The lethal dose of marijuana is extremely high. Consuming only marijuana has not been found to have fatal consequences.
The ratio is around 1:20,000 or 1:40,000. This means that a person would have to consume 20,000 to 40,000 times the amount of marijuana contained in one marijuana cigarette.
Most marijuana cigarettes weigh .9 grams (g), so someone would have to consume nearly 1,500 pounds of marijuana to die from marijuana consumption alone.
Not only this, but that amount would have to be consumed within 15 minutes to produce lethal results. While it is technically possible, it’s very unlikely to die from a marijuana overdose.
Learn more about the lethal dose of commonly abused drugs
Finding The Lethal Dose Of Marijuana
Marijuana is the dried flowers, leaves, stems, and seeds of the cannabis plant.
The plant contains psychoactive compounds such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and non-mind-altering components like cannabidiol (CBD).
Studies have been done on a variety of mammals to determine the lethal dose of marijuana.
In one study, both a dog and a monkey were given a non-fatal dose of 3000 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg).
This would be comparable to a 154-pound person eating about 46 pounds (21 kg) of 1% marijuana.
Can A Person Overdose On Marijuana?
A person can overdose on marijuana, though most of the symptoms of overdose are not life-threatening.
The symptoms of marijuana overdose are similar to the regular effects of the drug but in a heightened sense.
One might experience:
- severe nausea
- vomiting
- extreme confusion
- anxiety
- paranoia
- panic
- hallucinations
Has Anyone Died After Using Marijuana?
Because marijuana is a mind-altering drug, there have been numerous reports of deaths associated with marijuana including car accidents, injuries, and other incidents.
But to overdose to the point of death is extremely unlikely. Researchers have concluded that there is no statistically significant association between cannabis use and mortality.
All marijuana overdose deaths involve some sort of accident.
Get Treatment For Marijuana Addiction
Marijuana is a habit-forming drug that can lead to long-term dependency. It has the potential to affect performance at work, home responsibilities, social ties, and much more.
If you’re struggling with marijuana use, or have a loved one who is, reach out to us to learn how treatment might help.
You can participate in options such as inpatient or outpatient rehab, support group meetings, therapy, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and more. Just call our helpline for more information.
Addiction Resource aims to provide only the most current, accurate information in regards to addiction and addiction treatment, which means we only reference the most credible sources available.
These include peer-reviewed journals, government entities and academic institutions, and leaders in addiction healthcare and advocacy. Learn more about how we safeguard our content by viewing our editorial policy.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — What is marijuana?
https://www.cdc.gov/marijuana/faqs/what-is-marijuana.html - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — Is it possible to “overdose” or have a “bad reaction” to marijuana?
https://www.cdc.gov/marijuana/faqs/overdose-bad-reaction.html - National Center for Biotechnology Information — Injury and Death
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK425742/ - Schaffer Library of Drug Policy — What is the lethal dose of marijuana?
https://www.druglibrary.org/SCHAFFER/library/mj_overdose.htm
