There is a common misstatement that it is not possible to overdose on marijuana.
In 1999 there were over 180 documented marijuana overdoses in which the person had not consumed any other drug. There were nearly 700 if you include people who overdosed on marijuana that had also taken other drugs. These are not overdoses on the other drugs they were taking. The effects of a marijauna overdose are very different from the effects of overdosing on other drugs. There is no reliable source to corroborate this statement, nor can I produce even one death certificate with "marijuana overdose" listed. So hopefully you don't question the figures
The symptoms of a marijuana overdose (or often just a normal dose) are: Rapid heart rate, Breathing Difficulty, Paranoia, Disorientation, Delerium, Hangover (during recovery), Hallucination, panic attack and Respiratory System Failure(lethal overdoses). Many people may not recognize the symptoms of an overdose as being an overdose. Many overdoses can and do go untreated. People continue to use marijuana and may at some point raise the level of THC to the point that their respiratory system shuts down resulting in death. This level is going to be different for each individual. Some people smoke for the first time, think they are dying, and call 911. This does not count.
It is easier to overdose on marijuana if you are taking other drugs. The easiest way to overdose is what is called the synergestis effect also known as the additive effect. This is when two drugs of similiar nature are taken near the same time. The next would be the speedball effect. This is when two drugs of unassociated natures are taken near the same time. There is also the cumulative effect which is when a person overdoses on multiple doses of the same drug.
The most common way people overdose on marijuana by the cumulative effect is when an individual smokes large amounts of marijuana on a regular basis for a number of years. The level of THC in the blood continues to increase, until the respiratory system shuts down resulting in death. Even though studies have shown that this does not happen at all and, in fact, is totally made up.
Marijana is not a medical approved drug and therefore has not been given an LD-50. LD-50 is the amount of a drug that is lethal to 50% of tested people. Yes, medical testing of drugs is done on humans. This has been the case since the 1962 Kefauver-Harris Act.
I have a BA in Social Science with a minor in Addiction Studies, and am working on a Master's in Counseling and a Graduate Certificate in Addiction Studies.
They never get tired of that tactic.
