Can You Overdose On Marijuana?

Can you overdose on marijuana? You can take too much. CDC says edibles carry a greater risk of poisoning than smoked cannabis, and that unintentional poisonings in children have increased, sometimes requiring visits to the emergency room or hospitalization. The National Cancer Institute says lethal overdoses from cannabis do not occur, but that does not make it harmless.

Is it as risky as cocaine, opioids or even alcohol? For decades, federal law put marijuana in Schedule I, the same category as heroin, the National Cancer Institute notes. If marijuana were really that dangerous, couldn’t a marijuana overdose kill you?

Our goal at Dr. Green Relief is to keep our patients up-to-date on the latest science surrounding medical marijuana. We want you to know what the research shows and where it stops.

We also don’t want to minimize the potential risks that come with using this medicine.

This post covers whether a marijuana overdose happens, whether it can be fatal and what to do if you take too much.

The first question is whether it can be fatal.

Can a Marijuana Overdose Be Fatal?

No. The National Cancer Institute’s review for health professionals says lethal overdoses from cannabis and cannabinoids do not occur.

CDC warns that edibles carry a greater risk of poisoning than smoked cannabis, so “not fatal” does not mean harmless.

Why don’t fatal cannabis overdoses occur?

Cannabinoid receptors are not found in the brainstem areas that control breathing, as the section below explains.

That does not make large amounts safe: NIDA notes that children eating cannabis edibles, such as gummies, is a growing health concern that can result in hospitalization and serious illness.

Responsible use of medical marijuana starts with respecting that risk.

Overdose Deaths From Other Drugs

• Alcohol Poisoning: about 2,200 deaths a year in 2010 to 2012, CDC found
• Opioids: 79,358 overdose deaths in 2023, according to NIDA
• Stimulants such as cocaine: 59,725 overdose deaths in 2023

These figures show how deadly other drugs can be; they are not a measure of cannabis safety.

Why is It So Hard to Fatally Overdose on Marijuana?

Cannabinoids, the active compounds in marijuana, bind to cannabinoid receptors found in your brain and nervous system. The receptors are part of your body’s endocannabinoid system, which the National Cancer Institute says appears to have a role in pain, movement, appetite, mood and memory.

According to the National Cancer Institute, cannabinoid receptors are not found in the area of the brainstem that controls respiration.

Opioid receptors, on the other hand, are found in this area, which is why an opioid overdose can lead to asphyxiation.

Alcohol poisoning can also lead to asphyxiation. Alcohol affects the nerves that control breathing and your gag reflex. In the case of an alcohol overdose, your breathing could stop. Or if you vomit, you could wind up choking to death on it.

That said, a low overdose risk is not the same as being safe, and cannabis has its own harms, including cannabis use disorder.

Can You Consume Too Much Marijuana?

It may be unlikely that you’ll die from an overdose on marijuana, but you can still consume more marijuana than you’re physically and psychologically comfortable with.

Signs that you’ve consumed too much marijuana can include the following, and in children who eat cannabis products, CDC also lists problems walking or sitting up and a hard time breathing:

• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Hallucinations
• Dizziness
• Increased heart rate
• Dryness of mouth

Cannabis can slow reaction time and the ability to make decisions, CDC says, which is why getting behind the wheel of a car after using it is dangerous.

Patients should know the side effects of medical marijuana as they would for any medicine.

How to Avoid Overdosing on Marijuana

Go Easy on the Edibles

Edibles make it easy to take too much marijuana. Some people, especially first-time users, may not know their tolerance level, and so they might eat an entire brownie without knowing how much THC it holds.

Florida caps a single serving of a licensed edible at 10 mg of THC, but how much you use should be set by your certifying physician.

Always check how many milligrams of THC the whole package contains, and remember NIDA’s warning that edibles take longer to show effects, so people may take more than they intended.

Smoking and Vaping

Smoking acts faster than edibles, but CDC notes that cannabis smoke shares many toxins and carcinogens with tobacco smoke.

Vaping is not a safe alternative either, since the FDA has warned the public not to use vaping products that contain THC, and extra caution applies to vaporizing marijuana concentrates.

NIDA notes that some dispensary concentrates have THC levels above 40 percent, and dabbing them delivers a lot of THC at once.

Your certifying physician, not trial and error, should guide how much you use.

What to Do If You’ve Overdosed on Marijuana

Sometimes, even the most experienced patient can make a mistake and wind up with more marijuana in their system than they know what to do with. Here are some tips to help you get through an unpleasant high. If a child ate cannabis, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 now.

• Know that the effects wear off. They may not fade as quickly as you want, especially after edibles, which take longer to show effects. Remembering this can help you stay calm.
• Breathe deeply. Our anxiety and stress levels are linked to our breathing patterns. When we take shallow breaths, high up in the chest, it’s hard to relax. Instead, take deep breaths, expanding your belly as you breathe. This style of breathing, used in meditation and yoga, may help you feel calmer.
• Put on some music. If your mind is racing, music can give you something pleasant to focus on. Try whatever type of music relaxes you. If you can’t think of anything, pick something slow and familiar.
• If you feel like you need medical attention, go to the emergency room. Don’t drive to the hospital. Ask a friend to take you there. If there’s no one available to give you a lift, call 911. You can also call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, the number CDC gives for cannabis poisoning.

If you have questions about your dose, ask your certifying physician. Dr. Green Relief is also on Facebook.

Last updated October 18, 2026 by the Dr. Green Relief Editorial Team.

Sources

• CDC. Cannabis Poisoning
• CDC. Cannabis Health Effects
• CDC. Cannabis and Lung Health
• CDC. Cannabis Facts and Stats
• National Cancer Institute. Cannabis and Cannabinoids (PDQ), Health Professional Version
• NIDA. Cannabis (Marijuana)
• NIDA. Drug Overdose Deaths: Facts and Figures
• Kanny D, et al. Vital signs: alcohol poisoning deaths, United States, 2010 to 2012. MMWR. 2015
• NCCIH. Cannabis (Marijuana) and Cannabinoids: What You Need To Know
• Florida Statutes, s. 381.986, Medical use of marijuana