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Table of Contents
- How to Sober Up from THC Quickly and Safely
- Fastest Ways to Come Down from a THC High
- What to Do If You Feel Too High or Overwhelmed
- How Long Does It Take to Sober Up from THC?
- Can You Flush THC Out of Your Body Faster?
- How to Prevent Getting Too High Next Time
THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the psychoactive compound in hemp and marijuana plants, and it affects everyone a little differently. When you overdo it, the effects can be overwhelming, turning a good time into a bad one pretty darn quick. But can anything be done to sober up from THC, or are you really just stuck riding it out? While patience is key, there are a few things you can do to help speed things along. Below, we’re covering everything you need to know about sobering up from THC faster.
How to Sober Up from THC Quickly and Safely
Here’s the thing—you can’t force THC to leave your body. Once you’ve consumed it, it’s going to make its way through your system in its own time, which is influenced by factors like how much you consumed, how you consumed it, and the speed of your metabolism.
What It Means to Be “High” on THC
When we talk about being “high,” it’s a reference to the euphoric and psychoactive effects of THC. This prolific cannabinoid interacts with CB1 receptors in the brain and nervous system, affecting mood and perception. While individual effects are highly personal, most people feel really relaxed and uplifted.
How Long Does a THC High Typically Last?
It depends—and it can be a little (or a lot) different for everyone. The exact timeline for sobering up from THC might be anywhere from an hour to eight hours or longer, depending on how much THC you consumed and how you consumed it. Metabolism and tolerance levels also play a role.
A few examples: effects from inhaled THC tend to hit quickly and fade within a few hours. Effects from edibles, on the other hand, can take longer to kick in—up to two hours—and may linger for six to eight hours or so.
Can You Speed Up the Process of Sobering Up?
Not really. We’ll get into specifics in a minute, but the bottom line is that you really have to wait it out. On the plus side, there are a few practical strategies to help you feel a little better while you wait for the effects to pass.
Fastest Ways to Come Down from a THC High
While patience is definitely a virtue in this situation, here’s what to do to support your body as you wait to come down from a THC high.
Drink Water and Stay Hydrated
Getting plenty of water in your system helps flush THC metabolites more efficiently because it’ll make you pee. But we’re not recommending that you guzzle a gallon of water in an effort to “flush out” the THC. It doesn’t work that way. It’s really just about supporting your system as it works to process THC. Plus, staying hydrated can help ease dry mouth, a common physical symptom of THC consumption (even in very small amounts).
The trick is to sip water or electrolyte drinks slowly and steadily. Don’t make yourself feel worse by drinking too much too fast. And it should go without saying, do not drink alcohol if you’ve overdone it with the THC. That’s a surefire way to make a bad situation so much worse.
Caffeinated beverages can be a bad idea, too. Caffeine is a stimulant, which can make anxiety symptoms worse, so stick to plain water or a non-caffeinated electrolyte beverage.
Eat a Nutritious Meal or Snack
A small, healthy snack can go a long way to buffer symptoms, even if it can’t ease psychoactive effects. Something like whole-grain toast with smashed avocado and a pinch of sea salt gets you a few complex carbohydrates and healthy fats, which can help stabilize your energy levels and slow down the absorption of THC that’s still being processed.
Sea salt is a natural electrolyte, which is ideal if you’re a little dehydrated. Hate avocados? Try apple slices with nut butter, Greek yogurt with granola and fresh berries, or cheese and whole-grain crackers. Just remember to nibble slowly.
Try Black Pepper or Lemon as Natural Remedies
These time-honored remedies won’t help you sober up any faster, but they could help ease negative symptoms. The terpene beta-caryophyllene, which is found abundantly in black pepper, interacts with the same receptors in the endocannabinoid system as THC, so it might help ease anxiety (1). You can try chewing on black peppercorns or diffusing an essential oil rich in beta-caryophyllene, like clove or cinnamon oil.
Not a pepper fan? Try lemons! They’re a great source of limonene, a terpene associated with its mood-stabilizing benefits. Try squeezing fresh lemon juice into water or diffusing a citrus essential oil and see if it helps take the edge off your high.
Take Deep Breaths or Go for a Walk
While you may feel like curling up somewhere for the rest of your life, a little movement and fresh air can be a good thing. An easy walk or some gentle stretches can help get your blood flow moving, which might help your body metabolize THC a little faster. Just keep it really low impact.
If you’re feeling exceptionally anxious or you’re painfully aware of your faster heartbeat, the better approach is to follow that instinct to relax somewhere you feel safe and comfortable. Try deep breathing—slow, even inhales and exhales. If you're familiar with any mindfulness practices, this is a good time to use one.
Use CBD to Counteract THC Effects
It’s not a guaranteed fix, but CBD (cannabidiol) could help with some of the more uncomfortable symptoms of too much THC. Like cannabis in general, it really comes down to dosing, timing, and your own biology.
Research has shown that CBD can help reduce THC-induced anxiety (2), possibly because it reduces the effect of THC’s overstimulation of CB1 receptors. These receptors are associated with feelings of anxiety and panic.
The general recommendation is to try a fast-acting CBD product, like a sublingual oil, and look for something that has little to no THC. It’s best to pair this strategy with the other tips we mentioned above.
Cold Showers or Splashing Face with Cold Water
The idea here is that it’ll shock you sober, but it doesn’t work that way. You might feel a little more alert, but cold water has zero effect on the THC in your brain or blood. Just know that going in!
What to Do If You Feel Too High or Overwhelmed
The golden rule of cannabis use is to start low and go slow—for good reason. Too much THC can be far too intense in more ways than one, so the goal is always to dose precisely. Ideally, you should consume just enough THC for the desired effects, like relaxation, stress and tension relief, or pain relief, without going overboard. It can take a little trial and error if you’re new to THC or experimenting with a new method of consumption.
Recognize the Signs of THC Overconsumption
When you’ve overindulged yourself, there are all kinds of signs (3). From a physical standpoint, there’s a good chance that you’ll blow straight past the munchies (an increased appetite is typical with THC consumption) to far less pleasant things like nausea, dizziness, headaches, a general loss of control, a rapid heartbeat, higher blood pressure, and even respiratory problems. Slower reaction times and impaired hand/eye coordination can also be issues. And that’s why you should never, ever drive after consuming THC.
That kind of physical discomfort can be accompanied by an overwhelming sense that you’re just way too high, which can present in things like anxiety, paranoia, or even panic attacks. It’s also common to have a distorted sense of time or distance. In a word—intoxication (and not in a good way).
So, what can you do about it?
Stay Calm – THC Intoxication is Temporary
First, remind yourself that this, too, shall pass. It might be seriously unpleasant, but it’s temporary. Focus on the fact that there is an endpoint to all of this.
Create a Comfortable and Quiet Environment
A little familiarity can go a long way, so find a quiet and comfortable space to ride it out. You might consider asking a trusted friend to keep you company.
Distract Your Mind with Music or TV
If you’re feeling really anxious, try distracting yourself with a show you know and love or some upbeat music. It’s a way to turn your attention to something predictable, which can help interrupt a negative thought loop and pass the time.
How Long Does It Take to Sober Up from THC?
There’s no single timeline here. The most appropriate answer is the least helpful—you’ll sober up when you sober up. Everyone processes THC differently, and there are a lot of factors in play. That’s why some people feel completely normal again in an hour or two, while others may experience altered perception for hours on end.
Factors That Affect How Long THC Stays in Your System
Variables like potency, consumption method, and your own metabolism all factor in. Remember, inhaled THC is quick to hit and quick to wear off, while edibles are slower on the uptake and take longer to fade. Then there are the personal specs: your metabolism, body composition, hydration level, and even the timing of your last meal. All of these details come together to influence timelines.
Does Tolerance Level Impact Recovery Time?
Tolerance can impact recovery time to some extent, and it’s because people who regularly consume THC usually metabolize it more efficiently. That plays out with less intense effects that don’t last as long. If you aren’t a regular consumer, you might experience stronger effects for a longer timeframe.
Still, even seasoned consumers can overdo it on the THC, so don’t assume that a high tolerance level means you can automatically expect a faster recovery.
Difference Between Mental High and Physical Impairment
Effects from THC consumption are often felt physically and mentally. On the mental side, you might feel happy, silly, and social, with some degree of altered perception and focus. These effects usually fade more quickly than the physical effects, which are most often slower reaction time and reduced coordination. That means you might feel pretty clear-headed even if your body is still behaving a little differently than usual. Again, this is why you don’t want to drive or do anything that takes normal coordination after consuming THC.
Can You Flush THC Out of Your Body Faster?
Nope! The internet is a wild place, and all kinds of tips sound smart but absolutely won’t work. Remember, once THC is in your body, it has to be metabolized and then eliminated. And there’s really no shortcut to those processes. Instead of stressing about “flushing it out,” focus on supporting your body and gently riding it out.
Myths About Detox Drinks and Quick Fixes
There are lots of products sold online and in retail stores that promise rapid detox, but they aren’t going to accelerate your body’s ability to break down and remove THC. In a best-case scenario, these miracle teas, detox teas, and flush kits could temporarily dilute your urine a little, which isn’t going to do much.
Natural Ways to Support Your Body’s Detox Process
As it happens, your body is already equipped with a pretty stellar detox system—it’s called your liver and kidneys. Supporting these organs is really the best thing you can do, so stay hydrated, eat a balanced snack, try some light exercise, or just rest, and let your body—and time—do its thing.
Does Exercise Help You Sober Up Faster from Weed?
A punishing session on the spin bike or in the sauna will make you sweat, sure, but THC metabolites don’t exit the body through your sweat glands. If you’re already feeling dizzy or dehydrated, making yourself sweat is only going to make you feel worse.
How to Prevent Getting Too High Next Time
If you’ve gone overboard on THC and you never want to experience that again, the best strategy is to dose properly and take things slowly.
Know Your Dosage – Especially with Edibles
There is no standard dose of THC, but for research purposes, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) defines a standard unit of THC (4) as 5 mg. It’s not an official legal limit or anything, but it does align with recommendations for first-time THC users or those with a low tolerance (especially with edibles).
- Up to 5mg is a low dose that’s considered beginner-friendly
- 5mg to 10mg is a moderate dose that’s better for those with some tolerance
- 10mg to 20mg is a high dose, so it’s more likely to cause strong effects
- Over 20mg is a very high dose, which means a greater chance of negative effects
Start Low and Go Slow with THC Products
The best way to avoid a negative experience with THC is to dose appropriately. The golden rule of cannabis consumption is to start low and go slow. Begin with a low dose and allow plenty of time for effects to kick in before going back for more. This is particularly important with edibles, which can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours to peak.
Keep it fun (and functional) with low-dose THC products and those that include CBD, like Cornbread Hemp’s THC Gummies. They have a 1:1 ratio of THC to CBD for a balanced, mellow effect. Each gummy has 10mg of THC, and they can be easily cut in half for a beginner-friendly dose. Bonus points: Cornbread Hemp products are USDA certified organic!
Avoid Mixing THC with Alcohol or Other Substances
For the best experience, enjoy THC on its own. Combining it with alcohol and other substances means a greater likelihood of intoxication and negative side effects.
