Can you overdose on marijuana? Most cannabis advocates say “no.” However, opponents of the plant say otherwise. So, which is the case?
Since marijuana was illegal across most of the world for so long, science was not able to do valuable research on it. This contributed to a lot of the stigma associated with health implications of using the plant. However, this is now changing.
Science relies on empirical evidence to prove facts. Empiricism is the testing of a theory by careful scientific study. Researchers have begun to ask, “can you overdose on marijuana?” and here is what they have found…
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration, no one has ever overdosed on Marijuana. Business Insider also adds that “it’s pretty impossible to ingest a lethal does of marijuana”. These statistics are kept up-to-date on a regular basis.
Any chemical introduced into the body has the potential to reach toxic, or overdose levels. In the case of THC, the active component in cannabis, that level is very high (pun intended). To reach toxic levels of THC would require 40,000 times the amount needed to get high.
So if a person gets high after consuming 1 gram, it will take 40,000 grams to overdose. In other words, it IS possible to overdose, but not very likely… unless you include greening out as a form of overdose.
A great example is the story of Irvin Rosenfeld. At 56 years old, Irvin set a new World Record for having smoked 115,000 joints over 28 years. That’s 10-12 joints a day and he never overdosed!
Can you Overdose on Marijuana products?
Growers continue to strive for plants yielding higher THC levels and they also have better ways to process THC. This has led to new marijuana products that are highly-concentrated. Whereas in the past it would not be possible to get such high amounts of THC into the body, today it is.
Dabbing is one example that may lead users to overdose. Just as alcohol is distilled into higher concentrations, allowing people to get drunk with less of the drink, cannabis can be as well. By creating hash oil, wax, or similar substances designed to increase concentration of the active chemicals in marijuana, it is possible for users to consume toxic levels.
Also remember that there are many strains available today and each will affect users in different ways. It is important when using cannabis to learn the effects and potency of each strain. To help, we have created a library of marijuana strains. We encourage you to visit them, bookmark your favorites, and return prior to making purchases.
Since it is technically possible to overdose on cannabis, users should exercise moderation when consuming it. Really, what is the point of consuming more than needed to get high? Just remember to use cannabis responsibly and everything will be fine.
