How do you get the effect of a joint across?

It can happen to anyone. After consuming more than you expected, you feel much more stoned than you anticipated - tachycardia, anxiety, amplified sounds, a feeling of uncontrolled take-off. Visit effects of excessive cannabis use can range from simple palpitations to white crisis with nausea and vomiting.

The first thing to know: cannabis is not lethal. Even with excessive consumption, the effects will pass. There is no way to instantly stop the effects of THC - but here's what can really help reduce discomfort and speed up the return to a serene state.

1. CBD: the real antidote to THC

This is the trick least known to the general public, but the best documented scientifically. Visit CBD (cannabidiol) is a partial CB1 receptor antagonist - it binds to the same receptors as THC and reduces their activation, thus attenuating THC's psychoactive and anxiety-inducing effects.

In practice: if you have CBD at hand - a few drops of CBD oil under the tongue, a smoked CBD flower, or a capsule - it's the first thing to go. The effects are felt in 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the form used. A dose of 20 to 50 mg of CBD is usually enough to significantly alleviate the anxiety and tachycardia associated with THC overconsumption.

This is why cannabis strains with a balanced THC/CBD ratio generally produce less anxiety-provoking effects than strains with high pure THC.

2. Staying calm: anchoring techniques

Panic amplifies the unpleasant effects. The THC-induced brain is particularly reactive to emotions - making the anxiety spiral easier to trigger and harder to stop.

The anchoring technique 5-4-3-2-1 is particularly effective: mentally name 5 things you see, 4 things you touch, 3 sounds you hear, 2 smells, 1 taste. This exercise brings your attention back to the immediate present, short-circuiting the anxiety spiral.

The coherent breathing is also very useful: inhale slowly for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, exhale for 6 seconds. Repeat 5 to 10 times. This technique activates the parasympathetic nervous system and mechanically reduces heart rate.

Remember: what you feel is temporary. THC metabolizes and the effects diminish naturally.

3. Black pepper, a well-documented folk remedy

Strange but effective: sniffing or chewing a few grains of black pepper has been a popular remedy for decades, mentioned by Neil Young among others. Science gives it a credible basis: black pepper is rich in beta-caryophyllene, a terpene which binds to CB2 receptors and modulates the activity of the endocannabinoid system. Its potential anxiolytic effect would explain why this remedy works for many consumers.

Method: 2 to 3 grains to be chewed gently, or simply sniffed. Effects appear within minutes. Keep in mind as a simple and immediately available option in the kitchen.

4. Eating and drinking

If you have smoked, you will probably munchies anyway. Eating helps - prefer carbohydrates (bread, cereals, fruit) to fats and proteins, which can slow down metabolization. The sugar in fruit helps stabilize blood sugar levels, which are often disrupted by heavy consumption.

Avoid the mango, rich in myrcene, it can actually amplify the effects of THC. Avoid alcohol, which significantly potentiates the psychoactive effects of cannabis.

Drink cold water or milk. Hydration helps the body eliminate metabolites more quickly, and cold water has a soothing effect on the heart rate. If you feel nauseous, avoid milk and stick to water.

5. Take a nap

A short nap of 20 to 30 minutes gives your body time to metabolize some of the THC and will allow you to wake up in a more manageable state. If you're worried about waking up in the middle of the night after too long a nap, set an alarm.

Some particularly sedative indica varieties can induce deep sleep, not necessarily a problem, but one to be anticipated if you have obligations.

6. Change environment and activity

Staying fixated on the discomfort you feel amplifies it. Changing the room, putting on soft music, watching a familiar show or calling a trusted friend (if you feel up to it) can help divert attention.

If you're indoors, getting out into the fresh air can help - not necessarily running (unrealistic in the case of a pronounced bad trip), but simply walking slowly or sitting in a quiet place. Fresh air and a change of sensory perspective have a real effect on reducing anxiety.

7. The shower

A lukewarm to cool shower helps reduce tachycardia and brings attention back to concrete physical sensations, short-circuiting the mental spiral. Avoid water that's too cold, which can be a further shock, and avoid bathing: there's a real risk of falling asleep in the water.

Special case: space cake

If the excessive effects come from a space cake or edible, the same advice applies - but the situation is different in one crucial respect: the effects can be long-lasting. 4 to 8 hours instead of 1 to 3 hours with smoke, because of the 11-hydroxy-THC produced during digestion, more potent than delta-9. There are no shortcuts: you have to accept that it will take time and concentrate on anchoring techniques and CBD if available.

Patience is the main resource in this case.

What doesn't work

Some common but ineffective or even counter-productive ideas: coffee (aggravates tachycardia), alcohol (amplifies the effects), «just a little more smoking to pass the time» (worsens the situation), and hyperventilating (triggers additional dizziness).