How to Get Unhigh: Sobering Up From Weed - GoodRx (2023)

As laws and regulations continually change, more people are using cannabis (also known as marijuana). The drug may seem tame compared to substances like meth, crack, or heroin. But cannabis has the power to create extremely unpleasant effects and serious consequences in the short-term and long-term.

Depending on your situation, you may want to sober up and get unhigh from weed quickly, but doing so safely can be confusing.

What are the typical results of getting high?

The typical effects of cannabis intoxication are generally pleasant and desirable. But how much you use and the strength of the weed will affect the outcomes. Even if you have been high many times, there is always the possibility that the next high will feel different.

The most common signs and symptoms of cannabis intoxication include:

• Feeling really happy

• Feeling very relaxed and calm

• Increased hunger

• Changed perception of time by feeling that time is going very slowly or very quickly

• Enhanced perceptions of sounds, colors, or touch

These wanted effects are not guaranteed, though. Like many other substances, using too much cannabis or using cannabis that is too strong can tip the balance, so that the negative effects outnumber the good ones. By using too much, you could have a negative experience with weed and feel the unwanted effects of cannabis.

How long does THC stay in your system?

When you start using cannabis, you may ask questions like “How long does a marijuana high last?” and “How long does it take to sober up from weed?” These are important questions to ask. But the answers really depend on how you consume the drug, how strong the drug is, and how your body usually processes the THC.

Smoking weed will create a high that starts almost immediately and can last between 1 and 3 hours. If you consume weed by eating or drinking it, the high feeling is delayed. You may not feel high for up to 2 hours after eating, and the high will last for many hours.

The signs of cannabis use can stay in your body for weeks if you are a regular user.

How will I know if I’m too high?

When you consume too much weed, or the cannabis you consume is much stronger than you are used to, you could get too high. When you are too high, you’ll find that the unpleasant feelings far outweigh the typical mood and emotions produced by cannabis.

Some distressing effects of being high include:

• Anxiety, panic, and paranoia

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• Impaired judgment and coordination

• Fear and distrust

• Hallucinations where you see, hear, or feel things that are not really there

• Delusions where you think things that are not true

• Feeling like you are going crazy or do not recognize yourself

These negative side effects of weed may emerge when you only use marijuana. But combining weed with other substances like alcohol or opioids can also impact the effects. Mixing substances can create more dangerous outcomes and should be avoided when possible.

How to sober up from weed: 8 ways to get unhigh

You may use cannabis to experience the euphoric effects caused by the drug. But in some situations, you may want to end the feeling as quickly as possible and stop being high.

Here are eight ways to help you sober up safely.

1. Watch your dose and potency

High doses and high potency of cannabis really increase your risk of unwanted effects, so one of the best ways to avoid feeling too high is to not get too high in the first place. Start by checking in on how much you are smoking and how strong your cannabis is. If you aren’t sure, go slowly in the beginning.

If you are using legally purchased products, look for ones with lower percent THC (10% or less). Take a single hit or puff and wait 15 minutes before the next to better observe the effects.

The same is true for edibles. Since these products take a bit longer to produce their results, stay patient and wait for them to produce their results before you start eating or drinking more. Be sure to follow the dosing recommendations for the products you plan to consume and stick to just a few milligrams of THC to note the influence.

2. Give it time

There may not be a magical way to sober up fast, and you could only create more stress, anxiety, and frustration by trying to force yourself into getting unhigh. Rather than fighting against yourself, the best approach is to give it time.

All highs end in time. You will not stay trapped in a bad high forever, so reminding yourself of this truth is invaluable.

If you have inhaled cannabis, you can expect to be feeling more normal within 3 hours. If you have used a cannabis beverage or edible, the effects will peak within 2 to 3 hours, but you can expect to feel quite fuzzy for 6 to 10 hours.

3. Stay calm and use relaxation

If you are having bad side effects of cannabis use like paranoia, anxiety, or panic, you may want the high to end as quickly as possible so the distressing symptoms can fade. Although rapidly ending the high may not be possible, you can help to reduce the unwanted effects by staying calm and using relaxation techniques.

Relaxation techniques are nearly endless, so experiment with some options that seem to meet your needs and give you the kind of stress reduction you hope to seek. Relaxation skills work best after some practice, so consider spending some time building up your experience before you need them.

4. Find a distraction

You need time to pass for the high to wear off, but if you only focus on your symptoms and side effects of cannabis use, you could feel more uncomfortable. Instead, you need to find a distraction.

Distractions come in unlimited varieties, so experiment with options. Consider:

• Listening to music

• Chatting with a friend

• Watching a favorite movie, show, or documentary

• Taking a walk

5. Drink water, but avoid coffee and beer

When you want to sober up quickly from alcohol, you may reach for a cup of coffee to boost your alertness. And when you want to sober up from weed, you may reach for a coffee or a beer. Both coffee and alcohol could be poor beverage options when you are high, though.

There is evidence to suggest alcohol increases the amount of THC in your bloodstream, which would only boost the high feeling. Caffeine may not help either. Instead, grab a bottle of water to stay hydrated and allow your body to process the weed from your system.

6. Avoid other substance use and folk remedies

Like with alcohol, other substances may not help you sober up the way you’d like. If you are feeling too sleepy and lethargic, you may think that a stimulating drug like cocaine or prescription stimulants used to treat ADHD could help the situation, but you should avoid adding new substances.

Stimulants like cocaine and meth can create delusional thinking and hallucinations on their own. Combining them with cannabis could increase the risk of paranoia.

Along these lines, avoid any and all folk remedies for sobering up quickly. Solutions like black peppercorns and lemon water have no proven benefit related to reducing the symptoms of cannabis intoxication.

7. Use a safety plan

If you find yourself needing to sober up often, you could benefit from a safety plan. Your sober safety plan can outline:

• The problems you experienced during the last unwanted high

• What helped

• What didn’t

• What caused the problems in the first place

These safety plans are helpful because while you are in the middle of a stressful or unexpected situation, staying calm is a major challenge. Create your safety plan while you are sober and share the plan with your friends so they will know what to do when you need to sober up fast.

8. Seek out professional assistance

At times, people may have a scary reaction to cannabis and may require professional care to manage symptoms and help them sober up. If you ever find yourself or a loved one extremely agitated, panicking, or behaving in odd ways, emergency department care can help.

If the high is from edibles, emergency room staff could help you throw up or provide activated charcoal to control symptoms. If you are showing signs of aggression, confusion, or high anxiety, staff could offer a sedative to help keep you calm and safe until the high passes.

If you or someone you know struggles with substance use, help is available. Call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) to learn about resources in your area.