Trip to the ER: Just a THC Reaction?
September 11, 2024 2:02 PM Subscribe
I took a THC gummy on Sunday, and went to the ER due to the severe and intense reaction. Does this sounds like a THC overdose, or is it possible there was something else in the gummy aside from what's listed on the package?
On Sunday night, I took one THC gummy (Modus brand, Platinum Blend Diamond Sauce CB9-A + THC-P). The suggestion on the label says to take one gummy every 6 hours, and the cashier at the smoke shoppe said the same thing. I actually ended up going back yesterday to take a picture of the bag, and that cashier (different one) said to take two or three at once. I don't know how anyone would survive that, given the night I had after taking one.
It took about 30-45 minutes for it to kick in after taking the gummy, and I immediately felt light-headed, cold, blood rushing out of my head, and I saw small green dots flashing in and out of my vision. I started walking around, as standing still was making it worse. The person I was with hadn't taken one yet, but he was smoking a blunt. I don't usually partake in any drugs, although I've taken gummies before, but had about 0.5 of one each time. The person I was with wanted to get high (he doesn't frequently partake either), and I wanted to relax a little bit, and felt a tiny high would be alright.
This was something else, unlike anything I've ever experienced before. Easily one of the worst experiences of my life. After the effects started, they increased seemingly exponentially over the next 7 or 8 hours. After I walked around for a minute outside when it kicked in, I told my date that I needed to head up to the room and lie flat on the bed immediately. He came up with me. Initially it was manageable after lying down and closing my eyes. If that was the worst of it, it still wouldn't have been fun, but I could've sweat and pushed through it. After about 20 minutes, it began hitting even stronger. I felt like I was melting into the mattress, and I wasn't completely hallucinating, but anything my date said to me was accompanied by vivid images in my head, almost like him in pop-art form. The air conditioning unit vibrating made the bed shake slightly, but suddenly it felt like an earthquake, and it was so incredibly loud.
Eventually it increased even more, and I started convulsing on the bed. My date was seated in a chair next to the bed, keeping an eye on me and holding my hand. He kept asking me if I wanted to call someone I knew, as I have a friend who I'd mentioned to him that regularly does LSD. I was wondering if this was just THC, or something more. I'd never experienced feelings and sensations this intense just from cannabis. Needless to say, once I started convulsing and writhing on the bed like I was in The Exorcist, I told my date to call 911. My phone happened to be right underneath my pillow, so I Siri'd 911 and put it on speaker so that we could both speak with dispatch. At this point, I could verbally provide my information, but just barely. It felt like my heart was both going to explode, and slow to a stop. I couldn't breathe, and my mouth was dry to the point where I couldn't swallow for a few minutes. When medics arrived, they immediately put heart monitor pads and a blood pressure cuff on me. They said all vitals were normal but a bit elevated, but internally, it felt like everything was racing off the charts.
They said these all sound like a THC overdose, and that there wasn't really much they could do except wait it out. But they saw how I was shaking and convulsing and unable to breathe, and they ended up putting me on a stretcher and taking me to the ER. This is the part I really want to know: Do hospitals use some kind of fentanyl scanning machine on patients in such a state? I swear I saw a black machine, about my height, being wheeled towards me with "Fent" somewhere in the name. It had incredibly bright lights on it, like floodlights. Does this actually happen, or was I imagining it? I remember being wheeled into different rooms and opening my eyes to see different doctors running tests on me.
I kept trembling, laughing, and riding it out for the next several hours. At one point, I guess I had unconsciously curled my arms into a dinosaur-like position on my chest, and when I came to, I asked if I was paralyzed. I finally forced myself to move and uncurl my arms, but it took all willpower. I thought the room I was in was a test facility in a lab, like a sleep study. It felt like every time I'd try to doze off, loud noises would occur, or someone (medical staff) would come into the room repeating my name and adjusting the IV needle and wires on my arm. I even thought the needle was fake when the nurse brought it over, and was wondering how she was going to stage inserting it into my arm. Even though my eyes were closed, I remember every instance where staff came into the room, and it sounded like 4-5 of them at one point simultaneously. I remember hearing them laughing and telling each other that my stories about the evening were ridiculous. I felt like such a clown, and so embarrassed. Is it possible the laughter and judgmental comments were actually happening? It all felt real.
I also remember hearing a doctor's voice saying loudly to a patient in the next room, "Well, you have COVID!" It felt like there was a loudspeaker in the building that was repeatedly playing the same vocal, coughing, and laughter tracks. I remember saying out loud, "This feels like the Truman Show", "Damn, it sounds like Oakland in here", and complementing how well-designed the room was to look like an actual hospital room. I thought the arm cuff for taking blood pressure was fake. At one point, it inflated automatically, but I'd removed it from my arm because I thought it was artificial. When it fully inflated, I hurriedly put it at my side and away from my face, because I was expecting it to explode like a balloon. I covered my ear with the bedsheet. I thought it was another test the lab was running to see how I'd react, and for how long they could force me to stay awake. I almost took the needle out of my arm because I thought it was a prop, and similar to the oxygen sensor taped to my finger. I thought it was all plastic play toys. I was convinced that this was how I would die, stuck in a room where I wasn't allowed to sleep, and would just be here day in and day out. I thought something very toxic (drug) was inside of me, and that it was so rare that the doctors had to keep me contained to this facility for the rest of my life. I really thought that was it for me. But this made me mad and I refused to accept it as my fate, so I used it as motivation to get myself out of the high as soon as possible. Once I started cooperating and going along with the "fake hospital", I started feeling better. It took me a very long time to fully believe that everything happening from there onward was genuine. It was a torturous feeling.
I finally was able to sleep around 3:00 A.M., and woke up a few times to alarms I had already pre-set on my phone for work the next day. I had to pee very badly at some point, and was able to walk to the bathroom with a nurse's help. She handed me a urine cup as I was going in, and I believe the toxicology only reported cannabis intoxication. I didn't feel better until 8:00 A.M. when they discharged me and could drive myself home after Ubering back to my car at the hotel.
My date had taken one gummy at some point after I lied down on the hotel room bed. I told him that I hope he doesn't experience what I was experiencing (this was before the ER), because it was absolute Hell. He later told me that he felt a racing heartbeat, and the high was more intense than he'd ever felt, concerningly so. He hated it too. He didn't need to go to the ER, but he said he slept 17 hours straight, and was barely feeling okay after waking up. It's taken us both awhile to fully physically recover, and we still haven't yet, three days later. I feel mostly better physically, but I've been stumbling on my words here and there, and I'm not outwardly jumpy, just untrusting of people around me (mostly men and strangers).
Overall, I remember 99% of everything that occurred that night, both words and actions. To me, it seemed like there was more than just THC in the gummy. Is this reaction common? Is it just a THC reaction? And is the black fentanyl scanner an actual machine?
On Sunday night, I took one THC gummy (Modus brand, Platinum Blend Diamond Sauce CB9-A + THC-P). The suggestion on the label says to take one gummy every 6 hours, and the cashier at the smoke shoppe said the same thing. I actually ended up going back yesterday to take a picture of the bag, and that cashier (different one) said to take two or three at once. I don't know how anyone would survive that, given the night I had after taking one.
It took about 30-45 minutes for it to kick in after taking the gummy, and I immediately felt light-headed, cold, blood rushing out of my head, and I saw small green dots flashing in and out of my vision. I started walking around, as standing still was making it worse. The person I was with hadn't taken one yet, but he was smoking a blunt. I don't usually partake in any drugs, although I've taken gummies before, but had about 0.5 of one each time. The person I was with wanted to get high (he doesn't frequently partake either), and I wanted to relax a little bit, and felt a tiny high would be alright.
This was something else, unlike anything I've ever experienced before. Easily one of the worst experiences of my life. After the effects started, they increased seemingly exponentially over the next 7 or 8 hours. After I walked around for a minute outside when it kicked in, I told my date that I needed to head up to the room and lie flat on the bed immediately. He came up with me. Initially it was manageable after lying down and closing my eyes. If that was the worst of it, it still wouldn't have been fun, but I could've sweat and pushed through it. After about 20 minutes, it began hitting even stronger. I felt like I was melting into the mattress, and I wasn't completely hallucinating, but anything my date said to me was accompanied by vivid images in my head, almost like him in pop-art form. The air conditioning unit vibrating made the bed shake slightly, but suddenly it felt like an earthquake, and it was so incredibly loud.
Eventually it increased even more, and I started convulsing on the bed. My date was seated in a chair next to the bed, keeping an eye on me and holding my hand. He kept asking me if I wanted to call someone I knew, as I have a friend who I'd mentioned to him that regularly does LSD. I was wondering if this was just THC, or something more. I'd never experienced feelings and sensations this intense just from cannabis. Needless to say, once I started convulsing and writhing on the bed like I was in The Exorcist, I told my date to call 911. My phone happened to be right underneath my pillow, so I Siri'd 911 and put it on speaker so that we could both speak with dispatch. At this point, I could verbally provide my information, but just barely. It felt like my heart was both going to explode, and slow to a stop. I couldn't breathe, and my mouth was dry to the point where I couldn't swallow for a few minutes. When medics arrived, they immediately put heart monitor pads and a blood pressure cuff on me. They said all vitals were normal but a bit elevated, but internally, it felt like everything was racing off the charts.
They said these all sound like a THC overdose, and that there wasn't really much they could do except wait it out. But they saw how I was shaking and convulsing and unable to breathe, and they ended up putting me on a stretcher and taking me to the ER. This is the part I really want to know: Do hospitals use some kind of fentanyl scanning machine on patients in such a state? I swear I saw a black machine, about my height, being wheeled towards me with "Fent" somewhere in the name. It had incredibly bright lights on it, like floodlights. Does this actually happen, or was I imagining it? I remember being wheeled into different rooms and opening my eyes to see different doctors running tests on me.
I kept trembling, laughing, and riding it out for the next several hours. At one point, I guess I had unconsciously curled my arms into a dinosaur-like position on my chest, and when I came to, I asked if I was paralyzed. I finally forced myself to move and uncurl my arms, but it took all willpower. I thought the room I was in was a test facility in a lab, like a sleep study. It felt like every time I'd try to doze off, loud noises would occur, or someone (medical staff) would come into the room repeating my name and adjusting the IV needle and wires on my arm. I even thought the needle was fake when the nurse brought it over, and was wondering how she was going to stage inserting it into my arm. Even though my eyes were closed, I remember every instance where staff came into the room, and it sounded like 4-5 of them at one point simultaneously. I remember hearing them laughing and telling each other that my stories about the evening were ridiculous. I felt like such a clown, and so embarrassed. Is it possible the laughter and judgmental comments were actually happening? It all felt real.
I also remember hearing a doctor's voice saying loudly to a patient in the next room, "Well, you have COVID!" It felt like there was a loudspeaker in the building that was repeatedly playing the same vocal, coughing, and laughter tracks. I remember saying out loud, "This feels like the Truman Show", "Damn, it sounds like Oakland in here", and complementing how well-designed the room was to look like an actual hospital room. I thought the arm cuff for taking blood pressure was fake. At one point, it inflated automatically, but I'd removed it from my arm because I thought it was artificial. When it fully inflated, I hurriedly put it at my side and away from my face, because I was expecting it to explode like a balloon. I covered my ear with the bedsheet. I thought it was another test the lab was running to see how I'd react, and for how long they could force me to stay awake. I almost took the needle out of my arm because I thought it was a prop, and similar to the oxygen sensor taped to my finger. I thought it was all plastic play toys. I was convinced that this was how I would die, stuck in a room where I wasn't allowed to sleep, and would just be here day in and day out. I thought something very toxic (drug) was inside of me, and that it was so rare that the doctors had to keep me contained to this facility for the rest of my life. I really thought that was it for me. But this made me mad and I refused to accept it as my fate, so I used it as motivation to get myself out of the high as soon as possible. Once I started cooperating and going along with the "fake hospital", I started feeling better. It took me a very long time to fully believe that everything happening from there onward was genuine. It was a torturous feeling.
I finally was able to sleep around 3:00 A.M., and woke up a few times to alarms I had already pre-set on my phone for work the next day. I had to pee very badly at some point, and was able to walk to the bathroom with a nurse's help. She handed me a urine cup as I was going in, and I believe the toxicology only reported cannabis intoxication. I didn't feel better until 8:00 A.M. when they discharged me and could drive myself home after Ubering back to my car at the hotel.
My date had taken one gummy at some point after I lied down on the hotel room bed. I told him that I hope he doesn't experience what I was experiencing (this was before the ER), because it was absolute Hell. He later told me that he felt a racing heartbeat, and the high was more intense than he'd ever felt, concerningly so. He hated it too. He didn't need to go to the ER, but he said he slept 17 hours straight, and was barely feeling okay after waking up. It's taken us both awhile to fully physically recover, and we still haven't yet, three days later. I feel mostly better physically, but I've been stumbling on my words here and there, and I'm not outwardly jumpy, just untrusting of people around me (mostly men and strangers).
Overall, I remember 99% of everything that occurred that night, both words and actions. To me, it seemed like there was more than just THC in the gummy. Is this reaction common? Is it just a THC reaction? And is the black fentanyl scanner an actual machine?
I think you answered your own question. "I believe the toxicology only reported cannabis intoxication."
I am an old Deadhead. I can tell you with certainty that the pot of today is nothing like the paraquat weed I smoked as a whooper. Gummies come in different milligram doses. It is all about tolerances. I have friends who can eat 40 mg. I would be in a state like yours if I tried that. I am in the 5 mg range.
I would not consider eating anything I did not purchase from a legal shop. I am in NY. Synthetic THC as pointed out by pullayup above is well unregulated at best. Gas station gummies are to be avoided.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 2:35 PM on September 11 [10 favorites]
I am an old Deadhead. I can tell you with certainty that the pot of today is nothing like the paraquat weed I smoked as a whooper. Gummies come in different milligram doses. It is all about tolerances. I have friends who can eat 40 mg. I would be in a state like yours if I tried that. I am in the 5 mg range.
I would not consider eating anything I did not purchase from a legal shop. I am in NY. Synthetic THC as pointed out by pullayup above is well unregulated at best. Gas station gummies are to be avoided.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 2:35 PM on September 11 [10 favorites]
Modus brand, Platinum Blend Diamond Sauce CB9-A + THC-P
This is not THC. You took a gummy with synthetic drugs that are so new as to be unregulated. Comparing your reaction to other’s reactions to cannabis edibles is comparing apples to oranges.
posted by bluloo at 2:35 PM on September 11 [33 favorites]
This is not THC. You took a gummy with synthetic drugs that are so new as to be unregulated. Comparing your reaction to other’s reactions to cannabis edibles is comparing apples to oranges.
posted by bluloo at 2:35 PM on September 11 [33 favorites]
I believe THC-P is another name for Delta-9 which, although made from, isn't really cannabis but this weird new shit being foisted upon places where weed is still illegal.
posted by Rash at 2:43 PM on September 11 [3 favorites]
posted by Rash at 2:43 PM on September 11 [3 favorites]
I mean, if it is 150mg per gummy, even if that's just Delta 8 or whatever, that's insanely strong. For reference, I regularly have 1/3 of a gummy with 5mg of Delta 9 (so ~1.7mg) and that gets me plenty high. Delta 8 is a bit different, but regardless, it sounds like you had a very strong dose.
posted by coffeecat at 2:44 PM on September 11 [4 favorites]
posted by coffeecat at 2:44 PM on September 11 [4 favorites]
There’s no such thing as a fentanyl scanning machine, no.
posted by little mouth at 3:40 PM on September 11 [13 favorites]
posted by little mouth at 3:40 PM on September 11 [13 favorites]
IANAD and I can't say exactly what was in the gummy you took — as others have noted, those things are pretty unregulated so it's definitely possible there was some weird stuff in there. But based on my own experience with cannabis usage, it's at least plausible that the reaction you describe could be caused by a very strong dosage of cannabinoids.
posted by mekily at 3:44 PM on September 11 [5 favorites]
posted by mekily at 3:44 PM on September 11 [5 favorites]
THC affects me different from everyone I know, and my experiences have been like yours. It has caused me to hallucinate. It has turned music into a light show when I close my eyes. It has made me feel like my body was twitching uncontrollably.
And that's all from legal gummies bought from a licensed dispensary.
Bodies are weird. Mine doesn't handle certain chemicals very well. Your might not either.
posted by tacodave at 4:09 PM on September 11 [3 favorites]
And that's all from legal gummies bought from a licensed dispensary.
Bodies are weird. Mine doesn't handle certain chemicals very well. Your might not either.
posted by tacodave at 4:09 PM on September 11 [3 favorites]
I think you answered your own question. "I believe the toxicology only reported cannabis intoxication."
A standard urine drug screen in the ED only tests for a small number of compounds. Just because a "drug test" only reports cannabis, that only means that of the drugs they tested for cannabis was the only one they identified. If there were other compounds in the gummy, like the synthetic cannabinoids mentioned above, they would be unlikely to be tested for in a typical urine drug screen.
posted by telegraph at 4:15 PM on September 11 [2 favorites]
A standard urine drug screen in the ED only tests for a small number of compounds. Just because a "drug test" only reports cannabis, that only means that of the drugs they tested for cannabis was the only one they identified. If there were other compounds in the gummy, like the synthetic cannabinoids mentioned above, they would be unlikely to be tested for in a typical urine drug screen.
posted by telegraph at 4:15 PM on September 11 [2 favorites]
tbf, sounds like a pretty typical 'oops that was a really monster edible' episode.
jic, get reputable dope from a licensed dispensary. there are well known brands with reliably precise dosages. as with all edibles, first time take half what you think and wait an hour.
posted by j_curiouser at 4:37 PM on September 11 [6 favorites]
jic, get reputable dope from a licensed dispensary. there are well known brands with reliably precise dosages. as with all edibles, first time take half what you think and wait an hour.
posted by j_curiouser at 4:37 PM on September 11 [6 favorites]
Sorry you had such a lousy experience. You basically took what would be lumped in under the broad label of "K2" on the street, which honestly could be any damn thing. Not recommended. At least get your pot through a licensed dispensary.
That said, I have friends who've had reactions to actual weed not quite as severe as yours but enough to be very unpleasant. Weed (I am told) is so much stronger than it used to be. I would use considerable caution in future dosing!
(No, there's no such thing as a fentanyl "scanner," and your symptoms were totally unlike those of a fentanyl overdose, anyway.)
posted by praemunire at 5:12 PM on September 11 [3 favorites]
That said, I have friends who've had reactions to actual weed not quite as severe as yours but enough to be very unpleasant. Weed (I am told) is so much stronger than it used to be. I would use considerable caution in future dosing!
(No, there's no such thing as a fentanyl "scanner," and your symptoms were totally unlike those of a fentanyl overdose, anyway.)
posted by praemunire at 5:12 PM on September 11 [3 favorites]
Just adding my voice that if this is 150mg of THC (and it kind of sounds like it is), that's a metric fuckton of pot. Jesus Christ. Reading the comments on some sites that sell it, people report taking one at 9:30 a.m. and going to bed still fucked up at midnight.
I generally use 5mg or 10mg. If I'm feeling crazy, I'll take 20mg of THC via gummies. But I know that's going to lay me out for hours. If I take it before bed, I'm going to wake up stoned. If I were to take 150mg, I'd be in the same state you were. What you describe actually matches my worst high from pot (although mine wasn't quite as extreme).
posted by jdroth at 5:22 PM on September 11 [6 favorites]
I generally use 5mg or 10mg. If I'm feeling crazy, I'll take 20mg of THC via gummies. But I know that's going to lay me out for hours. If I take it before bed, I'm going to wake up stoned. If I were to take 150mg, I'd be in the same state you were. What you describe actually matches my worst high from pot (although mine wasn't quite as extreme).
posted by jdroth at 5:22 PM on September 11 [6 favorites]
150?! Oh no. Do you have signs of bipolar disorder by any chance? (Other than during that night).
posted by bookworm4125 at 5:30 PM on September 11
posted by bookworm4125 at 5:30 PM on September 11
As an anecdotal comparison as a documented lightweight, 2mg of real THC puts me at a pleasant moderate high. Like, high enough I wouldn't sign any contracts, but not the kind of "whoops!" high where I spend 5-6 hours white-knuckling the sofa cushions while hearing someone (maybe people, maybe aliens, that one time I was sure it was rats) breaking into the house over and over again, which what happens when I take what kids today apparently consider a typical dose and kinda seems like what happened to you.
Your Fentanyl machine was likely a paranoid delusion made of exam lighting and equipment carts. Being Extremely Too High is terrible, it's physically and emotionally brutal. That delusion is very on-brand for being ETH in a hospital setting. I'm sorry, it's a really scary experience. I still remember the rats really clearly, and not being able to move to do anything about their criminal intentions.
The primary advice I will give you is to not take unregulated "regulation-skirting" drugs even if they are sold in stores (see also "bath salts"), but more importantly NEVER BELIEVE THE SALESPERSON even if you are taking fairly well-documented substances. They are not pharmacists! Always always always patch-test any unfamiliar substances by taking the smallest possible portion of them, and then ramp up in subsequent experiences to find the point where you reach the line of "good enough", rather than starting at "strapped to the outside of a moon rocket" and trying to titrate down from there. Buy extra, even, to anticipate what you'll use up doing your homework.
posted by Lyn Never at 5:44 PM on September 11 [12 favorites]
Your Fentanyl machine was likely a paranoid delusion made of exam lighting and equipment carts. Being Extremely Too High is terrible, it's physically and emotionally brutal. That delusion is very on-brand for being ETH in a hospital setting. I'm sorry, it's a really scary experience. I still remember the rats really clearly, and not being able to move to do anything about their criminal intentions.
The primary advice I will give you is to not take unregulated "regulation-skirting" drugs even if they are sold in stores (see also "bath salts"), but more importantly NEVER BELIEVE THE SALESPERSON even if you are taking fairly well-documented substances. They are not pharmacists! Always always always patch-test any unfamiliar substances by taking the smallest possible portion of them, and then ramp up in subsequent experiences to find the point where you reach the line of "good enough", rather than starting at "strapped to the outside of a moon rocket" and trying to titrate down from there. Buy extra, even, to anticipate what you'll use up doing your homework.
posted by Lyn Never at 5:44 PM on September 11 [12 favorites]
That sounds scary.
Good rule of thumb - if you're going to muck with drugs, the first rule is that you should clearly understand the dosage of what you are taking into your body and have some general understanding of the recommended dosages for people of similar constitution.
Anything else is playing with fire.
I immediately scanned your post to find the dosage of what you ingested in milligrams, and when I did not find it I took that as a bad omen.
If it was indeed 150mg that is beyond the pale for even the most seasoned stoner and I absolutely believe your experience could be attributed to that alone.
posted by kbanas at 6:19 PM on September 11 [10 favorites]
Good rule of thumb - if you're going to muck with drugs, the first rule is that you should clearly understand the dosage of what you are taking into your body and have some general understanding of the recommended dosages for people of similar constitution.
Anything else is playing with fire.
I immediately scanned your post to find the dosage of what you ingested in milligrams, and when I did not find it I took that as a bad omen.
If it was indeed 150mg that is beyond the pale for even the most seasoned stoner and I absolutely believe your experience could be attributed to that alone.
posted by kbanas at 6:19 PM on September 11 [10 favorites]
Agree with everyone saying it is probably a reaction to the synthetic cannabinoids.
CB9-A is most definitely synthetic, and from some brief reading around (mostly on sites selling CBD products, so no links) it is more potent than naturally occurring CBD.
OTOH, THC-P is found naturally in cannabis, but in very small amounts (wiki).
According to Leafwell.com:
"THCP is causing a particular stir in the cannabis community. The researchers found evidence suggesting that THCP may have a more pronounced impact on a cannabis strains’ psychoactivity than THC itself. .... THCP is 33 times capable of binding to CB1 receptors as THC, which means more psychoactivity is at risk with even smaller doses. One could consume too much THCP and experience unwanted side effects like dry mouth, dizziness, or lethargy."
So the mix of synthetic stuff (which is probably very bad and unregulated) and a much higher than normal concentration of naturally occurring THCP, plus whatever the hell else is in their "Diamond Sauce" is most likely the source of your reactions.
posted by Saxon Kane at 6:23 PM on September 11 [1 favorite]
CB9-A is most definitely synthetic, and from some brief reading around (mostly on sites selling CBD products, so no links) it is more potent than naturally occurring CBD.
OTOH, THC-P is found naturally in cannabis, but in very small amounts (wiki).
According to Leafwell.com:
"THCP is causing a particular stir in the cannabis community. The researchers found evidence suggesting that THCP may have a more pronounced impact on a cannabis strains’ psychoactivity than THC itself. .... THCP is 33 times capable of binding to CB1 receptors as THC, which means more psychoactivity is at risk with even smaller doses. One could consume too much THCP and experience unwanted side effects like dry mouth, dizziness, or lethargy."
So the mix of synthetic stuff (which is probably very bad and unregulated) and a much higher than normal concentration of naturally occurring THCP, plus whatever the hell else is in their "Diamond Sauce" is most likely the source of your reactions.
posted by Saxon Kane at 6:23 PM on September 11 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thank you all so much for the answers. I did purchase the gummies from a vape store, but does that necessarily mean they're a licensed dispensary? I'm just so glad the cashier we had that night only told us to take one. If we'd had the second cashier instead, who said to take two or three at once, I really don't know what would have happened. And the person I was with told the cashier that he was basically a newbie to gummies, so I feel like they took advantage of that too.
@bookworm4125, I haven't been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. However, based on the way I was assuming evil intentions from everyone that night, including the person I was with, I can't help but wonder if those feelings are somewhere in my subconscious, and the THC brought it out like a truth serum. That's a scary thought, and I really hope that's not the case.
The person I was with did take a video of me being wheeled into the ambulance. In it, he was laughing a lot, and said, "Hi, [my name]! How are you doing?" while waving and continuing to laugh. He had taken his gummy (1) about 30 minutes prior to that, so it's possible his actions were a result of that since it affects everyone differently. But I remember feeling incredibly betrayed, and from then on just felt like everyone was out to judge me and do mean things to me while I was in a compromised state. Truly awful feeling, it felt like I saw evil that night.
Thank you for the answers too about the fentanyl machine! It sounds like that was indeed a hallucination. Very freaky, I felt like a lab experiment throughout the night until finally coming to. The effects are mostly gone, however today I've found myself especially jumpy, and wondering if the next stranger (especially male) on the street that I pass is going to turn around and try something as I walk past. I feel very depressed and anxious too, but am able to distract myself when needed. Just been staring into space frequently. I still physically feel a little out of it, but mostly back to normal.
posted by Jangatroo at 6:36 PM on September 11 [1 favorite]
@bookworm4125, I haven't been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. However, based on the way I was assuming evil intentions from everyone that night, including the person I was with, I can't help but wonder if those feelings are somewhere in my subconscious, and the THC brought it out like a truth serum. That's a scary thought, and I really hope that's not the case.
The person I was with did take a video of me being wheeled into the ambulance. In it, he was laughing a lot, and said, "Hi, [my name]! How are you doing?" while waving and continuing to laugh. He had taken his gummy (1) about 30 minutes prior to that, so it's possible his actions were a result of that since it affects everyone differently. But I remember feeling incredibly betrayed, and from then on just felt like everyone was out to judge me and do mean things to me while I was in a compromised state. Truly awful feeling, it felt like I saw evil that night.
Thank you for the answers too about the fentanyl machine! It sounds like that was indeed a hallucination. Very freaky, I felt like a lab experiment throughout the night until finally coming to. The effects are mostly gone, however today I've found myself especially jumpy, and wondering if the next stranger (especially male) on the street that I pass is going to turn around and try something as I walk past. I feel very depressed and anxious too, but am able to distract myself when needed. Just been staring into space frequently. I still physically feel a little out of it, but mostly back to normal.
posted by Jangatroo at 6:36 PM on September 11 [1 favorite]
I did purchase the gummies from a vape store, but does that necessarily mean they're a licensed dispensary?
Almost certainly they are not. Smoke shops / Head shops / etc. sell paraphernalia and OTC products that you could probably get at a gas station. A licensed dispensary will definitely tell you that they are a licensed dispensary via prominent signage, and will ID you before you can enter.
BTW, don't know if I missed it above, but what state are you in?
posted by Saxon Kane at 6:57 PM on September 11 [14 favorites]
Almost certainly they are not. Smoke shops / Head shops / etc. sell paraphernalia and OTC products that you could probably get at a gas station. A licensed dispensary will definitely tell you that they are a licensed dispensary via prominent signage, and will ID you before you can enter.
BTW, don't know if I missed it above, but what state are you in?
posted by Saxon Kane at 6:57 PM on September 11 [14 favorites]
Oh, finally, regarding the dosage:
In some mixed CBD/THC products I've seen, the ratio can be up to 10:1, so one serving will have 100mg CBD and 10mg THC. If one of these gummies was listed as 150mg, I would guess (although no way to know without actually testing) that it is 100mg CB9-A, 10mg THC-P, and 40mg of whatever the hell their "Diamond Sauce" is*
*from their description: "Through advanced extraction techniques, Diamond Sauce retains a high concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes, resulting in an unparalleled flavor profile characterized by rich, nuanced notes and a velvety smooth texture." So that could very well be synthetic like the CB9-A.
posted by Saxon Kane at 7:19 PM on September 11 [3 favorites]
In some mixed CBD/THC products I've seen, the ratio can be up to 10:1, so one serving will have 100mg CBD and 10mg THC. If one of these gummies was listed as 150mg, I would guess (although no way to know without actually testing) that it is 100mg CB9-A, 10mg THC-P, and 40mg of whatever the hell their "Diamond Sauce" is*
*from their description: "Through advanced extraction techniques, Diamond Sauce retains a high concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes, resulting in an unparalleled flavor profile characterized by rich, nuanced notes and a velvety smooth texture." So that could very well be synthetic like the CB9-A.
posted by Saxon Kane at 7:19 PM on September 11 [3 favorites]
Vape stores are absolutely not dispensaries. If you’re interested in cannabis, please research your state’s regulations and find a reputable place to purchase products.
Nothing should make you feel that way, I’m sorry it happened. There are a lot of quasi-legal substances that rise and fall in popularity that are basically poison. My generation got really into salvia, and it sucked.
Also never take 150g of any recreational drug! That’s too much
posted by meowmeowdream at 7:49 PM on September 11 [4 favorites]
Nothing should make you feel that way, I’m sorry it happened. There are a lot of quasi-legal substances that rise and fall in popularity that are basically poison. My generation got really into salvia, and it sucked.
Also never take 150g of any recreational drug! That’s too much
posted by meowmeowdream at 7:49 PM on September 11 [4 favorites]
Edible overdoses are no joke. Once I made homemade edibles once that were so strong I gave up weed for a few years.
Stick with licensed dispensaries and genuine THC products, start slow and you'll be fine.
posted by porn in the woods at 7:50 PM on September 11
Stick with licensed dispensaries and genuine THC products, start slow and you'll be fine.
posted by porn in the woods at 7:50 PM on September 11
Yes, if you've ever pondered if you may have bipolar tendencies (this reminded me of an episode I had in March 2020 after not sleeping for a few nights and I was majorly hallucinating which led to a bpd 1 diagnosis) perhaps talk to a psych if that works for you.
I use pot rarely and in small doses. Hallucinogens are contra indicated for ppl with BPD (this is just what I've read, I'm not a medical professional at all).
Also often when bud tender suggest a dose I start w 1/4 of whatever they say.
posted by bookworm4125 at 8:09 PM on September 11 [1 favorite]
I use pot rarely and in small doses. Hallucinogens are contra indicated for ppl with BPD (this is just what I've read, I'm not a medical professional at all).
Also often when bud tender suggest a dose I start w 1/4 of whatever they say.
posted by bookworm4125 at 8:09 PM on September 11 [1 favorite]
wonder if those feelings are somewhere in my subconscious, and the THC brought it out like a truth serum
if you're interested in 'truth serum,' see e.g. Wormwood, Errol Morris' "untold true story" about MKUltra [wiki], etc. ..
posted by HearHere at 9:30 PM on September 11 [1 favorite]
if you're interested in 'truth serum,' see e.g. Wormwood, Errol Morris' "untold true story" about MKUltra [wiki], etc. ..
posted by HearHere at 9:30 PM on September 11 [1 favorite]
However, based on the way I was assuming evil intentions from everyone that night, including the person I was with, I can't help but wonder if those feelings are somewhere in my subconscious, and the THC brought it out like a truth serum. That's a scary thought, and I really hope that's not the case.I'd like to set your mind at ease about this to whatever extent possible: paranoia is a well-known pot effect. It's nobody's favourite effect, that's for sure! Experienced users can kind of watch it ebb and flow and not get TOO drawn in, but yeah, pervasive mistrust and feeling as if everyone's out to get you can be part of the ride. Doesn't mean you're "really" like that.
posted by inexorably_forward at 12:12 AM on September 12 [16 favorites]
This is a nightmare: unregulated "THC" gummies bought at a vape shop/gas station/anywhere not a licensed dispo.
If you can't verify that the brand you bought does third party lab testing or hell, any kind of testing, please don't buy it. Not even off the internet. When they do investigative testing on products for sale, even in places like CVS or the CBD Store, you find that either have too much THC or CBD than indicated on the label, or they have less than indicated.
This is one of the reasons I really want the US to fully legalize. It's less about access and more about having safe products for consumers to buy. You bought a pig in a poke from a vape shop and had a bad experience. Please learn from it and purchase tested safe gummies if you are able to. I am so sorry this happened.
posted by Kitteh at 6:29 AM on September 12 [1 favorite]
If you can't verify that the brand you bought does third party lab testing or hell, any kind of testing, please don't buy it. Not even off the internet. When they do investigative testing on products for sale, even in places like CVS or the CBD Store, you find that either have too much THC or CBD than indicated on the label, or they have less than indicated.
This is one of the reasons I really want the US to fully legalize. It's less about access and more about having safe products for consumers to buy. You bought a pig in a poke from a vape shop and had a bad experience. Please learn from it and purchase tested safe gummies if you are able to. I am so sorry this happened.
posted by Kitteh at 6:29 AM on September 12 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I really appreciate all of the reassurance. And @inexorably_forward, that response was extremely helpful and definitely did set my mind at ease. I'm feeling more clear-headed this morning, although last night I kept having dreams about people misleading me and trying to lure me places constantly. I would wake up and really have to mentally piece together the room I was in, and remember where I truly was. That was difficult, but I hope that's the last of it until the ride is over.
@bookworm4125, that is interesting and I will speak with my therapist about it. Were you diagnosed through your regular doctor, or did you need a special referral?
I have zero interest in having gummies again, and if I did, it wouldn't be for awhile. It simply didn't occur to me that an established vape shoppe would sell unregulated goods, but it makes total sense. Head on a swivel at all times. I'm not interested in marijuana in general either, and I don't partake (I used to from time to time), which is why I thought "just this one time" would be alright. Sigh, haha. Thank you all so much, this all helped massively.
posted by Jangatroo at 6:41 AM on September 12 [3 favorites]
@bookworm4125, that is interesting and I will speak with my therapist about it. Were you diagnosed through your regular doctor, or did you need a special referral?
I have zero interest in having gummies again, and if I did, it wouldn't be for awhile. It simply didn't occur to me that an established vape shoppe would sell unregulated goods, but it makes total sense. Head on a swivel at all times. I'm not interested in marijuana in general either, and I don't partake (I used to from time to time), which is why I thought "just this one time" would be alright. Sigh, haha. Thank you all so much, this all helped massively.
posted by Jangatroo at 6:41 AM on September 12 [3 favorites]
This has been pretty well gone over, and I'm glad you're feeling better. I'll just add that yes, a proper dispensary would be good, and feel free to explain that you had a bad dosing experience to the people working there. They will understand completely and provide realistic options that are super low risk. I for one am pretty THC sensitive so I buy gummies that are 50:1 CBD:THC, which are very mild but effective and I would not hesitate to recommend them (Journeyman brand) to anyone who is worried about their THC dose or reaction. They will almost certainly have something like this that is a super chill way to ease back into this. But definitely take all the time you need! This kind of thing sucks!!
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 12:47 PM on September 12 [1 favorite]
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 12:47 PM on September 12 [1 favorite]
If it were me I’d go back to the smoke shop and let them know that that stuff is bad news. It wasn’t just you — your date had a bad reaction to the gummy he had, too. The staff should be aware and ideally stop selling it, but at the very least stop recommending high doses to people.
posted by delight at 4:46 PM on September 12
posted by delight at 4:46 PM on September 12
Just to add, there's no such thing as a fentanyl scanning machine, but is it possible that you saw a ventilator or BiPAP machine like a Ventmed being wheeled toward you and misread the label? It wouldn't have been for you since you were breathing OK, but emergency departments do have them around for patients in respiratory distress and they are often just hanging out in exam rooms waiting to be needed or getting wheeled around to or from people using them.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 2:54 PM on September 13
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 2:54 PM on September 13
I had a very similar reaction to eating a thc gummy once. It happened because I took too much; the cashier at the shop told me I could eat the whole thing (very irresponsible of them) but I later discovered it was around 80mg, and I'd NEVER experienced that nor would I have opted to if I knew. I also felt like I was in an alternate reality and was very anxious and freaked out and it lasted for several hours, shaking, curled up, thinking I was dying. I stayed away from cannabis for like a year.
If you want to process your experience more, I suggest calling these nice people: https://firesideproject.org/
posted by CancerSucks at 6:25 PM on September 13
If you want to process your experience more, I suggest calling these nice people: https://firesideproject.org/
posted by CancerSucks at 6:25 PM on September 13
Apparently cannabis-induced psychosis is a real thing, and it's pretty dangerous especially if you have a genetic predisposition to something like schizophrenia. I've witness someone I know go through something like this and it was hella scary. At the time, none of the doctors I talked to seemed to know this was a risk of cannabis specifically, and I could not find ANY info about it online. It looks like the research is starting to catch up now.
posted by winterportage at 4:34 PM on September 14
posted by winterportage at 4:34 PM on September 14
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From the product's website (not linking, sorry, you can google it): Also, they list the "strength" as "150mg per gummy" which is obviously not THC because that would be an astronomical dosage. It's probably 150 mg of whatever is in their blend of synthetic cannabinoids plus the non-THC cannabis extracts (terpenes and stuff).
So, who knows what you took, or how much. But your description does sound very congruent with a strong dose of cannabis, especially for an infrequent user who hasn't rounded off their THC receptors through frequent use.
posted by pullayup at 2:30 PM on September 11 [25 favorites]