It starts as a creep. Maybe you took an edible and forgot about it, or maybe that last hit of a high-potency concentrate was just a bit much. Suddenly, the walls feel a little too close, your heart is thumping like a kick drum, and you're convinced everyone in the room—or the entire neighborhood—knows exactly how high you are. If you’re searching for how do you come down from being high, you’re likely in the middle of a "green out" or a high-anxiety episode. Relax. You aren't the first person to feel this way, and you definitely won't be the last.
The most important thing to internalize right now is that it ends. It always ends. Cannabis affects the endocannabinoid system, specifically the $CB_1$ receptors in your brain, but your body is incredibly efficient at metabolizing these compounds. You are safe.
The Science of the "Greening Out" Panic
When people talk about how do you come down from being high, they are usually dealing with an overload of THC ($Tetrahydrocannabinol$). This molecule binds to receptors in the amygdala, which is the brain's fear center. When those receptors get overstimulated, it triggers a "fight or flight" response. That’s why you feel paranoid. Your brain thinks there’s a lion in the room, but it’s actually just your lava lamp.
Dr. Ethan Russo, a renowned psychopharmacology researcher who has published extensively in the British Journal of Pharmacology, has spent years looking at how plant compounds interact. He suggests that the cannabis plant itself often contains the "antidotes" to its own high. This is called the entourage effect. Understanding this is your first step toward sobriety.
Stop Checking Your Heart Rate
Seriously. Put the Apple Watch away. One of the physiological effects of THC is vasodilation—your blood vessels relax, and your heart beats faster to keep blood moving. It’s a normal side effect. If you keep checking your pulse, you’ll see a high number, get more anxious, and your heart will beat even faster. It’s a feedback loop you need to break immediately.
Real Kitchen Cures That Actually Work
You’ve probably heard rumors about black pepper or lemon juice. Surprisingly, there’s actual chemistry behind this.
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Black Pepper is your best friend.
If you have whole peppercorns, grab a few and sniff them. Don't snort them—just smell them. Black pepper contains a terpene called beta-caryophyllene. This specific terpene is a functional $CB_2$ agonist. In plain English? It helps modulate the psychoactive effects of THC. Some people even swear by chewing on a couple of peppercorns. It tastes like fire, but the grounding sensation and the chemical interaction can pull you out of a panic spiral within minutes.
Lemon juice and limonene.
Lemons are packed with limonene. This is a terpene known for its anti-anxiety properties. Squeeze a fresh lemon into some water and zest a bit of the peel into it too. The scent alone can be incredibly grounding.
Eat something heavy.
While "the munchies" are a joke, eating a substantial meal can actually help. It doesn't "absorb" the THC that's already in your bloodstream, but it shifts your body's focus to digestion. High-carb foods like bread or pasta can make you feel heavier and more "tethered" to the earth when you feel like you're floating away.
The CBD Counter-Balance
One of the most effective ways to manage an overwhelming high is, ironically, more cannabis—just not the kind that gets you high. CBD (Cannabidiol) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that acts as a negative allosteric modulator of the $CB_1$ receptor.
Think of the $CB_1$ receptor like a lock and THC like a key. When you're too high, there are too many keys in the locks. CBD doesn't take the key out, but it changes the shape of the lock so the THC doesn't fit as well. If you have a high-quality CBD oil (specifically a broad-spectrum or isolate), taking a dose can take the "edge" off the THC high.
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Just be careful: make sure it’s actually CBD. If you accidentally take another hit of a 1:1 THC/CBD strain, you might just end up higher. Stick to pure CBD products if you're trying to land the plane.
Changing Your Environment
Sometimes the room you're in is the problem. If you're wondering how do you come down from being high, look around. Is the music too loud? Are the lights too bright?
- The Shower Trick: A lukewarm shower is a classic for a reason. Avoid scalding hot or freezing cold water, as the temperature shock can sometimes increase heart rate. A gentle, temperate shower provides sensory input that reminds your brain where your body ends and the world begins.
- The 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method: This is a standard anxiety tool. Acknowledge 5 things you see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste. It forces your prefrontal cortex to take back control from that panicked amygdala.
- Change the Scenery: Move from the couch to the bed. Or from the bedroom to the porch. Sometimes a simple change in airflow and lighting can "reset" your mental state.
Why Edibles Are a Different Beast
If you're high on an edible, you need to settle in. When you eat THC, your liver converts it into 11-hydroxy-THC. This metabolite is way more potent and crosses the blood-brain barrier more easily than inhaled THC.
Because it’s being processed through your digestive tract, you can't really "undo" it quickly. If you ate a 50mg gummy and you have a low tolerance, you might be in for a 6-to-12-hour ride. In this case, the goal isn't "stopping" the high, but managing it. Sleep is your best option here. If you can manage to drift off, you’ll likely sleep through the peak and wake up feeling slightly groggy but sober.
Common Myths to Ignore
Don't drink coffee. People think caffeine will "wake them up," but caffeine is a stimulant. If your heart is already racing and you're feeling paranoid, a double espresso is basically liquid anxiety. It will make the physical symptoms of being too high significantly worse.
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Also, don't try to "sweat it out" with intense exercise. THC is fat-soluble. While exercise won't necessarily release more THC into your system in a meaningful way during the high, the increased heart rate and blood pressure from a workout will likely mimic the feelings of a panic attack, making you feel worse. Keep it chill. A slow walk is fine. A CrossFit WOD is a bad idea.
When to Seek Help
Honestly, it's very rare that you need a doctor for being too high. There has never been a recorded fatal overdose of cannabis in healthy humans. However, if you are experiencing chest pain that feels like more than just a fast heartbeat, or if you are having a true psychotic break where you've lost touch with reality, a trip to the ER isn't out of the question.
Doctors see this all the time. They aren't there to bust you; they are there to help you stay calm. Usually, they’ll just provide a quiet space and maybe a low-dose benzodiazepine to stop the panic attack. But for 99% of people, the "cure" is just the passage of time.
Immediate Action Steps
If you need to know how do you come down from being high right this second, do these things in this exact order:
- Drink a large glass of water. Dehydration makes the "cottonmouth" and dizziness worse.
- Find some black pepper. Sniff it or chew two peppercorns.
- Put on a comfort show. Something low-stakes like The Great British Bake Off or a nature documentary (skip the "predator vs. prey" scenes).
- Practice Box Breathing. Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4. Repeat until your heart rate slows.
- Lie down on your side. If you feel nauseous, lying on your side (the recovery position) is safer.
- Set a timer for 30 minutes. Tell yourself, "I will feel better when this timer goes off." Usually, by the time it dings, the worst of the peak has passed.
The intensity will fade. Usually, the most "intense" part of an inhaled high lasts about 30 to 60 minutes. If it was an edible, the peak might last 2 hours. You are going to be fine, and tomorrow this will just be a funny (or slightly embarrassing) story you tell your friends. Put your phone on "Do Not Disturb," wrap yourself in a blanket, and just let it happen. You're okay.