Too much cannabis: first aid in an emergency

How to recognise it

Too much cannabis often shows itself psychologically: anxiety, panic, confusion, paranoid thoughts and even perceiving things that are not real. Physically, a racing heart, nausea and dizziness can come on top of this, and circulatory collapse is also possible. Alcohol or other substances make all of this considerably stronger. Unpleasant states usually pass; knowing this makes it easier to stay calm.

What to do if someone is in a bad way

Responsive, breathing normallyStay with them and calm them downTake them somewhere quiet with fresh air, talk to them calmly, do not leave them alone. If it does not get better: 112.
Unresponsive, breathing normally112 and recovery positionCheck their breathing regularly and cover them up until the ambulance arrives.
Not breathing or not breathing normally112 and resuscitationStart chest compressions immediately and stay on the phone until the call handler ends the call.

If in doubt, always call 112. Sources: DRK (German Red Cross), first aid; drugcom, drug emergencies.

What helps

Stay with the person and take them somewhere quiet with little light, little noise and few people.
Make sure there is fresh air, keep them from getting cold, loosen tight clothing.
Talk to them calmly and patiently. If the person is breathing very fast, show them how to breathe calmly.
If they have circulation problems, for example pale, clammy skin and a fast pulse: lay them down and raise their legs.

When to call 112

if the person is unconscious or at risk of losing consciousness
if they are not breathing or not breathing normally
if they have a seizure
if they have severe pain behind the breastbone that can spread to the arm, in women also to the upper abdomen or back, together with a fear of dying: this points to a heart attack. Raise their upper body and do not leave them alone.
if it does not get better or you are unsure, and sooner rather than later if substances have been mixed

Tell the emergency services what was taken and hand over any leftovers. Doctors are bound by medical confidentiality. Only hang up when the call handler ends the call.

If someone has a seizure, move objects out of the way, cushion their head and do not hold their movements down. Put unconscious people who are breathing normally into the recovery position so that vomit can drain away.

Edibles and children

When cannabis is eaten, the effect sets in with a delay, often suddenly, and lasts longer. This is hard to judge, which is why overdoses happen more easily.

If children accidentally eat cannabis or sweets containing cannabis, this can cause serious poisoning. In that case, call the poison information centre; for North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) this is the Informationszentrale gegen Vergiftungen in Bonn on 0228 19240, around the clock. If the child’s consciousness is impaired or they have breathing problems, call 112 immediately. Do not make the child vomit, and keep any leftovers and the packaging.

Repeated vomiting

After long-term, frequent use, cannabis hyperemesis syndrome can develop: recurring bouts of vomiting with nausea and abdominal pain. A typical feature is that hot showers or baths relieve the symptoms. Other causes must be ruled out by a doctor. Left untreated, it can lead to kidney failure. The only effective treatment is to stop using cannabis.

Synthetic cannabinoids and HHC

Synthetic cannabinoids can be many times stronger than THC. They cause a racing heart, severe agitation, hallucinations and seizures, and there have been deaths. They have already been found on CBD flowers that had been sprayed with them, and they cannot be recognised from the outside. HHC has been banned since 21 June 2024.

When it gets too much

How to recognise it

What helps

When to call 112

Edibles and children

Repeated vomiting

Synthetic cannabinoids and HHC

Sources

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