What are the stages of greening out?

October 13, 2025 •

2 min read

According to the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board, greening out is a form of THC poisoning caused by consuming too much cannabis. Understanding what are the stages of greening out can help individuals recognize the signs of overconsumption and respond appropriately to the uncomfortable and often distressing experience.

Quick Summary

Greening out is the body's adverse reaction to excessive THC, leading to progressive physical and psychological symptoms. The experience can intensify from early signs like unease and dizziness to peak discomfort, including nausea, anxiety, and paranoia, before a gradual recovery. Various factors, such as potency and consumption method, influence the intensity and duration of these effects.

Key Points

Early Stage: Initial symptoms of a green out often include lightheadedness, a racing heart, and mild anxiety, indicating the body's initial reaction to excess THC.
Peak Stage: This phase is marked by intense nausea, vomiting, severe anxiety, and paranoia, with some individuals experiencing dissociation or depersonalization.
Recovery Stage: After the peak, intense symptoms fade, leaving fatigue, mental fog, and lingering anxiety for several hours, with full recovery typically within 24 hours.
Edibles vs. Smoking: Greening out from edibles can be more intense and last significantly longer due to delayed onset and processing time compared to smoking or vaping.
Immediate Management: Responding to a green out involves finding a calm environment, staying hydrated with water, eating a light snack, and practicing deep, calming breaths.
Prevention is Key: The most effective way to avoid greening out is to start with a low dose, go slow, know your tolerance, and avoid mixing cannabis with other substances.
When to Get Help: While greening out is rarely life-threatening, seek emergency medical care for severe symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, or extreme confusion.

Greening out, also known as 'whiteying,' refers to the unpleasant effects of consuming too much THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis. This experience is not fatal but can be intensely uncomfortable, characterized by physical and psychological distress. As cannabis products have become more potent, greening out is increasingly common, affecting both new and experienced users.

The Causes and Pharmacology of Greening Out

Greening out happens when excessive THC overwhelms the endocannabinoid system, which regulates various bodily functions. Risk factors for greening out include: high potency products, low tolerance, edibles (due to delayed onset), mixing cannabis with other substances, physical condition (like dehydration), and psychological state (anxiety).

The Stages of Greening Out

The experience of greening out typically follows a progression of escalating symptoms:

Stage 1: Early Onset and Mild Discomfort

Initial effects are often subtle, appearing minutes after inhaling or longer for edibles. Symptoms may include lightheadedness, increased heart rate, slight anxiety, and subtle sweating.

Stage 2: Peak Discomfort

This is the most intense phase with overwhelming physical and psychological symptoms. Severe nausea and vomiting, intense anxiety and paranoia, disorientation, dissociation, and heavy limbs are common at this stage.

Stage 3: Recovery and Aftermath

As peak effects subside, recovery begins. Fatigue, lingering anxiety, mental fog, and residual nausea can persist.

Differences Between Greening Out from Edibles vs. Smoking


Feature	Greening Out from Smoking/Vaping	Greening Out from Edibles
Onset	Fast, within minutes.	Slow, can take 30 minutes to 2 hours.
Intensity	High, but shorter duration. Easier to titrate dosage.	Can be far more intense and overwhelming, often due to accidental overconsumption.
Duration	Acute symptoms typically last 30 minutes to 2 hours, with residual effects up to 8 hours.	Acute symptoms can last 6 to 8 hours, with lingering effects potentially up to 24-48 hours or longer.
Management	Often resolves more quickly with calm, hydration, and rest.	Requires more patience as the body takes longer to process the THC.

How to Respond to a Green Out

If you or someone else is greening out, find a quiet, safe place, sip water, eat a light snack, practice deep breaths, use grounding techniques, and engage in low-stress activities. Some also suggest chewing black peppercorns or taking a small dose of CBD.

Preventing a Green Out

Preventing a green out involves starting with a low dose, knowing your limits, staying hydrated, avoiding mixing substances, being aware of potency, choosing a comfortable setting, and not feeling pressured to consume more than comfortable.

When to Seek Medical Help

While rarely fatal, seek medical attention for extreme confusion, persistent chest pain or difficulty breathing, uncontrollable vomiting, hallucinations, or if the person has a pre-existing medical condition.

Conclusion

Greening out is a distressing, temporary reaction to excessive cannabis. Recognizing the stages from early discomfort to peak symptoms and recovery helps in managing the experience. Prevention through responsible use and knowing one's limits is crucial. For those who experience it, calming strategies and seeking medical help for severe symptoms ensure a safer recovery. Understanding the risks, especially with potent edibles, promotes informed decisions about cannabis consumption.

Frequently Asked Questions

Greening out is a slang term for the unpleasant experience of consuming too much cannabis, particularly THC. It is essentially a cannabis overdose, though not typically fatal, and leads to a range of physical and psychological side effects like nausea, dizziness, and anxiety.

The duration of a green out varies depending on the consumption method and the individual. For smoking, acute symptoms may last 30 minutes to 2 hours, while for edibles, the effects can be much longer, potentially lasting up to 24 hours or more.

If you are greening out, move to a quiet, safe, and comfortable location. Sip water slowly, eat a light snack to stabilize your blood sugar, and focus on deep breathing to calm anxiety. Remind yourself that the feeling is temporary.

While greening out is a very uncomfortable and distressing experience, a fatal overdose from THC alone is highly unlikely. However, it is possible for some individuals, especially those with pre-existing conditions or those who have mixed substances, to have more serious reactions that require medical attention.

Yes, greening out is particularly common with edibles. The delayed onset can cause people to consume more than they should, leading to a much more intense, longer-lasting, and often overwhelming high compared to smoking.

The first signs of greening out can include lightheadedness, a rapid heart rate, a sense of unease or anxiety, and feeling unusually sweaty or pale.

To prevent greening out, the most effective method is to 'start low and go slow.' Know your personal tolerance, avoid mixing cannabis with other substances, and ensure you are hydrated and have eaten something beforehand.