Even though weed is about as super-safe a substance as you could hope for, it is still possible to consume too much cannabis. Physiologically, you’re not in any danger of an overdose or anything that serious, but I will admit that there are times when I have more than is needed, and I experience a touch of psychological existentialism that can feel a bit overwhelming at the time.

It truly is bizarre. When I have gone past my cannabis event horizon, I tend to focus all my attention on my beating heart. All else seems to fade away into a muted parade of lights and movement, and I literally feel and hear my heart thrumming in my chest and the subsequent wave of pressure echoing out through my limbs.

My heart rate isn’t abnormal, there is no panic-induced arrhythmia. Like I said, physiologically, I’m still doing just fine. It just kind of freaks me out a little bit to be that focused on my heart and then to extrapolate that into the ponderance of my own mortality and those of the people and creatures I love. I get so honed in on how thin the line is between being a living being and whatever the hell comes after that; I can start to feel fear and sadness for the losses that we must all endure simply because we are alive.

I notice this most when I have too much sativa. With indicas, I haven’t really gotten to that mental place. I just tend to eat too many powdered donuts and fall asleep; which is why these days, I usually like to get a hybrid with no less than 50% sativa because I need that mental effect too. I’ll go up to 80% sativa/20% indica. If I can’t find a good hybrid, I opt for getting a strain of each and making my own little cannabis cocktails. But a little indica goes a long way to keeping my feet on the ground, so to speak.

This effect is not very common. It usually sneaks up on me but it also subsides pretty fast, maybe 20 or 30 minutes later and I’m all good (even less if something snaps me out of my reverie, such as my wife talking to me or my cat looking for a head scratch). I just need to either ride it out or find something to anchor me to the present moment and bring me back to earth.

Live and learn.