Can I Overdose on Cannabis?

Everyone has something called an endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system is important for maintaining homeostasis, which refers to various processes that stabilize our internal environment. The ECS contains cannabinoid receptors throughout the body that THC binds to. Some of these receptors are abundantly present in three main parts of our brain—the cerebellum, basal ganglia, and hippocampus regions. None of these three regions play a large role in basic life functions such as breathing and heart rate. This is why cannabis users don’t overdose like opioid users do. Unfortunately, opioid receptors are plentiful in the brain stem which results in users becoming more susceptible to sudden death. Of course, it’s not impossible to die from marijuana, but extremely difficult. It’s predicted you’d have to smoke about 1,500 pounds of cannabis in fifteen minutes for it to be lethal. The lack of oxygen in trying to do so would probably asphyxiate you first though.