Greening Out: Is Weed Overdose Real?

weed overdose

Over the past decade, marijuana—commonly known as “weed”—has been legalized in over half of U.S. states and territories. In fact, marijuana is only illegal in 6 U.S. states while 27 states and territories have fully legalized the drug, and the remaining states have either decriminalized or permitted medicinal use. Weed has also grown in popularity over the years, with 35.5% of young adults using marijuana, making it one of the most used drugs in the U.S.

However, just because it’s legal and popularized, weed is still a drug with addictive properties, health risks, and potential for addiction, dependency, and overdose, just like alcohol and opioids. But what is weed addiction, and how can it be treated?

Let’s go over what marijuana is, what dependency looks like, and how it can be treated like any other substance use disorder.

What is Weed? CBD vs. THC

Weed (marijuana) refers to the dried leaves, stems, and flowers of the cannabis sativa or cannabis indica plant, containing the mind-altering tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) chemical and cannabidiol (CBD), and is used for pleasure or pain relief. Contrary to what people think, THC and CBD have different properties in marijuana.

  • THC: A psychoactive substance that is used to achieve that “high” feeling.
  • CBD: A non-psychoactive substance used for pain relief.

There are many short-term effects of cannabis use, such as mood changes, impaired memory, altered senses, and difficulty problem-solving; however, long-term effects can include changes to brain development, especially in children, teens, and young adults. The National Institute on Drug Abuse has more information on how marijuana affects the brain.

The Reality of Weed Addiction

Weed is an addictive substance just like any other—alcohol, opioids, heroin, meth, and more—and all drugs have addictive properties. Research shows that up to 30% of cannabis users may develop a weed addiction or marijuana use disorder and about 4 million people have the disorder as of 2015.

Weed addiction occurs when the brain adapts to—or even expects—large amounts of marijuana and cannot stop using it in daily life, much like how someone with an alcohol addiction can’t stop drinking.

Signs of a weed addiction are just like any other addiction and can include:

  • Feeling like you “need” marijuana to feel “normal.”
  • Feeling like you can’t focus or perform daily functions without marijuana.
  • Feeling nervous or anxious without marijuana.
  • Unable to achieve happiness without marijuana.

Additionally, weed addiction includes displays of withdrawal symptoms, such as:

  • Mood and sleep difficulties.
  • Increased irritability or anxiety.
  • Loss of appetite or other stomach pains.
  • Aches, pains, and physical fatigue throughout the body.

Can You Overdose on Weed?

Although rare, it is possible to overdose on marijuana, just like alcohol, opioids, heroin, and fentanyl, which can lead to significant health problems. Overdose varies from person to person, but the risk increases each time one uses higher THC amounts, does it more frequently, or uses a suddenly high or rapid amount in a short period.

What is “Greening Out?”

Another term for weed overdose is “greening out” or THC toxicity. Greening out is derived from the term “blacking out” from alcohol use and can be just as life-threatening. This is also known as “getting the spins” or “getting too high,” and happens when the user has too much cannabis in their system causing them to feel ill.

“Greening out” can last anywhere from a couple of minutes to a full day and has profound physical and psychological effects on the user. The signs of marijuana overdose or “greening out” include:

  • Intense anxiety, panic, or paranoia.
  • Auditory or visual hallucinations.
  • Disassociation or unresponsiveness.
  • Shaking and muscle spasms.
  • Lowered blood pressure and heart rate.
  • Reddened eyes and dried mouth.

“Greening out” or weed overdose can be especially life-threatening if mixed with other substances like alcohol, opioids, medications, or even pre-existing mental disorders. Some factors that influence greening out include:

  • Inexperienced cannabis use.
  • Consuming certain cannabis strains.
  • Combining marijuana with other substances, including drugs and alcohol.
  • Lack of knowledge on individual cannabis tolerance.
  • Using too much or too quickly all at once.

Weed Addiction Treatment

Fortunately, just like alcohol or opioid abuse, weed addiction treatment is available and uses similar recovery strategies.

  1. Marijuana Detox: Removing the drug from your system naturally is paramount to weed addiction treatment; however, it’s crucial to avoid unnatural methods such as detox products/supplements and saunas as they’re ineffective and harmful. Instead, seek a professional detox program.
  1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapies: Much like with other addictions, therapy is a way to overcome weed addiction. This includes group, individual, and specialty therapies from a licensed professional.
  1. Lifestyle Changes: Focusing on healthy living like exercising, clean eating, social lives, and hobbies can assist in weed addiction treatment.

Conclusion

It’s important to know that marijuana is a drug just like any other and can have severe health effects. Although the drug is moving towards nationwide legalization, it’s crucial to be mindful of weed addiction, overuse, misuse, and the possibility of overdoses or “greening out.”

Legality doesn’t exactly mean safety, so be sure to remain aware of your own marijuana use, as well as seek help from a professional if needed. Master Center also treats cannabis use disorder and weed addiction, so schedule an appointment today if you or someone you know may have a dependency.

About Master Center for Addiction Medicine

Master Center for Addiction Medicine is a fully outpatient leading addiction treatment center in Virginia, offering comprehensive and personalized care for individuals with substance use disorders including alcohol, opioids, pain medications, and others. This evidence-based approach provides a physician-oriented response to addiction, staffed by experienced addiction physicians, psychiatrists, counselors, therapists, and peer recovery coaches.

With locations throughout Virginia, Master Center programs are designed to meet individual needs and lifestyles. Most insurances are accepted to make treatment accessible to as many individuals as possible. If you have questions about alcohol rehab costs and treatment options, reach out to Master Center at 804.332.5950 or info@mastercenter.com.