Can one fatally overdose on cannabis, or on THC contained in cannabis?
Cannabis and all the cannabinoids contained in it – including THC – have a very low toxicity. Cannabis does not damage the body physically after one use or even long-term use (with the exception of smoking it due to being exposed to toxic chemicals).
The amount of THC it would take for a fatal overdose is roughly 5000 times more than the ordinary dosage a person would take. Thus during normal or even massive use, a person consumes nowhere near the toxic level.
The US Dept. of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has for some time published a list of all chemical substances and the yearly total of deaths connected with them – and during that whole period there has not been a single death connected to cannabis as such.
Your Happy Doctor
Daniel Bárta, M.D. a.k.a. “Happy Doctor CZ” is a general practitioner. After finishing his degree in medicine, he worked for several years as a doctor in Malta, Nepal, and the Philippines. In Malta, he took part in semiofficial research on the effects of cannabis extract on leukemia cells, and has wide experience with patients who use cannabis as part of their treatment.
Do you have any questions about cannabis, but are afraid to ask your doctor? Ask ours! Just send an e-mail to poradna@konomag.cz and put “Happy Doctor” as the subject.
Source: Cannabis Therapy Vol. 2
Take a quick look at this preview of the contents:
