes the dizziness feel ten times worse.

Sometimes, the "greening out" sensation is actually a drop in blood sugar. Cannabis can affect how your body processes glucose. If you’re feeling shaky or faint, grab a piece of fruit. An apple or an orange is better than a chocolate bar because the vitamin C and natural sugars provide a more stable recovery than a processed sugar spike.

Why Coffee is Usually a Bad Idea

People think caffeine wakes you up. In reality, if you’re already feeling paranoid, caffeine is like throwing gasoline on a fire. It increases your heart rate. Your brain interprets that fast heartbeat as "danger," which triggers more anxiety. Skip the Starbucks. Stick to herbal tea—specifically chamomile or peppermint.

The CBD Counter-Intuition

It sounds weird to use more cannabis to stop being too high. But CBD (cannabidiol) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that acts as a modulator. Think of it like a volume knob. THC binds directly to your receptors, but CBD changes the shape of those receptors so the THC can’t "fit" as well.

If you have a high-quality CBD oil or gummy that contains zero THC, taking it can actually dull the edges of your high. Just make sure it’s pure CBD. If you accidentally take a 1:1 ratio product, you’re just adding more fuel to the situation.

Environment is Everything

Your brain is currently over-processing every single stimulus. That flickering LED light in the corner? It’s now a strobe light. The distant sound of a siren? It’s a personal threat.

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Move.

Go to a different room. Turn off the TV. Put on something incredibly familiar and low-stakes. "The Office," "Great British Bake Off," or whatever your equivalent of "comfort food" media is. Familiarity tells your amygdala that you are safe.

If you’re with people who are making you nervous, leave. You don't owe anyone an explanation. "I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed, I’m going to go lie down" is a perfectly valid sentence.

Breathing and the Vagus Nerve

When you’re wondering how to get rid of being high, your breathing usually becomes shallow. This keeps you in a "fight or flight" state.

Try the 4-7-8 technique. Inhale for four seconds, hold for seven, exhale for eight. This isn't just hippie-dippie advice; it physically stimulates the vagus nerve, which tells your nervous system to calm down. It lowers your heart rate. It grounds you.

Distraction as a Tool

Sometimes you just need to wait it out. THC peaks in the bloodstream fairly quickly if smoked, but if you took an edible, you’re in for a longer ride. Edibles are metabolized by the liver into 11-hydroxy-THC, which is more potent and lasts longer.

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Find a repetitive task.

• Wash the dishes.
• Fold laundry.
• Play a simple game on your phone (nothing with high stakes).
• Color in a coloring book.

Doing something with your hands occupies the "active" part of your brain so the "anxious" part has less room to operate.

What to Do If Things Get Scary

Most of the time, you just need a nap. Sleep is the ultimate reset button. If you can manage to drift off, you’ll likely wake up feeling "foggy" but no longer high.

However, if you are experiencing chest pain, genuine difficulty breathing, or extreme hallucinations that make you a danger to yourself, don't be a hero. Call a friend or, in extreme cases, seek medical help. Doctors aren't there to bust you; they’re there to make sure your vitals are stable. Be honest with them. They’ve seen it a thousand times.

Actionable Steps for Your Recovery

If you are currently feeling too high, follow this sequence immediately:

1. Acknowledge the situation. Say out loud: "I am high. It will pass. I am safe."
2. The Pepper Trick. Find black pepper. Sniff it or chew a peppercorn.
3. Hydrate. Drink 16 ounces of cool water slowly.
4. Eat a small snack. A piece of fruit or some crackers to stabilize blood sugar.
5. Change your sensory input. Dim the lights and put on "brown noise" or a familiar show.
6. The 4-7-8 Breath. Repeat this breathing cycle five times.
7. Horizontal Time. Lie down. Even if you can't sleep, closing your eyes removes a massive amount of sensory data that your brain is struggling to process.

The "hangover" the next day is real. You might feel sluggish or have a "weed fog." To clear this, prioritize electrolytes and a high-protein breakfast. Light exercise, like a walk around the block, helps move your metabolism along and clears out the remaining metabolites.

The most important takeaway is that your body is incredibly good at processing these compounds. You aren't "stuck" like this. Your liver is already working on it. Your lungs are already working on it. Give them time to do their job.