We (users of cannabis) have all been there. You partake in a marijuana sesh to relax, drop the heavy load for a bit, and you end up on the edge of your Earthly sanity, praying for your high to be over. Marijuana has such a gentle, and many times, grounding high, that I often forget the experience also has the potential to become a psychedelic journey or even scarier, a portal to confronting some of my deepest emotions and fears. When you don’t sign up for a sesh like that it can be downright terrifying! Even for seasoned journeyfolk like myself.  My intentions for using cannabis are never to experience fear and tension and I know a lot of people who used to enjoy using cannabis and are now reluctant to touch it after a negative experience.

I think a really big thing to remember when regarding cannabis, and more specifically those beautiful cannabinoids of THC , is that Marijuana is an entheogen, a psychoactive substance that has the potential to open the mind to expanded states of consciousness. 

But what if your intention for getting high was not to jump off a cliff of self exploration and mind travel? What if you just wanted to have a nice day on a picnic blanket with your friends and now you're contemplating some random ass dark tragedy while struggling to appear like everything’s OK? That’s a tough situation to be in. Don’t white knuckle your way through a bad trip by letting the mind just spin out and fill you with dread. Read below for tips on how to weather the storm of a bad trip (and maybe even prevent one in the first place).

-Master Your Set and Setting: This is the most important thing to have on lock by far. The set is basically your mindset and refers to how you're doing internally (your emotions, mood, intentions and expectations). I recommend setting an intention or at least having a reason to get lifted. Not only will the outcome often be much closer to what you planned but you create a more sacred and meaningful session when you add purpose, respect for the plant and intentionality.

Your setting refers to the physical stuff (what people are present, where you are). I recommend partaking only with people you know well and trust, people you would have no problem letting know if your trip takes a turn for the worst. Unseasoned users may benefit from toking in their own space or a space they feel at home in. Finding yourself deeply uncomfortable in a public or unfamiliar space can amplify negative feelings. Don’t partake if you don’t feel safe, comfortable and 100% into it. Limit harsh influences from sources like tv chatter, unnerving music or dark conversations. Have lots of water and drink often as dehydration, the sensation of a dry mouth and temporary coughing are common side effects of marijuana use.

-Bring your own buds: Knowing what strain and type of weed you are ingesting not only puts you in the driver seat of your high but can also alleviate paranoia. You’ll know the correct dosage and what type of high you might expect. Your local budtenders should be happy to discuss what your intentions are for your next sesh (studying, dancing, sleeping, chilling, etc). and can help educate you on dosage, strain type and strength. I often pick buds just because I like the name, I like having an association with what I’m using. I also try to buy from sources that share my values like BIPOC and Women Owned companies who grow their plants under the sun vs. lights.

-Clear the schedule: The worst thing you can do is get lifted right before you have pressing matters. It may sound like a good idea to use marijuana before work or a PG family gathering but struggling to appear unaffected while you’re high is just a waste of good weed AND takes a ton of mental energy. To avoid angst, nervousness and the possibility of having to take on responsibilities like driving, mowing the lawn or caretaking while you’re high, clear your schedule. Create space for your session to flow freely.

-Use CBD to come into balance: The marijuana we use today is not the marijuana of our parents unless you’re smoking some good ole homegrown. Commercially or mass produced weed is often engineered to have maximum amounts of THC and none of the other hundreds of cannabinoids that might offer a more stable high. I suggest mixing in the other main cannabinoid, CBD which doesn’t have the psychoactive effects of THC but does have the potential to balance the effects of a particularly potent high. You can also buy CBD only and CBD heavy strains. I like to add some to my joint or bowl or partake if the trip is getting edgy. I also use CBD when I’m looking for that calming, clearing, anxiety lowering effect but I don’t have the space or time to use THC.

-Watch your heat: Bad trips often start with a hit that burns and/or irritates the throat and lungs. Always note if your product is dry and if it is mostly the tiny, crystalized pieces at the end of a baggie or jar. Tiny and dry product burns at a super high heat and produces a large amount of smoke, you need just the lightest touch of fire, delicately applied, to make it burn. Trying using matches vs. lighters which have less heat. You can also add very cold water (not ice) to a bong or bubbler to cool the smoke that filters through the water. Don’t get embarrassed about coughing, it doesn’t mean you’re a newb! It actually might mean that you’ve taken in more smoke than you intended and you may be in for quite a high.  You WILL stop coughing eventually. Sip water, and take as deep of breaths as you can. If you use a vape pen, check the setting every time and make sure it’s where you want it. Explore the many smokeless options for partaking with your friendly budtender.

-Wait: You can always take more but you can’t take less.  Use marijuana in small increments and wait 15-30 minutes if you smoke or 45-90 minutes if using edibles before going in for a second helping. Chances are, you won’t need it.

-Deep Breaths: If you feel you’ve gotten too high, always remember, you will be un high soon. Marijuana highs usually last around 1-6 hours depending on the strength and type of THC. You may feel the high come in waves of feeling more sober and more high until suddenly you feel back to normal again. Your breath will be your friend and constant this entire time. Focus on the breath coming  in and out of the body to curb spinning thoughts and ride out physical sensations like dizziness, shortness of breath and tingling. Allow yourself to giggle and be silly if the invitation arises, suppression will only make you feel worse. Half the time a bad trip can be reigned in simply by finding a quiet place or a good friend and taking in deep breaths until you feel more settled and grounded.

-Create a thought anchor: A “thought anchor” is a relaxing thought that is light and helps you return to grounding. Pick a thought or visual of something that normally makes you feel good, like your favorite vacation destination or a great meal you just enjoyed. This thought is your homebase. When paranoia or rough mind terrain pops up, try and immediately get back to your thought anchor, back to homebase as quickly as you can. You do not have to go down all the expanded thought rabbit holes that marijuana offers.  Shake them off and think happy thoughts until the storm passes. 

-Remove Shame: The LAST thing you need when you’re having a bad trip is the voice of god, parents, D.A.R.E or some random “Karen” in your head telling you you deserve it or that you’ll never be the same. Ancestors around the globe have used marijuana for healing and/or recreation for centuries, the shame we have around it now has been cultivated to perpetuate and justify systems of oppression that exist to this day. Making peace with your marijuana use and adding more intentionally to your session is one of the best ways to take back the people’s plant and enjoy a session that can uplift, relax and inspire.