Although many regular cannabis users may say, “You can’t have a bad trip from weed!”, many of us know that this is just not true. When someone is experiencing a “bad trip” or is “freaking out”, it implies that their high is super unpleasant and is being accompanied by negative thoughts and/or feelings. Usually, bad trips are expected with the use of psychedelic drugs that have caused such hallucinations, but it can also refer to other drugs like marijuana. Knowing whether you will experience a bad trip is dependant on various factors. The effects that people may experience when using cannabis in its different forms also can not be known until someone tries it. On the positive side, throughout history no one has ever died from using or consuming too much weed, so other than some temporary negative effects, you should recover with no long-lasting consequences.
How Can I Identify a Bad Trip From Cannabis?
When a person is experiencing a bad trip, it may be hard to identify as it can be very different from person to person.
Some Factors That May Influence a Person’s High Are:
- The type of strain being consumed
- The user’s tolerance to the substance
- Their surroundings
- Their mental disposition.
Even though there is no sure way to know how a person may react, there are some general signs that a person might be experiencing a bad trip from cannabis.
Bad Trip Cannabis Symptoms:
- Shaking or trembling
- Low blood pressure/fainting
- Stomach upset/vomiting
- Pale skin/cold
- Severe paranoia/fear
- Extreme anxiety
- Sweating
- Shortness of breath
Now, while there may be no major harm that can be caused by a strong weed high, it can definitely be an unpleasant experience; thus, knowing how to cope with a bad trip can be very useful. However, let’s first start with understanding how and why a person could experience a bad trip from cannabis, to begin with.
What Are the Causes of a Bad Marijuana Trip?
A bad trip can really happen to anybody abusing drugs, but some people are more predisposed to a bad trip than others. Realistically, we are all different and unique and there is a multitude of reasons why someone might have a bad experience when consuming cannabis.
Expectations:
One very common reason that you might have a bad trip is due to expectations. You simply may not have expected to have such an intense reaction. For example, it may be one of the few times you have consumed an edible, and it was stronger than you realized; especially if you are new to the world of edibles, it is very easy to misjudge how much to take and end up way deeper than you imagined. Or you might have been worried about having a bad trip, and in turn, caused yourself to have a “freak out”; this again can happen if you are not accustomed to getting high.
Wrong State of Mind:
A second common reason is being in the wrong state of mind. When it comes to drugs such as cannabis, it is very important to be positive, calm, and centered to begin and throughout the experience. Because weed can influence your mood, thoughts, and feelings, the current state of mind you’re in has the tendency to directly impact your experience, and possibly change it based on the mental activity going on under the influence. Therefore, if you start your cannabis consumption or usage on a positive note you will most likely have a pleasant experience, on the other hand, if you are sad, depressed, or seriously stressed out, you might have a bad trip.
Surroundings:
Finally, it is important to consume weed in a place that you are familiar with and feels safe. Your surroundings and external stimuli can definitely be what makes or breaks your trip. For instance, being baked in a place that is overly crowded, noisy, or bright could lead you to feel anxious or nervous and hold you back from truly enjoying its effects.
How Do I Prevent or Deal With a Bad Cannabis Trip?
The best way to prevent having a bad trip is to be informed. Reading this article is a good start, however, you should research different strains and their effects on the body, ask questions at your local Vancouver dispensary, as well as know what’s in the product you are consuming or smoking. Also, start off slowly, you can always take or smoke more later.