Greening out: causes, symptoms & what helps 🚀

Greening Out: Ursachen, Symptome & was hilft 🚀

Niklas Bergmann, M.A.

Biochemist, specialist author

Inhaltsverzeichnis: Greening out: causes, symptoms & what helps 🚀

One puff too many, one brownie too strong - and suddenly everything turns upside down. Your heart races, you feel sick, panic kicks in. Welcome to greening out! Don't worry, you'll survive - but it will be damn unpleasant.

Why does it happen? How long does it last? And most importantly, what can you do if you get caught out? Here are the answers - so you never drift into green hell again. 🚀

When the high becomes a horror trip

Do you know this? You really just wanted to get high in a relaxed way, but suddenly you're completely knocked out. Your heart is racing, you feel nauseous, the room feels like it's spinning and you're sweating like you're in a sauna. Welcome to greening out - the moment when your body tells you: "Bro, that was too much!" 🍃🤢

Many people who experience it for the first time think they're going to die. No joke. Your heart is pounding so hard you think it's going to jump out of your chest. Your hands shake, your thoughts go round in circles and panic creeps in: "Was that stuff stretched? Do I have to go to hospital? Have I fucked up for good?" But relax - as bad as it feels, it will pass.

The problem? THC affects everyone differently. Sometimes you only realize after half an hour that you've had too much - especially with edibles. And then there's no turning back. But don't worry, that's exactly what this blog is for! We'll explain what happens when you green out, how long the horror lasts and, above all, how you can bring yourself or a friend back down. So, take a deep breath - we can do it! 😌✨

What is greening out - when your body says "no" 🚫🍃

Greening out means that your body simply can no longer cope with too high a dose of THC. It's like you're giving it too many orders at once - and instead of staying cool, it throws it all away and goes into emergency mode. But why does this happen in the first place?

Here are the main reasons why you get sent to green nirvana:

Too much, too fast - You've taken too big a puff or eaten too many edibles. Particularly dangerous: the effect of edibles comes late - and many people then take even more. Bad mistake.

Low tolerance - If you rarely or never smoke weed, even a small amount is enough to knock you out. Your body is simply not used to it.

Strong stuff - Not all weed is the same. Some strains have extremely high THC levels, and if you're not used to it, it hits you like a train.

Mixed consumption - Alcohol and cannabis? Not a good idea. Alcohol enhances the effects of THC and can completely destroy your balance.

Empty stomach - If you haven't eaten, the THC hits even harder. Your body has no buffer and is directly overwhelmed.

In the end, greening out is nothing more than your body giving you a clear message: "Bro, chill out!" And that's exactly what you should do. What does the whole thing feel like? We'll find out in the next section. 👀

Symptoms: What does greening out feel like? 🤢😵

Imagine you're chilling out with friends, taking a few puffs, everything is easy - and then suddenly BAM 💥. Your body shuts down, your head goes completely crazy and you have no idea what's happening. Welcome to the green hell.

It often starts gradually: you may first notice that your heart is beating a little faster or that you feel slightly dizzy. But then it really gets going - you feel hot and cold at the same time, your legs feel like pudding and your stomach rebels. Some describe it like a rollercoaster ride, except you never bought the ticket and the safety bar is stuck. The minutes drag on like chewing gum and you ask yourself: "Is this going to last forever?" (Spoiler: No, but it feels damn real.)

Here's an overview of what your body and head can do to you:

Body says: 🏥 Head thinks: 🧠
"I feel sick." → Nausea, sometimes even vomiting 🤮 "I'm dying, aren't I?" → Panic attacks and feelings of anxiety 😨
"I'm about to keel over." → Dizziness, light-headedness, circulatory problems 🌪️ "Why is time not passing?" → Feeling of being stuck in a time loop ⏳
"My heart is racing!" → Rapid pulse, trembling, sweating 💦 "What if I never get back to normal?" → Paranoia, loss of control 😵‍💫
"My skin feels strange..." → Paleness, tingling or numbness 🧊 "Is everyone against me?" → Delusions or exaggerated fear 👀

Many people report that they feel as if they can no longer control their own body. Some hear sounds louder, see colors more intensely or have the feeling of "stepping out of themselves". And the worst thing? Your brain tells you that this condition will never go away - even though that's nonsense, of course.

No matter how bad it feels, you're not in danger. Your body is simply experiencing a THC overload and needs time to break it down again. And that's exactly what the next section is about: How long does this horror actually last? ⏳😬

How long does greening out last? ⏳😵

Okay, you're in the middle of this horror trip, your heart is racing, your head is spinning and you're just asking yourself: "When is this going to end?" The good news is that it will pass - but how long it takes depends on a few factors.

If you've been smoking weed, a green out can last anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours. It usually gets noticeably better after an hour or two, but the unpleasant feeling can linger for a while. Edibles are a little nastier: Because they have to be digested in the stomach first, the effect can last up to six hours - sometimes even longer, depending on how much you've eaten.

What influences the duration?

  • How much THC you've had: the more you've consumed, the longer the trip lasts. Logical, right?
  • How you consumed it: Edibles take longer to wear off than smoked or vaporized weed.
  • Your metabolism: Some people break down THC faster than others - tough luck for anyone with a slow digestive system.
  • Whether you've eaten: An empty stomach makes the THC hit harder and last longer.
  • How to deal with it: Panic can intensify the feeling, while calm breathing and distraction can help you get through it faster.

Even if you think at the time that it will never end - it will. I promise. It's just a matter of time. The most important rule: don't panic. Your body will break down the THC, you just have to give it the chance to do so.

But what can you do to make the process easier? We'll explain exactly that in the next section! 🙌😌

Junge Person erlebt ein Greening Out, sitzt blass und schwitzend auf dem Boden, während ein besorgter Freund ihr ein Glas Wasser reicht.

What to do when it happens? 🆘🍃

Okay, you've fucked up. Smoked too much, ate too many edibles - and now you're sitting there, your heart is racing, you feel sick and you feel like you're in a bad dream. But don't panic! Greening out is bad, but there are a few things that can help you to alleviate the horror trip.

1. take a deep breath and chill out 😮‍💨

Yes, I know - easier said than done. But really: your body isn't in danger, you're just too high. Sit down, take a deep breath and tell yourself: It will pass. If you manage to calm yourself down, everything will only be half as bad.

2. drink water (but don't overdo it!) 💧

Your mouth is probably as dry as the desert? Then grab a glass of water. Drinking helps the body to get rid of the THC faster. But no 2 liters on the go - otherwise you'll only get worse.

3. eat a snack 🍞🧀

Eating something light can help to ground the high. Carbohydrates or greasy snacks are best - a sandwich, a piece of cheese or a few nuts can work wonders.

4. sniff or chew pepper 🌶️

Sounds crazy, but black pepper contains terpenes that mitigate the effects of THC. Simply chew or smell a few grains - many swear by it!

5. fresh air or cool environment 🌬️

If you're sweating and feel like you're about to pass out: Open the window or get out into the fresh air. A cool environment can help to stabilize your circulation.

6. seek distraction 🎶📺

Try to distract yourself with something calming. Relaxing music, a light series or simply talking quietly to someone - anything is better than getting caught up in your own thoughts.

7. don't be alone 🤝

If you're out with friends, tell them what's going on. If you're alone, call someone you trust. Sometimes it just helps to hear a familiar voice.

8. try to sleep 😴

If nothing else helps: close your eyes and get through it. Even if it's hard, sometimes the best thing to do is just go to sleep and give your body time to break down the THC.

And when should I worry?

Normally, greening out is harmless and goes away on its own. But if you have extreme circulatory problems, pass out or can't calm down at all, get help. Safety first - and no doctor will laugh at you because you're too high.

Sounds like a lot? Don't worry, you can handle it. And in the next section, we'll look at how you can avoid this horror in the future. 😌🚀

Can you avoid greening out? 🚫🤢

The good news: yes, you can avoid this horror trip! A few simple tricks will help you stay relaxed and high without your body hitting the emergency button. Here are the most important do's and don'ts:

Do this Don't do that
Start slowly - especially as a beginner: less is more! 🐢 Being greedy - adding edibles before the first dose takes effect? Bad mistake! ⏳💀
Know your weed - Some strains have a hell of a lot of THC. Find out beforehand! 🌿 Smoking random stuff - No idea how strong the stuff is? You risk a green out. 🚫
Don't smoke weed on an empty stomach - Eating a snack before you start can help. 🍞 Hit it on an empty stomach - The THC hits harder without food. 😵
Provide a relaxed environment - At home or with chilled people is always better. 🛋️ Smoke weed in stressful situations - If you're feeling unwell, the high can kick in. 😨
Keep CBD on hand - CBD can mitigate the effects of THC. If you're too high, it might help. 🧪 Mixing alcohol + weed - The classic mistake: alcohol intensifies THC and makes everything worse. 🍷❌

If you follow these simple rules, you'll be on the safe side. So it's better to smoke weed wisely and enjoy the high instead of calling 911. 😉🚀

And if things do go wrong? Don't stress - you now know how to get out of it. But before we finish, here's a little conclusion! 🎯

Your body is not a playground - so be smart with it!

Greening out is the moment when your body shows you the red card. It's not a fun "bad trip" to experience - it's a severe overreaction to too much THC that can knock you out completely. And once you've been through this horror, you're guaranteed to do everything you can to make sure it never happens again.

But that's exactly the point: it doesn't have to happen. Weed can be relaxing, fun, creative or simply chilled - if you know how to dose it correctly. If you overestimate yourself or overdo it, you'll quickly end up in green nirvana. And yes, it always passes, but you simply don't want to go through the hours when your heart is racing, your head can't keep up and you feel like you're trapped in a time warp.

So: don't get stoned to shoot yourself out completely. Get stoned to enjoy the moment. Your body is not a playground for uncontrolled experimentation - so listen to it. And if you do get too much? Now you know what to do. Stay calm, take a deep breath - you'll get out of it. 😌🍃


Niklas Bergmann, Fachautor

Freut euch auf die Insights von unserem Biochemiker Niklas Bergmann! Mit seinem tiefen Verständnis für alles, was mit Hanf zu tun hat, liefert er euch die neuesten und coolsten Infos direkt in euer Feed. Schnörkellos und klar verpackt er das komplexe Thema Cannabinoide und macht es für euch easy zugänglich. Mit Niklas an der Spitze unseres Wissens-Teams seid ihr immer top informiert.