Can You Overdose on Marijuana?
Cannabis or marijuana is the most commonly used non-alcoholic substance in the United States. While the perception of the damage it causes is declining, it’s important to remember there are still real risks involved. Today’s marijuana is more potent than it was in the past, and people can become addicted to it, causing both psychological and physical harm. There is a potential risk of marijuana overdose.
Can You Overdose on Marijuana?
Marijuana (also known as “weed”) is a mix of dried stems, seeds, leaves and flowers from the cannabis plant. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the ingredient in marijuana, creates a mind-altering effect, or “high.” While most users smoke marijuana like a cigarette (joint), it can also be vaped and ingested. When you use marijuana, THC binds to specific receptors in the brain that are associated with pleasure, concentration, memory, coordination and your ability to think and reason.
Like all drugs, you can take too much marijuana. Depending on the dosage and your tolerance, unpleasant and even dangerous side effects may occur. How you ingest cannabis can also affect the intensity of side effects. For example, edibles pose a higher threat to users since they deliver larger doses of THC than inhalation.
Some physicians feel the term “overdose” does not accurately describe what happens when you use too much marijuana. For most people who talk about overdose, they are referring to life-threatening symptoms or death. However, according to the DEA, no deaths have ever been recorded from taking too much marijuana.
Signs You Have Used Too Much Weed
Consuming too much weed can cause a wide range of symptoms. Most of the symptoms are mild and go away on their own, but they may last for several hours.
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Changes in appetite
- Dry mouth (“cottonmouth”) and excess thirst
- Dry, red eyes
- Fatigue
- Headaches
There are some situations in which medical care is advisable. If you have any of the following symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.
- Panic attacks
- Chest pain
- Vomiting
- Confusion
- Increased heart rate
- Paranoid thoughts
- Hallucinations or seeing or hearing things that aren’t there
- Delusions or believing things that aren’t based in reality
Polysubstance use (using more than one substance at a time) is the most common risk factor that increases your chances of experiencing a potentially dangerous overdose. In addition, certain drug combinations may be deadly. If you have used cannabis with other substances and are experiencing the above effects, it’s important to seek medical help.
What Does Marijuana Addiction Look Like?
Although taking too much marijuana is unlikely to result in a fatal overdose, using large amounts of weed increases the risk of developing a cannabis use disorder. Approximately 9 percent of people who try weed will develop a cannabis use disorder or dependence. During the last several years, marijuana addiction has increased due to wider availability, decriminalization in several states and the increased potency.
Cannabis use disorder is a diagnosis given to those who are experiencing problematic marijuana use. This condition acknowledges the possibility that, although marijuana addiction can occur, some people experience negative consequences due to their marijuana use without necessarily becoming addicted.
To be diagnosed with cannabis use disorder, you may experience problems due to marijuana use, and at least two of the following symptoms must occur within 12 months:
- Continued use even though it is creating physical or psychological problems
- Difficulty cutting back or controlling use
- Increased tolerance to cannabis or needing to take more to achieve the same high
- Taking cannabis in risky situations such as while driving
- Difficulty at school, work and home due to use
- Taking higher doses than intended
- Giving up favorite activities in favor of cannabis
- Spending a substantial amount of time using or recovering from cannabis effects
- Continued use despite negative impact on relationships
- Intense cravings for cannabis
While laboratory testing can indicate marijuana use, it doesn’t necessarily mean you meet the criteria for cannabis use disorder because you have recently used it. It is more important to assess your pattern of use than to examine the presence of cannabis in your system when deciding whether you may have a problem.
Self-Assessment: Am I Addicted?
Treatment for Marijuana Addiction
Whether you suspect that you or someone you know may have cannabis use disorder, there are a few treatment options to consider. If a separate condition is also diagnosed (comorbidity) alongside cannabis use disorder, then the most effective course of treatment will address both conditions at the same time. This approach provides your best chances at a successful outcome.
Several different counseling and treatment methods are beneficial for reducing cannabis use. These methods include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy – CBT helps you understand the connection between your emotions, thoughts and behaviors and works to change these patterns to more positive behaviors.
- Contingency management – Contingency management is a behavioral therapy technique that utilizes a contract you create with your therapist to help you establish goals and change your behaviors while setting positive (rewards) and negative (penalties) consequences.
- Motivational enhancement therapy – This short-term form of treatment allows you to build and sustain your desire to change your pattern of use. This therapeutic modality is client-centered, and you set and establish your own goals.
Group and family therapy can also be helpful. In addition to these forms of treatment, some treatment plans use a hybrid approach. Hybrid plans utilize the strengths of various treatment modalities to address cannabis use disorder. Some research suggests that developing a strong sense of self-efficacy and establishing healthy coping skills are significant predictors of long-term abstinence.
Various psychotherapeutic techniques can help you address cannabis use disorder. However, treatment plans are highly individualistic, and the goal is always to find the correct set of techniques to help each person discover life outside of substance use. This way, they can feel empowered to gain control over their substance use.
Vogue Recovery Center can assist if you or a loved one is struggling with marijuana addiction. Our treatment facilities in Las Vegas and Phoenix provide a comprehensive range of services, such as outpatient programs, residential treatment, and detox. For a free, private consultation with one of our admissions advisors, give us a call today. You are worthy of leading an addiction-free life.
References
- https://accpjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/phar.1747
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2797098/
- https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/833828-overview#a5
- https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Marijuana-Cannabis-2020_0.pdf
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/cannabis-overdose-toxicity-marijuana-1.4816654
- https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/nov/18/marijuana-cannabis-edibles-overdose-too-much
Medically Reviewed by Kelsey Jones, MS, LPC
