hangover Archives - Green Market Report

StaffDecember 24, 2020
shutterstock_1706396005.jpg

9min00

Editors Note: This is a guest post. 

Those who have taken an almighty dab or eaten one too many cannabis cookies may know the dreaded feeling of “greening out.” Greening out is marijuana’s version of the more common “blacking out,” which usually references a night of overindulgence in alcohol, the ensuing mayhem, and the following morning’s amnesia. While the effects are not usually as detrimental as a blackout, spending even a few hours greened out can still be stressful. 

What is Greening Out? 

Greening out refers to the general symptoms of being too high. It can manifest itself as a combination of negative effects including paranoia, anxiety, nausea, dizziness, and increased heart rate. The negative experience is brought on by an overload of THC. Novice smokers are especially susceptible to greening out as their tolerance for cannabis is much lower. 

Today, we are going to explore a few ways to prevent a green out from occurring, and what to do if you feel some uncomfortable cannabis side effects coming on. 

Ditch the Blunt Wraps

If you are trying to avoid feeling sick, then mixing substances is never a good idea. Blunt wraps are commonly made of tobacco leaves. The effects of tobacco and cannabis can often mix poorly and amplify any feelings of greening out. This is especially true for non-cigarette smokers. Blunts can also contain a large amount of cannabis which can easily lead to overconsumption. 

Those who enjoy the heavy blunt smoke may benefit from tobacco-free alternatives like King Palm’s Cordia Leaf Pre-Rolled Cones. The palm leaf cones provide the same slow-burning effects of blunt wraps without the harshness of tobacco. They come in a variety of sizes to accommodate everyone in the cannabis community. And with these wraps, there’s no rolling necessary. Just pack it and you’re good to go. 

Know Your Tolerance

You can prevent the overconsumption of THC and its negative effects by knowing your tolerance. If you are an infrequent smoker, the likelihood of greening out is greatly increased. Taking even one heroic dab or giant bong rip has a high chance of causing a green out. 

Setting limits ahead of time can help you monitor your intake. Give yourself a set amount of time between puffs to make sure you can handle another one.  

Hydrate and Fuel Up

Dehydration can magnify the effects of greening out, so water should be used as both preventative and diagnostic care. Health experts commonly recommend the consumption of at least 8 glasses of water a day. If you aren’t hitting that mark, you may increase your chances of greening out. 

Having a meal can also help prevent your bud from hitting you too hard. You know your body best, but sometimes a warm plate of your favorite comfort food can be the best medicine. 

If you are already experiencing a green out episode, drinking a glass of water is sure to give you a boost in the right direction. In the same vein, giving in to the munchies and having a meal will usually ease your body. 

Beware of the Edibles

Edibles have the potential to cause some of the worst green out situations. Edibles can take two or more hours to really take effect. For this reason, some people assume that the cannabis-infused cookie they ate wasn’t very strong and decide to eat another one. Then, a double-dose of effects hits at once, often rendering them immobile or asleep. 

You can avoid this unfortunate situation by being extra cautious of edibles and the amount of THC you are consuming. When possible, edibles purchased from dispensaries are the safest to use. They have been precisely tested for THC content so you know exactly what you are consuming. Most cannabis-infused goods produced at home don’t offer this comforting knowledge, so they may be stronger than you originally intended.

CBD and Terpenes

Although not quite confirmed, many theories and anecdotal evidence point to CBD’s ability to reduce the negative effects of THC overconsumption. Puffing on strains that contain substantial amounts of both CBD and THC can help prevent greening out. The effects of cannabis seem to be at their best when all of the plant’s components are present. This phenomenon is referred to as the “entourage effect.”

Similarly, certain terpenes are known to help soothe the effects of greening out. One of these terpenes, Caryophyllene, is found in black pepper and certain strains of weed. It is noted for its herbal, woody aromas and has been found to calm cannabis-induced anxiety. If you begin feeling nauseous or anxious after smoking, eating a snack with black pepper (or even just smelling the spice) may help calm you. 

Change Your Environment

Your surroundings will often play a big role in causing a green out. If you feel any negative effects coming on, you may want to change your environment. Stepping out into nature or just laying down in a quiet room can help calm your senses, especially if you were previously in a loud party environment. Likewise, breathing in some fresh air will certainly put your mind at ease (especially if you were previously sitting in a hot-boxed room). 

If all else fails, just sleep it off. A nice, long nap will almost always do the trick. Be careful though, as your body may want more sleep than you are used to!

Wash It Away

If you’ve already begun to feel the effects of a green out, a steamy shower may be all you need to calm down. In a similar fashion, a cool shower will come to the aid of those who experience the sweats during a green out. Either way, you will usually come out feeling calmed and refreshed. 

Marijuana provides people with relief and joy. But like any good thing, too much of it may have negative effects. Next time you’re about to embark on an epic smoke session, consider your tolerance and current hydration levels before sparking up. Take precautionary measures like avoiding tobacco, eating well, and monitoring your THC intake so you can avoid greening out. 


Julie AitchesonDecember 10, 2020
shutterstock_1851693370.jpg

6min00

The holiday season is famous for Yuletide cheer, peppermint lattes, heated family discussions around a high-calorie spread, and trolling slushy streets and the internet for the gift that says “I see you and I care” more loudly than “This was on clearance.” But let’s face it, the holidays are also famous for the booze: huge vats of foamy eggnog potent enough to pin your Aunt Nancy to the couch, spiked hot chocolate to ward off the winter chill, and round after round of craft cocktail creations to keep all of those Zoom parties merry and bright when the video keeps freezing and half of the crew can’t figure out how to unmute. For those who imbibe, holiday drinking can take a toll and when that holiday hangover comes calling, more than a few revelers will be reaching for a cannabis cure.

Dehydration, headache, nausea, vomiting, lethargy, and lack of concentration are all hallmarks of the garden variety hangover. According to a study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology, cannabis might be the ideal treatment for two of these ailments in particular. “Considerable evidence demonstrates that manipulation of the endocannabinoid system regulates nausea and vomiting in humans and other animals”. This manipulation, in the context of this study, refers to the consumption of cannabinoids in order to inhibit nausea and vomiting that occurs “in response to a toxic challenge.”

A study from Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Colorado speaks to cannabis’s efficacy in treating pain related to headaches and migraines, with inhaled forms proving more effective in treating acute symptoms. According to the study, the active ingredients in cannabis are able to target pain receptors at the base of the spinal cord, which results in an enhancement of “the natural system for pain management in the body.” What’s more, marijuana can also stimulate appetite by turning off hormone pathways that make us feel full, which can help hangover sufferers get some food back into their stomachs and reduce acidity.

If a smoke or vape is your speed, CBD:THC strains like Harlequin, Dancehall, and Sour Tsunami are known hangover helpers. Don’t feel like lighting up to beat off those boozy blahs? Relief can still be yours, with some forward-thinking brands offering up alternative forms of hangover relief for the holidays and beyond. Rhythm, an infused CBD company focused on drinks that feature adaptogens and superfoods as well as CBD, has developed Rhythm Recover, a Lemon Ginger seltzer infused with 15mg of hemp extract and highly bioavailable turmeric extract for an anti-inflammatory boost. For headache-healing hydration without the fizz, a CBD-infused coconut water such as that offered by Vita Coco might be just the thing. The coffee cure is a traditional favorite but can leave you feeling twice as exhausted by the end of the day.  Crappy’s Feel Better’s Hangover Helper chewable tablets with  CBD, CBG, and CBN plus recovery-focused terpenes keep the caffeine crash at bay. 

So happy holidays to all, and if just saying “no” isn’t on your to-do list this holiday season, cannabis might make a welcome addition to your revelry recovery agenda.

 


Get the latest cannabis news delivered right to your inbox

The Morning Rise

Unpack the industry with the daily cannabis newsletter for business leaders.

 Sign up


About Us

The Green Market Report focuses on the financial news of the rapidly growing cannabis industry. Our target approach filters out the daily noise and does a deep dive into the financial, business and economic side of the cannabis industry. Our team is cultivating the industry’s critical news into one source and providing open source insights and data analysis


READ MORE



Recent Tweets

Get the latest cannabis news delivered right to your inbox

The Morning Rise

Unpack the industry with the daily cannabis newsletter for business leaders.