How To Avoid & Prevent A Bad Cannabis Trip
- How do you get a bad trip in the first place?
- What does it feel like to have a bad trip?
- How to prevent a bad cannabis trip?
- How long does it last?
- How can you cut a bad cannabis trip short?
It’s the weekend, and you and your buddies decide to stay in at yours to binge-watch on conspiracy theory documentaries. As they all sprawled across the couch, one unearths out a tray full of brownies with a lazy grin on their face.
One brownie and 40 minutes in ‘The Family: It’s Not About Faith, It’s About Power’ on Netflix, you start to grow impatient that nothing has kicked off yet and so you consume another brownie.
Then, out of nowhere, the whole room is spinning, and you are struggling to contain this horrible dreaded feeling spreading across your chest. This carries on so intensely that you find yourself convincing one of your mates to call the ambulance as you have a heart attack.
Does this sound familiar to you? This means that you have experienced a lousy cannabis trip that can be incredibly uncomfortable and sometimes even traumatising to individuals.
In this article, we will explain how to prevent a bad trip when you are having one, and what you should do to prevent them from happening again.
Table of Contents.
How do you get a bad trip in the first place?
- You smoked too many hits in a short amount of time
- You consumed cannabis concentrate for the first time
- You ate an edible and were too impatient to feel its effects, so you ate another
- You miscalculated the dose making homemade edibles
- You consumed cannabis from a third-party not knowing how much amount of THC is in it
- You weren’t in the right headspace/environment to be in
What does it feel like to have a bad trip?
- Paranoia
- Shortness of breath
- Irregular heart beat levels
- Claustrophobia (the feeling of being trapped in your body)
- Dizziness
- Extreme, sudden feelings of dread
In other cases, some many experience
- Cold sweats and clamminess
- Dry mouth
- Shaky limbs and hands
How to prevent a bad cannabis trip?
The best way to avoid a lousy cannabis trip is to understand and check the THC potency and dosage you are consuming. If you are making edibles, check out this Edibles Dosage Calculator.
If you’re vaping/ smoking, don’t feel obliged to repeatedly take a hit when it’s your turn or smoking the whole joint in one go. Have a breather and wait for at least 20 minutes before having your next puff.
Wait at least for an hour and half after you consumed your last edible.
How long does it last?
It depends on the person and how much cannabis has been consumed. Some last for an hour, while some experience it for half a day.
How can you cut a bad cannabis trip short?
Be in a positive and calm environment. This can be in your room where you are comfortable, your best friend’s house, or curl up next to your dog on the couch. This will help as you’ll be less likely to freak out in a familiar setting.
Buddy up! Be with a friend/partner (best case scenario would be a sober one) you trust. They’re the best anchor to bring you back to reality and calm the paranoia you feel.
If you are in a crowded party, try to calm yourself by leaving the area. The best thing to do is focus on being as calm as possible, which means not listening to music or surrounding yourself with noisy people.
Hydrate your body to reduce the high. You are probably experiencing severe cottonmouth (dryness of the mouth) without even realising it. Drink fruit juice or a sugary drink, splash some water on your face or use eye drops.
Take a step outside to breathe in the fresh air. The wind slapping in your face may help you jolt your senses together and feel slightly sober. Bonus points if you can feel the sunshine on a warm day!
Watch cute/wholesome videos on Youtube to cheer yourself up. Take your mind off of the fact that you are experiencing an abnormal amount of anxiety and fear. As long as you distract yourself with a friend watching goofy videos, the bad trip will quickly pass.
Sleep it off. Forget this bad trip even happened in the first place! If the dizziness wears off, you will find yourself relaxed on your bed to drift off to the next day.
Constance Williams
Constance is a medical journalist that critically analyses and reports on how Australia can benefit from the cannabis industry in the future.
Disclaimer: Cannabis Place are not doctors and we recommend consulting health professionals for accurate information. This site may contain information regarding drugs. This medicinal cannabis content is designed for an 18+ audience. Click here for our full disclaimer
