Quick answer: If you're too high, stop taking more, sit or lie down somewhere safe, slow your breathing, sip water and have a small snack. The feeling passes on its own, usually within a few hours for smoked cannabis and up to 12 hours for edibles. Call the Northern New England Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 for free advice, or 911 for chest pain, trouble breathing, seizures or unresponsiveness.
Reading this in the moment? Start with the list.
What should you do right now?
Stop, get somewhere safe and let time do its job, in this order:
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Stop taking more. No more hits, and no second gummy because the first "isn't working."
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Sit or lie down somewhere safe. A couch, a bed, a quiet corner with someone you trust.
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Breathe slower than you want to. In for four counts, hold for four, out for four. Keep it up for two minutes. A racing heart is common with too much THC, and it feels scarier than it usually is.
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Tell yourself the true thing. You took too much. It's temporary. It will wear off.
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Sip water and eat something small. Crackers or toast. Dry mouth makes everything feel worse.
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Change the input. Dim the lights, put on a familiar show, step away from a loud room.
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Don't drive, and skip alcohol and coffee. Alcohol stacks on top of THC. Caffeine can push a fast heart faster.
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If you're worried, call. The Northern New England Poison Center (1-800-222-1222) takes calls about cannabis 24 hours a day, and the call is free and confidential.
Then wait. Nobody has found a shortcut that beats time.
Is this normal, or do I need help?
Most of what "too high" feels like is uncomfortable but not dangerous. A small set of signs means get medical help now.
| What you're noticing | Normal but uncomfortable | Get help now |
|---|---|---|
| Heart | Pounding or fast heartbeat | Chest pain, pressure or tightness |
| Breathing | Noticing your own breathing | Real trouble breathing, lips turning blue |
| Mind | Anxiety, panic, paranoia, looping thoughts | Hallucinations, severe confusion |
| Stomach | Nausea, one round of vomiting | Vomiting that won't stop, or vomiting while very drowsy |
| Alertness | Very sleepy, wants to lie down | Can't be woken, or won't respond to their name |
| Body | Dizzy, shaky, heavy | A seizure, fainting, or a fall with a head injury |
| Who it is | A healthy adult | A child who ate cannabis, a pregnant person, or someone with a heart condition |
The left column matches what poison centers and Colorado's state cannabis guidance list as typical signs of too much THC. It feels awful. It usually passes at home.
The right column means call 911. Overconsumption is rarely life-threatening for a healthy adult, but falls, vomiting while drowsy and heart strain are how a bad night becomes an emergency.
How long does being too high last?
Smoked or vaped cannabis usually peaks within the first hour and fades over a few hours, up to about 6. Edibles and THC drinks take longer to start, longer to peak and longer to leave.
| How you took it | When it starts | When it can peak | How long it can last |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoked or vaped | Seconds to minutes | Within the first hour | Up to about 6 hours |
| Edibles | 30 minutes to 2 hours | Up to about 4 hours | Up to about 12 hours, with lingering effects up to 24 |
| THC drinks | Some people report sooner than a gummy, but it varies | Varies by product | Can run as long as an edible |
Those ranges come from the Minnesota Regional Poison Center and the CDC. Food, tolerance and the product all move them. The delay is also why every Maine edible label must warn that effects can take up to 4 hours. Our guides to how long edibles take to kick in and how long THC drinks take to kick in go deeper on timing.
If you're still feeling strongly intoxicated after a full day, call the poison center or a doctor.
How do you help a friend who's too high?
Stay with them and keep your voice calm. Your steadiness does more than any trick.
What to say
Keep it short and repeat it. "You're okay. You had too much. It'll wear off. I'm staying right here." They may ask the same question five times. Answer it five times.
What to do
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Move them somewhere quiet, away from stairs, balconies and car keys.
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Offer water and a plain snack, but don't push food on someone who's nauseous.
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If they're very drowsy or vomiting, lay them on their side (the recovery position) and don't leave them alone.
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Find the package. What they took and when is the first thing a poison center will ask.
What not to do
Don't give them alcohol or anyone's pills to "take the edge off." Don't film them. And don't leave a dizzy person alone in the shower, where a slip on wet tile is a bigger risk than the THC.
Do black pepper, CBD or lemon actually work?
The evidence for all three is limited, and none of them is an antidote. Here's where each stands, next to the boring basics.
| What people try | The idea behind it | What the evidence says |
|---|---|---|
| Time | Your body clears THC | The only thing that reliably ends a high |
| Water, a snack, rest | Dry mouth and fatigue make anxiety feel worse | Comfort only. Won't lower THC, but makes the wait easier |
| Slow breathing, a calm room | Panic feeds on noise and a racing heart | Low risk, worth doing |
| Sniffing or chewing black pepper | Pepper contains beta-caryophyllene, which binds CB2 receptors in lab studies | Anecdotal. A 2008 PNAS lab paper showed the binding. We found no controlled human trial of pepper for being too high |
| Lemon or lemon water | Lemon peel contains limonene | Early. A 2024 Johns Hopkins study of 20 adults found vaporized d-limonene with THC lowered reported anxiety. Eating lemons wasn't tested |
| CBD | CBD is thought to counter some THC effects | Mixed at best. A 2019 review found inconsistent results. A 2022 King's College London trial found no tested CBD dose protected volunteers from THC's acute effects |
| Coffee or alcohol | Wake up, or "take the edge off" | Avoid. Both can make things worse |
Sniffing peppercorns is low risk if it gives you something calm to focus on. Just don't mistake it for a fix, or reach for CBD products (some contain THC too) expecting them to cancel anything. For more on terpenes like limonene on a lab panel, see our terpenes primer.
What about vomiting that keeps coming back?
That can be a separate issue. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is repeated, severe vomiting in some long-term regular users, often with an urge to take hot showers. Cleveland Clinic notes that stopping cannabis is the only lasting fix, and severe dehydration needs emergency care. If this sounds familiar, talk to a healthcare provider.
How do you avoid getting too high next time?
Most bad nights we hear about go the same way: an edible, a long wait, a second dose, then both hit at once.
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Start low. If you're new or it's been a while, 2.5 mg or less is a sensible first edible. Maine caps servings at 10 mg, and a full one is a lot for plenty of people.
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Wait longer than feels necessary. At least two hours before more. Colorado's state guidance says up to four.
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Read the label. Milligrams per serving and per package are on every Maine edible. Our guide to reading a Maine cannabis label walks through the math.
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Skip the alcohol. Our piece on getting social with cannabis covers pacing around other people.
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Reset a creeping tolerance. A tolerance break lets smaller amounts work again.
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Lock it up. The CDC advises a locked, childproof container for anything kids or pets could reach. Here are five ways to safeguard your stash from curious kids.
What we tell people at the St John Street counter
Our Cannabis Guides at Rose Mary Jane in Portland have this conversation most weeks, usually the day after. Nobody gets judged. We'd rather hear "that gummy flattened me" than watch you repeat the night.
Tell us what you took, how much and how long you waited before round two. Then we can point you to a lower-dose gummy you can split, a single-serve drink with a clear milligram count, or a pre-roll you can take two puffs of and put down. New to licensed stores? Our first-time dispensary guide covers the basics.
We can't give medical advice. The poison center and your healthcare provider can.
When to call for emergency help
Call 911 or go to an emergency room if someone has:
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Chest pain, pressure or tightness
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Trouble breathing
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A seizure
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No response when you say their name or shake their shoulder
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Vomiting that won't stop, or vomiting while too drowsy to sit up
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Hallucinations, severe confusion, or a fall with a head injury
Call the poison center right away, even with no symptoms yet, if a child ate cannabis. Children can get very sick, and symptoms can show up slowly. For a pet, call your vet.
Northern New England Poison Center: 1-800-222-1222. Free, confidential, 24 hours a day, serving Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont from Portland. You can also text POISON to 85511.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if I'm too high?
Stop taking more, sit or lie down somewhere safe and slow your breathing. Sip water, eat a small snack and put on something calm. The feeling fades with time. If you're worried, call the Northern New England Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 for chest pain, trouble breathing or a seizure.
How long does it take to stop being too high?
Smoked or vaped cannabis usually fades within a few hours, up to about 6. Edibles and THC drinks can last up to about 12 hours, with lingering effects for up to 24, according to the Minnesota Regional Poison Center. Dose, tolerance and food all shift the timing.
Does black pepper help if you're too high?
The evidence is limited. Black pepper contains beta-caryophyllene, which a 2008 lab study found binds CB2 receptors, but we couldn't find a controlled human trial showing pepper reduces a THC high. It's low risk and gives you something to focus on. It is not an antidote.
Does CBD cancel out THC?
Not reliably. A 2019 systematic review found CBD reduced some THC effects in some studies but not consistently, and a 2022 King's College London trial found none of the CBD doses tested protected volunteers from THC's acute effects. Extra CBD is not a proven fix.
When should you go to the ER for being too high?
Call 911 or go to an emergency room for chest pain, trouble breathing, a seizure, fainting, unresponsiveness, nonstop vomiting, hallucinations or a head injury. If a child ate cannabis, call 1-800-222-1222 right away, even before symptoms appear, because effects in children can arrive slowly.
Being too high is miserable, and it ends. Next time, go slower, and ask a Cannabis Guide for a dose that suits you. When you're ready, browse lower-dose options on our online menu and order ahead for pickup on St John Street.