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Greening Out: When Too Much Marijuana Becomes More Than a Bad High
Why greening out happens, what to do in the moment, when to call 911, and when marijuana use may warrant an assessment.
Greening out is what people call it when marijuana stops feeling relaxing and becomes overwhelming.
The person may vomit, shake, sweat, lose their balance or become convinced that something terrible is happening. Some grow pale and quiet. Others panic, become paranoid or lose track of where they are.
Most episodes pass. That does not mean every episode is harmless.
Someone who is severely impaired can fall, choke while vomiting, wander into traffic, drive, hurt themselves during a panic or experience a psychiatric crisis. There is also no guarantee that a vape, gummy or street product contains only the substance the person expected.
Why Does Greening Out Happen?
Greening out generally occurs when someone consumes more THC than their body can comfortably tolerate.
Edibles are a common reason. They can take between 30 minutes and two hours to produce intoxicating effects. A person may decide that the first dose “did nothing,” take more and then have both doses begin working later. The resulting effects can also last longer than expected. CDC cannabis poisoning guidance
The risk may be greater when someone:
- Has little experience with marijuana
- Uses a high-potency product
- Eats an edible without understanding the dose
- Takes another dose too soon
- Uses concentrates or strong vape products
- Combines marijuana with alcohol or other drugs
- Has a history of anxiety or panic
- Uses in an unfamiliar or stressful setting
- Does not know what the product contains
Legalization has not made every cannabis product mild or predictable. Potency, dosing and individual reactions still vary substantially.
Symptoms of Greening Out
Symptoms can include:
- Severe anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Dizziness
- Sweating or chills
- Nausea and vomiting
- Shaking
- Rapid heart rate
- Poor balance
- Confusion
- Extreme tiredness
- Difficulty following a conversation
- Feeling detached from reality
- Fear of dying or “going crazy”
Large doses can also contribute to hallucinations, severe agitation or psychotic symptoms, particularly in someone with underlying risk factors.
What Should You Do?
If the person is awake, breathing normally and not in immediate danger:
- Move them somewhere calm and quiet.
- Have them sit or lie down safely.
- Stay with them.
- Speak slowly and use short sentences.
- Reassure them that help is available.
- Do not let them drive.
- Do not give them alcohol, Xanax or another drug.
- If they vomit, position them to reduce the risk of choking.
Do not argue with someone who is paranoid or confused. You do not need to agree with what they believe. Focus on keeping them safe and reducing stimulation.
When Should You Call 911?
Call 911 if the person:
- Stops breathing or struggles to breathe
- Collapses or loses consciousness
- Cannot be awakened
- Has a seizure
- Develops chest pain
- Becomes dangerously agitated
- Attempts to hurt themselves or someone else
- Has severe hallucinations or psychosis
- Is repeatedly vomiting and cannot keep fluids down
- May have consumed a contaminated or unidentified product
The CDC specifically advises calling 911 if someone who has used cannabis stops breathing, collapses or has a seizure. Poison Control can also be reached at 1-800-222-1222. CDC cannabis FAQ
If a child has consumed marijuana, seek immediate guidance. Do not wait for the child to become severely impaired.
Does Greening Out Mean Someone Needs Detox?
Not necessarily.
One episode may result from inexperience, an unexpectedly potent product or taking too much of an edible. Marijuana withdrawal is also not ordinarily medically dangerous in the same way that alcohol or Xanax withdrawal can be.
But people who use marijuana heavily can experience real withdrawal symptoms after stopping, including:
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Vivid dreams
- Reduced appetite
- Restlessness
- Depressed mood
- Headaches
- Strong cravings
Those symptoms can make stopping difficult, particularly when marijuana has become the person’s only way to sleep, eat, relax or manage uncomfortable emotions.
A detox assessment becomes more important when marijuana is being combined with alcohol, opioids, Xanax or other substances. The greatest medical risk may come from one of those additional drugs.
When Marijuana Becomes the Organizing Force
Marijuana is legal for adults in New Jersey. That does not answer whether someone’s use is healthy.
The better question is what marijuana is doing to the person’s life.
It may be time to seek help when someone:
- Uses from morning through night
- Needs increasingly potent products
- Repeatedly greens out but keeps using
- Cannot sleep or eat without marijuana
- Drives while impaired
- Experiences recurring panic or paranoia
- Misses work, school or responsibilities
- Tries to stop and cannot
- Withdraws from relationships
- Regularly combines marijuana with other drugs
A bad high may pass within hours.
The pattern underneath it may continue for years. If that pattern sounds familiar, read How Do You Know When Someone Needs Detox?
Frequently asked
- Why does greening out happen?
- It generally happens when someone consumes more THC than their body can comfortably tolerate. Edibles are a common cause because they can take 30 minutes to two hours to take effect, leading people to take a second dose before the first one begins working.
- When should you call 911 for someone who greened out?
- Call 911 if the person stops breathing or struggles to breathe, collapses, cannot be awakened, has a seizure, develops chest pain, becomes dangerously agitated, has severe hallucinations, or cannot stop vomiting. Poison Control is available at 1-800-222-1222.
- Does greening out mean someone needs detox?
- Not necessarily. A single episode may reflect inexperience or an unexpectedly potent product. Heavy marijuana use can cause genuine withdrawal symptoms, and a detox assessment matters most when marijuana is combined with alcohol, opioids or benzodiazepines.
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