Cannabis Overdose – Truth or Myth

There is an ongoing controversy around the effects cannabis or in wider scope marijuana can have on the body, and if excess intake of the substance can cause a fatal overdose. Even amongst supposed experts, the verdict varies. 

In this article, we will take a closer look at how cannabis or in this case marijuana affects the body, and if in fact, it can cause a fatal overdose.

Disclaimer: The content of this article does not connote medical advice and it should not be seen or taken as such. The author and his partners are absolved of how you use the information contained therein.

Now, down to business.

To know if cannabis can cause an overdose, it is first important to understand how cannabis interacts with the human body. 

Marijuana – also known as Maryjane, pot, weed, hash, and dozens of other names – consists of the shredded and dried parts of the cannabis plant, including the flowers, seeds, leaves, and stems. Traditionally, the substance is consumed by smoking but in some cases, it can be consumed as an ingredient in food, brewed tea, or oils.

The different methods of taking the drug may cause the drug to affect your body differently. When you inhale marijuana smoke into your lungs, the drug is quickly released into your bloodstream and makes its way to your brain and other organs. It will take a little longer time to feel the effects if you eat or drink the substance.

So, what happens when you consume cannabis?

Several persons report various physical and psychological effects when they consume the substance. Effects range from harm and discomfort to pain relief and relaxation. 

When cannabis enters your bloodstream, the effects are usually person dependent. While the substance is rated to have therapeutic benefits, the reaction is not the same for everyone. Some of the reported effects include; changes in perception and increased heart rate, an enveloping sense of relieve and relaxation, and for many others, an increased state of inebriety.

This is how cannabis interacts with the body.

Cannabis interacts with what is known as the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) located in the brain and Central Nervous System in the body. The substance being a phytocannabinoid work to support the ECS to perform its function correctly.

The substance is rated to support the body to heal its self of pain, provide relief from anxiety, help to stop seizures, and in many ways provide therapeutic relief for a whole range of conditions that plague the human body.

So, how can something so good cause any harm?

While the consumption of cannabis holds plenty of benefits for the body, we cannot deny that the substance can cause some harm in some people. For much of the negative effects of the substance, we can credit the causes to abuse, and consuming THC rich marijuana.

Now, this is an entirely different topic on its own, but no worry, we would try to break it down a little.

THC and CBD

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and CBD are the two most dominant chemicals you would find in the Cannabis plant. By virtue of their dominance, cannabis plants are rated along these lines.

THC is the reason your mommy warned you about marijuana. The substance is what causes the euphoric high that most people experience when they consume the substance recreationally. The consumption of THC is illegal in most parts of the world, and in some instances, THC rich marijuana is considered first-class drugs, and as such, consumption and possession are considered criminal offences.

CBD on the other hand is non-psychotropic and does not cause any euphoric reactions. The substance is responsible for much of the positive attention that cannabis is receiving right now and it is noted for its therapeutic properties and healing tendencies.

CBD does not cause a high and can be consumed by people of all ages.

TAKEAWAY

The effects of marijuana on the body are often immediate. Longer-term effects may depend on how you take it, how much you use, and how often you use it. 

While you can’t overdose on cannabis in the way that you can overdose on, say, opioids, it doesn’t mean you can’t overdo it or have a bad reaction to cannabis.

How much marijuana is too much?

There isn’t a straightforward answer here because everybody’s different. Some people seem to tolerate cannabis well, while others don’t tolerate it well at all. Cannabis products also vary greatly in their potency.

Edibles, however, seem to be more likely to cause a negative reaction. This is partly because they take a long time to kick in.

After eating an edible, it can be anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours before feeling the effects. In the meantime, many people end up eating more because they mistakenly believe the edibles are weak.

Mixing cannabis with alcohol can also cause a negative reaction for some people, and like we have said above, consuming THC rich marijuana products can cause a bad reaction in some people, especially those who don’t use cannabis often.

What does a bad reaction look like?

Cannabis can have quite a few less-than-desirable side effects, including:

• confusion
• thirstiness or a dry mouth (aka “cotton mouth”)
• concentration problems
• slower reaction times
• dry eyes
• fatigue or lethargy
• headaches
• dizziness
• increased heart rate
• anxiety and other changes in mood

In rarer cases, it can also cause:

• hallucinations
• paranoia and panic attacks
• nausea and vomiting

These side effects can last anywhere from 20 minutes to a full day. In general, cannabis that’s higher in THC is associated with more severe, long-lasting effects. And yes, it’s possible to wake up with a “weed hangover” the following day.

Looking to avoid a bad reaction in the future?

Keep the following in mind:

• Start with low doses. If it’s your first time using cannabis, it’s a good idea you start low and slow. Consume a small amount and give it plenty of time to kick in before using more.
• Be careful with edibles. Edibles take anywhere from 20 minutes up to 2 hours to kick in because they need to be digested first. If you’re trying edibles for the first time, or if you’re not sure of the strength, have a very small amount and wait at least 2 hours before having more.
• Try a low-THC cannabis product. Most dispensaries and cannabis shops list the amount of THC in their products. If you’re new to cannabis, or if you’re sensitive to the side effects, try a low-THC product or one with a high CBD: THC ratio.
• Avoid overwhelming situations. If cannabis sometimes makes you anxious or confused, it might be best to use it in a safe, calm environment.

Last word!

While nobody has died from overdosing on cannabis alone, it’s possible to consume too much and have a bad reaction. This tends to happen more with edibles and high-THC products.

If you’re new to cannabis, pay careful attention to how much cannabis you’re consuming at a time and give yourself plenty of time to feel the effects before using more.

Cannabis and Sex – Unraveling Research

Cannabis (marijuana) has a bit of a mixed reputation when it comes to sex. While some have ascribed it to being a traditional herbal aphrodisiac with nearly mythical libido-boosting powers, many others are of the opinion that the substance reduces sperm count and can contribute to erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation. 

In reality, the relationship between Sex and Cannabis is far more complicated than any of the above assumptions. In this article, we would try to establish in very small measure (yes, small measure because there are very little bodies of research on the subject) the relationship between cannabis and sex.

Note: Sexual arousal and functioning is a very complicated subject, and its relationship with any substance has more to do with the individual’s sexuality than it is with the substance, in this case, Cannabis.

Before we get into the thick of the subject, it’s important to establish that “good sex” means different things to different people, and even for the same person, the time of day or even the day in question and other social factors can have an immense effect on how enjoyable sexual acts can be.

But what does the Research Say?

When researchers examine sexual enjoyment, they tend to take different aspects of it into account. Some of the factors that are considered include biological, social, and psychological factors that may play a role in attraction, arousal, orgasm, and overall satisfaction. The approach is no different when establishing a relationship between cannabis and sex.

Because of the nature of cannabis, it is difficult to measure its effect on the sexual behavior of participants in a controlled study. Rather than rely on the controlled study technique in this research, most researchers have opted for self-reported surveys. 

Most of what we know about cannabis and sex comes from self-reported surveys. But there a few drawbacks to studies of these nature. For one, it requires relying on people to accurately (and honestly) remember how much and how often they’ve used particular substances, as well as what effect those substances had on their sex lives. 

Researchers also have no way of corroborating what survey respondents say. Scientists can’t test the drug people have been using to see what it actually is (does it have a high THC content? Is it a concentrate or an edible?) And they have to trust that they and their study subjects share a common frame of reference for and definition of subjective words to describe a highly personal experience, like “enjoyment.”

But that won’t stop us from examining the results. 

Research Underway

In a study (about the first-ever publication on the subject) published in 1979 in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, researchers asked a group of 84 grad students what they thought the relationship between cannabis and sex would be. Those who had firsthand experience with the topic (39 percent) were asked to answer from that perspective. Although the groups agreed that cannabis increases overall sexual pleasure, only those who were “experienced smokers” also strongly believed that it increased the intensity of an orgasm and that it should be considered an aphrodisiac.

In a more recent study published in 2017 in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, data from the large nationally representative National Survey of Family Growth were used. Researchers found that people who reported using cannabis monthly, weekly, or daily also reported slightly more frequent sex than those who never smoked. (Women who used cannabis daily had an average of 7.1 sexual encounters in the previous four weeks compared to 6 for those who never used it.)

From the above two studies, it is safe to deduce that the consumption of cannabis plays a significant role in sexual enjoyment and satisfaction.

However, to further establish the fact, let us examine a separate study involving 373 female respondents. In this study, 176 respondents reported ever using cannabis, with about half of them reporting frequent use (anywhere from once a week to several times a day). 127 of the 176 cannabis users reported ever using cannabis before sex.

In the study, there were a few major findings; 

1. People who reported ever using cannabis prior to sex were more likely to report having satisfying orgasms than those who did not use cannabis before sex (and this was a statistically significant difference). 
2. Those who reported frequent cannabis use (not necessarily before sex) were also significantly more likely to report having satisfying orgasms than people who reported infrequent cannabis use. 
3. People who reported using cannabis before sex were also more likely to say that they use cannabis specifically to decrease pain (though this wasn’t a statistically significant difference).

This study does have many of the same limitations as those that came before it (such as small sample size and a possible self-selection bias), but it’s unique in that it gives a balanced view of the subject matter, seeing that most surveys had focused solely on men.

With that said, let’s see how cannabis can impact sex.

Wrap Up: Here is how cannabis could theoretically impact sex.

While we cannot say for sure how it happens, we can only try to explain, given the limited evidence at our disposal. 

Cannabis is a vasodilator (meaning it opens blood vessels and increases blood flow), plus its effect on order functions, including memory and feelings of fear and anxiety, it is hard not to see how it can’t contribute to having better sex.

In addition, animal research suggests that stimulating the CB1 receptor can delays ejaculation. So, if we were to mirror the same response in humans, it is only logical that cannabis consumption may contribute to the increased level of enjoyment the human participants reported in the surveys we mentioned previously.

So you see, although the research is still unraveling, there are some valid cases of cannabis having a significant influence over how we can enjoy and participate in sexual acts.