How to Look Sober When You Are High?

Cannabis is becoming increasingly popular in countries where it is legalized. 

Thanks to the increased awareness, people are now more accepting of cannabis. 

The social stigma revolving around cannabis has greatly decreased. 

So much so that cannabis is now considered a fun recreational activity and not a crime. 

However, despite the growing acceptance, cannabis still finds some resistance in certain contexts, such as office meetings, family events, or surprise visits by your neighbor. 

Regardless, cannabis users may find themselves in such situations where they need to look sober when they are high. 

So, the next time you realize you have a meeting scheduled after consuming cannabis, you need not worry. 

There are many ways you can look sober when you are high. 

In this article, we will go through some of the best tips to help you look sober so you can get the task done without getting into too much trouble. Read on to know more. 

What Does a Cannabis High Look Like?

Cannabis is a complex plant that contains various chemical compounds known as phytocannabinoids, generally known as cannabinoids. Out of these, the two primary cannabinoids are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). These two cannabinoids are the main reason why people consume cannabis — THC gets you high, and CBD is associated with various medicinal benefits. 

But how do these cannabinoids work on your body? When you consume cannabis, these cannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoid system in your body, which is a network of receptors that regulate various physiological functions in your body. This interaction can produce a range of effects on your body and mind. 

Of course, the effects of cannabis vary depending on several factors like the strain and its cannabinoid composition, method of consumption, tolerance level, mental stage, and much more. So, many cannabis strains result in both physical and cognitive effects, which are easy to spot in someone who is high. 

Common physical symptoms of consuming cannabis include bloodshot eyes, dry mouth, increased heart rate, and impaired coordination. On the other hand, cognitive symptoms include decreased attention span, short-term memory impairment, and altered problem-solving abilities. In other words, people may wonder why you’re acting “weird.” 

Cannabis can also influence your emotions and mood. Some users feel heightened euphoria, relaxation, or even anxiety and paranoia. On the other hand, you may also experience sensory alterations, but these mild symptoms aren’t easily spotted by someone else. 

Sometimes, you may not want someone to notice these physical or cognitive symptoms. Perhaps you are going to a meeting or hosting an unexpected relative, and you need to hide these symptoms. Fortunately, there are many ways to do that, which are discussed in the following sections. 

How to Hide Physical and Behavioral Symptoms While High on Cannabis

One of the first things when you want to hide your symptoms indicating that you may be high is to take care of the physical and behavioral signs, like red eyes, cannabis smell, and your composure. Let’s take a look at how you can fix these symptoms. 

1. Managing Red Eyes

Perhaps the most evident symptom of cannabis use is red or bloodshot eyes. This symptom is relatively difficult to eliminate, but you can use various methods to minimize the appearance of red eyes. 

One of the best solutions to red eyes is over-the-counter eye drops that are designed to relieve redness in the eyes. Eye drops are an effective short-term solution, but remember to always read the instructions and warning labels to avoid unwanted side effects. 

Additionally, you should hydrate yourself — drinking plenty of water throughout and after your cannabis session can help reduce eye redness. You can also try a cold compress or cold washcloth on your eyes, as they can temporarily constrict blood vessels and reduce redness in your eyes. 

To prevent red eyes, you can also shift to vaping cannabis instead of smoking the buds. This is because the smoke is an irritant that typically causes red eyes. Of course, you can use edibles too, but these aren’t proven methods, as some users get red eyes even if they consume cannabis instead of lighting a joint. 

2. Hide the Smell

Cannabis has a distinct smell, so it’s easy for others to recognize it. Part of the problem is that the smell can often linger on your clothes, breath, and personal belongings, which can give away your cannabis use.

First, to prevent the smell from sticking to your clothes, make sure you smoke in ventilated areas so your clothes don’t absorb the smell too much. Next, if you have to head out somewhere, it’s best to change your clothes to reduce the smell. Always carry an odor-neutralizing spray when going out to neutralize the odor. 

One of the best ways of hiding the smell is to practice good personal hygiene, like brushing your teeth twice a day, using mouthwash, or chewing minty gum or mouth fresheners. This will mask the smell of cannabis on your breath. You can also chew on spices like cardamom, cloves, and fennel (only a few) to make it less obvious. 

3. Freshen Up the Room

If you are expecting someone over and you’ve just smoked the fattest joint ever, you need to quickly freshen up the room. The smell of cannabis can linger in your room far longer than you’d think because your nose gets accustomed to the smell in the room. 

So, you can try a few things to freshen up the room in every budget and contingency. Start by opening up the windows to let in some fresh air. You can also light a scented candle or use a spray of air freshener (or even your deodorant). If you have a vent, now is the time to turn it on. 

You can also get a bit creative by making your room smell more natural. One of the best ways of doing so is by quickly and deliberately burning some food (it works!), brewing a fresh cup of coffee, or even boiling some vinegar. 

4. Maintain Your Composure

Physical symptoms don’t just appear in the form of red eyes and smell, they also appear in your behavior. So, you need to manage physical and behavioral cues that may indicate cannabis use to someone.

First, focus on your speech pattern and pace. Smoking cannabis can often lead to you speaking too slowly or at a low volume, so focus on speaking clearly, at a normal rate, and avoid excessive laughter or prolonged pauses. Remember to breathe and think before speaking. 

Second, be mindful of your motor skills and body movements. Avoid any exaggerated gestures or uncoordinated movements — quite common after consuming cannabis — as such gestures can give away your state. Relax and maintain control over your actions. 

Third, be mindful of your overall demeanor. Maintain appropriate eye contact, engage in conversations, and be aware of your surroundings. Do not panic and tell yourself that it’s just a matter of about twenty minutes. Smoking cannabis makes you high quickly, but it fades away pretty easily too. Be yourself and avoid acting too jiffy, overly talkative, or lethargic. 

How to Act Sober After Consuming Cannabis

Simply not looking high is not enough. Sometimes, you may have to take extra steps to act sober, not just look sober. So, here are some tips that you can try to show someone that you’re not baked:

1. Drink a Lot of Water

You will find this tip multiple times across the article, but it is just that much more effective in not only helping you look sober but also feel sober. So, drink lots of water. Doing so will flush your system and encourage your body to process cannabinoids faster, so you can freshen up and look more sober. 

2. Exercise Your Mind

Contrary to popular belief, most cannabis strains don’t necessarily impair cognitive function. In fact, with the right approach, such strains can even enhance certain aspects of cognition. So, to optimize your cognitive function after consuming cannabis, you can try some mental exercises to get your mind back on track. 

One of the best exercises is meditation. Engaging in mindfulness or meditation practices helps improve focus and concentration, calms your mind, increases self-awareness, and enhances cognitive clarity. 

Another exercise you can try is puzzle-solving. Engaging puzzles like crosswords, brain teasers, or such games challenge your problem-solving skills, improve memory retention, and boost mental agility. You can also try creative activities like drawing, painting, or writing, as these activities can enhance your cognitive flexibility, imagination, and self-expression. 

But whipping out your set of Monopoly may not be the smartest move if your mother-in-law visits your home after you’ve smoked up!

3. Learn Strategies for Handling Social Interactions

When you’re under the influence of cannabis, handling social interactions requires a bit of finesse. As mentioned earlier, you may act a little wacky when high, so it’s important for you to learn some ways to look sober. Let’s look at some tips.

First, try to be an active listener. Practice active listening skills by giving your full attention to the person speaking. You should also maintain eye contact, nod, and provide appropriate verbal and non-verbal cues to show that you are engaged in the conversation and not thinking of the next hamburger you want to chow on. 

Second, you need to be mindful of your emotional state and the effect cannabis has on your emotions. You can do this by being mindful and emotionally stable while avoiding becoming overly sensitive or reactive during social interactions.

Third, you should maintain a natural conversational flow by avoiding excessive interruptions or dominating the conversations. 

Of course, many sober people also lack these basic social etiquettes, so this is not limited only to people that are high. In fact, you open up a bit more and are friendlier when high, but don’t overdo it. 

4. Be Yourself 

Most cannabis users smoke with their friends or people they are comfortable with, so they don’t have to worry about their bloodshot eyes or acting weird after consuming cannabis. However, out in public or a working environment, this changes, and it is natural for you to act a certain way around people you don’t know well. 

For example, at your workplace, you go into a professional mode and act polite and respectful, and out in public, you try to keep to yourself and be mindful of others’ space. 

However, being high can amplify how you perceive your behavior — it’s easy to get into your own head, overthink everything, and make your cannabis high obvious to others. This is a paranoid spiral that many cannabis users fall prey to. So, remember to be yourself. For example, if you are a comedian at work, don’t try to be the serious one suddenly — your boss will get suspicious. 

5. Don’t Relax Too Much

But in being yourself, do not relax too much when you, for instance, forget that you are having dinner with your relatives. You still need to stay within a reasonable limit. So, to make sure you don’t relax too much, keep a few things in mind, such as:

• Don’t laugh too much
• Don’t act too clumsy or particular
• Be mindful of your surroundings
• Don’t eat everything on the table — munchies can sometimes get the best of us 
• Avoid couch-lock and zoning out 

Yes, these tips may sound too obvious, but you’d be surprised at how much cannabis can affect your conversational and listening skills — not all strains, but some strains for sure. 

How to Sober Up From Cannabis Fast

Sometimes, simply looking and acting sober may not be enough; you may have to sober up quickly. In such cases, the above-mentioned tips only work to some extent, but it is still possible to sober up quickly after consuming cannabis. Follow these tips. 

1. Learn to Calm Your Mind 

Cannabis use can sometimes lead to feelings of paranoia or anxiety, especially for individuals who are more sensitive to its effects. So, you must learn to manage such negative emotions so you can sober up fast. 

You can create a calm environment around you. Find a quiet, comfortable space to relax and feel at ease. Dim the lights, play soothing music, engage in relaxing activities, etc. You can also try distracting your mind by shifting your focus away from anxious thoughts by watching a movie, reading a book, or listening to calm music. 

2. Drink a Lot of Water

Another pro tip to get sober fast is to hydrate yourself. By consuming plenty of water along with some light snacks, you enable your body to metabolize cannabis faster while also freshening up your mind. You’d be surprised at how effective water is to sober up fast. 

3. Consume Some Black Pepper or Lemon Juice

One of the best ways of reducing your high is to consume a few black peppers. They are rich in caryophyllene, a potent selective CB2 antagonist, which enhances cannabinoid’s sedating effects that can help you sober up fast. You can also try lemon juice, as it is rich in limonene, which can calm your body and negate the effects of THC to some extent. 

4. Drink Herbal Tea

Many users reach out for a cup of coffee when they want to sober up fast, but coffee can actually make things worse. Instead, you should drink some herbal tea with rosemary or lemon balm, which contains the dietary cannabinoid beta-caryophyllene that can help you relax and put your mind at ease. 

5. Jump in a Cold Shower

Did you know that US Navy Seals and almost all fitness experts recommend cold water showers, no matter your local climate? Cold water showers can bring down your heart rate, decrease your body temperature, and preserve oxygen. Thanks to these effects, your body calms down, and your high can be reduced to a great extent. 

6. Consume Some CBD

Poison kills poison, and similarly, cannabis kills cannabis. So, if you want to sober up fast, you can consume CBD as it is non-psychoactive and it relaxes your body. Just ensure that the CBD product you consume does not contain any THC, or else you will worsen matters. 

How to Prevent Such a Scenario in the First Place

In social settings like parties, gatherings, or other social events, it is crucial that you blend in and avoid drawing unnecessary attention to your cannabis use. On the other hand, if you have to attend a work event or a meeting, you must be even more careful of your cannabis use. Cannabis use in a social setting may invite unnecessary (and uncalled-for) judgment, but the same can invite a lot of trouble in the workplace.

Trying to look sober after smoking cannabis sounds simpler than it is; instead, you can simply take some steps to prevent being in such a situation again in the future. Let’s look at some ways you can prevent yourself from getting into a situation where you must act sober. 

1. Use a Discrete Mode of Consumption

For this, start with using a discrete mode of consumption like edibles, vaporizers, or low-odor concentrates. Such methods minimize the smell and make it easier for you to hide your cannabis use.

2. Be Mindful of the Smell

Speaking of smell, you must also be mindful of the smell of cannabis on your clothes, breath, or belongings. While you may appear sober with clear eyes, someone can find out you’ve been smoking cannabis if your clothes, hair, or breath smell like cannabis.

3. Keep Your Tolerance in Mind

You should also be mindful of your dosage and practice moderation. Control your dosage if you have even a slight doubt that something can come up in the next hour, and pace yourself to maintain a subtle high. Only consume cannabis to your full limit when you know the day is over, and nothing will randomly pop up on your calendar. 

4. Choose a Low-THC Strain

So, choose a low-THC strain to achieve a milder, more manageable high. Strains with balanced CBD-to-THC ratios are the ones you should look for since they produce a high without compromising your alertness or focus. Doing so will ensure you can still work if you are caught off-guard by your boss. 

You should also take a look at the terpenes present in the strain you consume. Certain terpenes contribute to the entourage effect, which produces a more potent high. So, pick strains that contain calming terpenes like myrcene or linalool, which promote relaxation and not a cerebral high. 

5. Time Your Cannabis Consumption

You should also time your cannabis consumption, i.e., only consume it outside of working hours to ensure you are not impaired, under the influence, or breaking any office rules. And allow ample time to let the effects wear off before returning to professional duties. 

Following the tips mentioned above will ensure you don’t find yourself in a situation where you must take extreme measures to hide your high. Remember, while it's important to maintain discretion, honesty and open communication with those you trust are equally crucial. Respect personal boundaries and ensure your cannabis use does not negatively impact your relationships or responsibilities.

6. Address Potential Concerns with Your Loved Ones

If you suspect that your loved ones may have concerns about your cannabis use and you want to hide it from them, you should consider addressing this concern instead of hiding your cannabis use. It is crucial that you engage in open and honest conversation to address their worries or alleviate any misconceptions. 

While it may seem intimidating initially, it is quite easy to do. Choose the right time and place, share your thoughts and personal experiences, emphasize that you use cannabis responsibly, listen to them with empathy, and provide them with reliable information so they can empathize with you. You may also have to set boundaries and respect differences, and offer to answer further questions.

This little step can go a long way and fix your problem of trying to look sober after consuming cannabis, whether you want to hide it from your parents, relatives, or friends. 

Summary: How to Look Sober When You Are High?

Navigating the world of cannabis use while looking sober can be challenging, but with the right tips and mindset, you can enjoy cannabis without blowing your cover. This article explores some techniques that can help you look sober, act sober, and also sober up fast, along with some tips on preventing such situations in the first place. 

Social acceptance of cannabis has grown significantly in recent years, but there are still situations where you may need to appear sober despite being high as a kite. So, while this article can help you become more responsible with cannabis use and try to appear sober when you are not, it is still essential to respect legal regulations, workplace policies, and the comfort levels of those around you when consuming cannabis. 

Remember, responsible cannabis use is key, so it is crucial to prioritize the personal safety, well-being, and comfort of those around you. Ultimately, you must approach cannabis use with mindfulness, respect, and consideration for those around you.