Visit your local cannabis store and you’ll likely see a wide range of customers — from 20-somethings to gray-haired grandmas and grandpas. Some who use marijuana consistently say they turn to it for pain relief, to ease symptoms of medical conditions, to resolve sleep issues or for other therapeutic purposes. But for the majority of people who imbibe in cannabis, as studies and surveys have shown, it’s a recreational thing.
It’s all about the buzz. Cannabis is an option over alcohol for relaxation or socializing, and some strains are particularly used for inducing joy and/or enhancing the senses: Fire up a preroll, break out an infused cookie, pop a gummy or three..
.and enjoy the ride. But load up on too much, and that smooth sailing can turn into rough waters.
Dr. Glen Clark, an emergency room physician for Corewell Health, said “overdosing” or over-consuming cannabis likely won’t kill you — but the paranoia and other adverse reactions it may induce can make you feel like you are going to die. “The OD happens when the body can’t metabolize (cannabis) quickly enough,” Dr.
l Clark said. “And when you can’t metabolize it quickly enough, that can lead to adverse effects. People use THC (the main active component in marijuana) because they want to be relaxed and get that euphoric feeling, but it can cause paranoia, heart palpations .
.. panic attacks, chest pain, (a feeling of) heart racing.
” Some also experience sweating, nausea and vomiting, Clark said.