Weed Ed | How to treat a ‘bad’ high

There's a thin line between a 'nice' high and a too-intense high. First-timers, and even daily users, can experience severe anxiety as a result of ganja's psychoactive effect on the brain. Studies have been inconclusive in identifying the triggers of a panic attack as low and high THC strains are both culpable.

It has been observed, however, that the current state of mind of the user, ambient noise and light, and the company around you can trigger a series of unstable thoughts that leave you in no man's land.

Ganja that is ingested has a much more intense and long-lasting effect. When ganja is eaten, rather than smoked or vaporised, the liver breaks down THC into a new compound called 11-hydroxy-THC. This metabolite is more potent than THC, producing more psychedelic effects in the brain.

A bad trip can also be triggered by using marijuana contaminated with traces of pesticides or fertilisers.

If you find yourself on the verge of a panic attack, the number one rule is to stay calm. It may sound absurd to tell someone who is having a panic attack not to panic, but the dialogue you have with yourself during a panic attack is key to overcoming it.

To find that place of calm, it's important to control your breathing. Deep and controlled breathing from the belly button (not the chest) brings more awareness to the breathing process and slows down the wandering of the mind.

Being surrounded by trusted friends and family in a familiar setting also helps to calm an overindulgent user. Trusted companions can be that important bridge to help the user get over the bad experience.

If you're unlucky to be by yourself during an episode, a cool shower or running cold water across the back of the neck soothes and relaxes the body.

Staying hydrated is doubly important if you feel yourself becoming uncomfortably high. Sipping water or juice will help prevent dry mouth and forces the mind to focus on something else. Snacking on light food and fruits is also effective in this way.

Many personal accounts point to the effectiveness of black pepper to combat overindulgence by smelling or chewing the pepper grains. According to leading cannabis media outlet Leafly.com, "A scientific review published by Ethan Russo in the British Journal of Pharmacology states cannabis and pepper have very similar chemical traits; pepper has a 'phytocannabinoid-terpenoid effect', which is known to help with pain, depression, addiction and anxiety. Combining the terpenoids (such as beta-caryophyllene) in pepper with the tetrahydrocannabinol in cannabis has a synergistic chemical reaction on the cannabinoid receptors in the brain. In layman's terms, they both bind to the same receptors in the brain and, when combined, have a therapeutic, calming effect."

Cannabidiol (CBD) supplements have also proven to be effective in calming users that are too high. CBD has a direct impact on how THC acts in the bloodstream and helps counteract the psychoactive effects of THC.

A few drops of CBD under the tongue will do the trick.

The rise of the global ganja industry has also inspired entrepreneurial innovation to treat this side effect of marijuana use. UNDOO softgel is a patented product that the manufacturer describes as a "cannabis safety net".

The manufacturer claims it "eases the intensity and shortens the duration of the effects of overconsumption, bringing swift relief typically within five to 20 minutes".

It achieves this by mimicking the body's natural process of coming down from a high but is much quicker. Its main ingredient is olivetol.

If none of the above recommendations are effective, a medical practitioner should be contacted immediately. While a panic attack resulting from ganja overindulgence can be scary, the effects are temporary, and there has never been a case of anyone dying from marijuana consumption. The use of ganja for medicinal or recreational purposes requires self-applied moderation and respect for the plant's healing and psychotropic properties.