Can You Overdose On Marijuana?

Can you overdose on marijuana? You can take too much, but a fatal overdose is not known to occur, the National Cancer Institute says, and too much THC can still mean a medical emergency. So is it as risky as cocaine, opioids, or even alcohol?

In 2017, then Attorney General Jeff Sessions seemed to think so. According to him, marijuana is only “slightly less awful” than heroin. If marijuana were really that dangerous, a marijuana overdose could kill you.

Right?

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 be able to separate fact from fiction, truth from propaganda.

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.

Start with the death count.

Here is the Number of People Who Have Died From an Overdose on Marijuana

Zero.

The National Cancer Institute, in its 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.

Now, why is that?

The usual explanation is about where cannabis acts in the brain, covered below.

That does not make large amounts safe: NIDA notes that eating cannabis products has led to medical emergencies, including among children.

(Readers, please take that warning seriously. We advocate responsible use of medical marijuana, and that starts with respecting its risks.)

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 ingredient in marijuana, bind with cannabinoid receptors found in your brain and nervous system. The receptors are part of your body’s endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for your motor control, memory, appetite, and sensations of pain and pleasure.

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.

The same goes for alcohol poisoning. 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.

But It IS Possible to 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 include:

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

Some people have exercised poor judgment while under the influence of marijuana, such as getting behind the wheel of a car, and they’ve died because of it.

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

How to Avoid Overdosing on Marijuana

Go Easy on the Edibles

One of the easiest ways to overdose on marijuana is via edibles. 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 you through to the other side of an unpleasant high.

• Know that it’s only temporary. Eventually, you’ll come down from the high.  You may not come down as quickly as you want, but you will sober up. 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, which is used in meditation and yoga, helps to calm us down as well as lower our heart rate.
• 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.

Have you ever taken too much marijuana? If so, how did you handle it? Let us know on Facebook.