Some people seem to tolerate cannabis well, while others don’t tolerate it at all. Cannabis products vary significantly in their potency. Some contain high levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the chemical that makes you feel “high” or impaired.
However it can also cause a bad reaction in some people, especially those who don’t use cannabis often. However, you can’t overdose on cannabis in the same way that you can overdose on other drugs.
You can also learn more about how to breed cannabis in our article here, and find some tips on using CBD in a vaporizer.
Overdose
There isn’t a clear definition of what constitutes a cannabis overdose. Doctors aren’t entirely sure how much tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) it takes to overdose for an individual person, since each user has a different level of sensitivity.
Over the years, THC levels have increased exponentially across cannabis strains all around the world. The rise in THC levels, paired with newer means of ingestion such as dabbing and edibles, means that cannabis use has become somewhat less predictable than before.
Dabbing involves smoking a highly concentrated hash or wax to attain an instant, intense high. As the name implies, edibles involve creating food products such as candies or desserts that have THC baked in.
Dosages
The root of this problem resides in dosages. To this day, many states still lack regulations over THC levels for edibles and inhalers. Therefore, approved sellers are left to mostly play a guessing game when advertising the THC content of their products. For the novice, this can have hazardous effects. Edibles also have a slower absorption time, so a person could ingest large amounts of THC without realizing it before the effects begin.
Side Effects Of Cannabis
Cannabis can have quite a few less-than-desirable side effects, including:
●Confusion
●Thirstiness or a dry mouth (aka “cotton mouth”)
●Concentration problems
●Slower reaction times
●Dry eyes
●Fatigue or lethargy
●Headaches
●Dizziness
●Increased heart rate
●Anxiety and other changes in mood
In some cases, it can also cause:
●Hallucinations
●Anxiety and panic attacks
●Nausea and vomiting
These side effects can last anywhere from twenty minutes to a full day. In general, cannabis that’s higher in THC is associated with more severe, longer-lasting effects. It may also lead to a cannabis hangover and psychological dependency.
Cannabis Dependency
A fatal cannabis overdose is unlikely, but its overuse can lead to dependency and other harmful effects, particularly with high doses. Though not necessarily symptoms of an overdose, there are definite signs of cannabis overconsumption. These symptoms may include increased heart rate, headache, pale skin, paranoid thoughts or hallucinations, confusion, or panic attacks.
Some published examples of THC toxicity due to high dosage of cannabis include:
Heart Arrhythmias
Some doctors believe that heart disturbances are under-reported in cannabis use. Since smoking cannabis and taking other drugs often go together, it’s hard to isolate the cause when heart issues arise. Even drinking alcohol can intensify the potential for heart arrhythmias and similar issues.
Psychosis Or Paranoia
Heavy users sometimes report severe psychotic disorders with increased hallucinations and negative associations. In some cases, the psychosis can last significantly longer than the amount of time it should take to metabolize THC.
Conclusion
While it is technically impossible to overdose on Cannabis as the term is usually understood when talking about substances, users can still easily take a higher dose than they may find comfortable and experience negative side effects. That’s why it’s key to make sure anytime you use Cannabis, that you start with a smaller dose and slowly work your way up.