Greening out is a common term used to describe an intense, “bad trip” caused by the chemical THC found in cannabis. Whether from smoking too much or eating a strong edible, too much cannabis can overstimulate the mind and body.
Over a third of frequent cannabis users have reported greening out at least once, often more commonly among new or novice users with lower tolerance. Symptoms of greening out include nausea, dizziness, and anxiety, which can last a few hours and linger for up to 24 hours, depending on factors like individual metabolism, experience, and mindset [1].
Read on to recognize the signs of greening out and tips to help manage greening out safely.
What Does “Greening Out” Mean?
Greening out is a slang term referring to an overdose or a bad trip from cannabis. It is characterized by intense effects on the mind and body in response to smoking too much or ingesting too high a dose of edibles.
The chemical THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) found in the sticky trichome substances on the cannabis leaves is what causes the psychoactive effects and makes people feel “high”. Greening out can also occur when users get crossfaded (mixing alcohol and cannabis).
How Long Does Greening Out Last?
Intense symptoms of greening out, such as nausea and loss of touch with reality, usually last a few hours, depending on the strength and amount of weed consumed. Most users also feel lingering after effects for up to 24 hours, such as fatigue, mild anxiety, or brain fog.
The extent of greening out also depends on individual factors such as height, weight, experience with cannabis in the past, metabolism, and whether you are hydrated. Your mental state also plays a role.
“Set and setting” in psychedelic communities refers to the importance of being in a good mindset and a positive setting. So if you are already feeling anxious, greening out could last longer and exacerbate these symptoms [2].
Greening Out: Signs and Symptoms
Recognize the signs that someone is greening out to provide support, such as water, nourishing food, and distractions. Below are some common signs of greening out:
- Physical: Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, pale or flushed skin, sweating/chills, rapid heartbeat
- Behavioral: Slurred speech, clumsiness, reduced motor skills, social isolation, restlessness
- Psychological: Anxiety, paranoia, panic attacks, confusion, mild delusions or hallucinations
Can You Die from Greening Out?
The good news is that there are no life-threatening risks of greening out, and you can’t really die from it. However, you might feel like it. However, if you’re mixing cannabis with alcohol or other substances such as opioids or benzodiazepines, this can increase the risk of overdose, reduced breathing, and death.
Nonetheless, it’s important to be mindful of the long-term mental health effects that can be caused by excessive cannabis use or frequent green outs. Greening out can trigger chronic anxiety, panic attacks, and even symptoms of depersonalization.
What to Do If You Green Out
If you or someone you are with is greening out, the most important thing is to keep in mind that this feeling won’t last forever, and even if you feel like you are dying, you aren’t.
You can’t quickly “stop” greening out, but there are some helpful ways to reduce the intensity or length of the bad trip:
- Lie down, put a wet rag on your head, and if possible, have a fan on you. This can help reduce dizziness, overheating, and sweating or chills.
- Sip cold, fresh lemonade, orange juice, or citrus juice to ease nausea as the acidity and vitamin C can help metabolize THC.
- Change your environment. Go outside into the fresh air, take a hot bath or cold shower, dim the lights, put on a movie, or listen to chill music.
- Chew on hard candies, mint gum, or something light, such as bread or popcorn, to help reduce nausea.
- Talk to someone you can trust and who can distract you during a bad trip on cannabis.
- Stay hydrated, drink water, Gatorade, or Powerade.
- Breathe deeply, focus on your senses to ground yourself (e.g, focus on the deep beats of the music you’re listening to or the softness of the couch you are lying on).
Accept what you are feeling and remind yourself that this feeling will end soon. Anxiety plays a key role in greening out, and it’s more common among new or infrequent users after ingesting too much cannabis.
Evidence-Based Cannabis Use Disorder in Utah
At Maple Mountain Mental Health & Wellness, we offer evidence-based therapies that are integrated into personalized care plans, ensuring each client receives compassionate support to help them live a cannabis-free lifestyle.
Our compassionate team can help you verify insurance benefits and set up a personalized treatment plan that meets your unique mental, physical, financial, emotional, and spiritual needs.
Contact our admissions team today to find support for you or your partner.
Sources
[1] Winstock, A. et al.(2022). Rates and correlates of cannabis-associated psychotic symptoms in over 230,000 people who use cannabis. Translational psychiatry, 12(1), 369.
[2] Smith, R. et al. (2025). What are set and setting: Reducing vagueness to improve research and clinical practice. Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England), 39(9), 900–909.
