Last updated: October 2, 2023
The use of marijuana has been growing, with many people engaging in recreational use because of its effects on the brain and body. Others have used marijuana and cannabis oil for medicinal uses that they believe can either help, prevent and even cure certain ailments. Whatever the use of marijuana, it is still considered a drug and many individuals have questions concerning overdose on it. Overdosing on marijuana is definitely not as dangerous as it would be with other drugs, but the side effects of an overdose can be unpleasant or even scary, and can lead to actions that would cause death.
Your main question might be whether or not it’s even possible to overdose on marijuana. The truth is that you can overdose on the drug, very much like you could overdose on alcohol, caffeine and even sugar. It’s not a deadly type of overdose like you would see with other types of drugs and there are very few documented cases of people actually dying from an overdose of marijuana. This isn’t to say that overdose just doesn’t happen because it definitely can and it does with many people, especially with those who are new to using marijuana and aren’t yet prepared for its effects.
Overdosing on marijuana is normally referred to as greening out. It is the time when you either have smoked or ingested too much marijuana at a particular time, but it is most often observed in those who are new to using marijuana.
Some of the most common side effects of a marijuana overdose would include:
- Feeling disoriented or having hallucinations.
- Vomiting or feeling sick.
- Fast heart beat or racing heart.
- Shortness of your breath.
- Feeling overly anxious or paranoid.
- Shaking of the body that cannot be controlled.
If you feel that you or a loved one has overdosed on marijuana and is exhibiting some of these symptoms, you may want to consider seeking medical attention. While marijuana overdoses are rarely fatal, it may be wise to seek medical evaluation because, a medical professional will be able to observe you until the feeling of overdose has passed to ensure that you are safe and in good health.
Another thing to consider is the fact that a marijuana overdose or greening out normally goes away on its own within a couple of hours even if you haven’t gone to seek medical attention. As the drug passes through your body, its effectiveness starts to balance out and become less noticeable, and so will the symptoms of an overdose. The truth of the matter is that a marijuana overdose has been shown to not be nearly as bad as alcohol overdose or other drugs that could be fatal if a person happens to overdose on them without even realizing it.
