What Is a Whitey? Going Pale and Faint After Smoking Cannabis
What people mean by a whitey, the sudden pale, dizzy, sick feeling after smoking too much cannabis, why it happens, what to do when it strikes, and when cannabis use is worth a closer look.
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan, Physician and Addiction Medicine Specialist, Phuket Island Rehab.
A whitey is a slang term for the sudden, unpleasant reaction some people have after smoking too much cannabis, especially when combined with tobacco, alcohol, or an empty stomach. The name comes from the way the person goes pale and white as the blood drains from their face. The symptoms come on quickly and include feeling dizzy, lightheaded, faint, nauseous, sweaty, and clammy, with a racing heart, ringing ears, and sometimes vomiting or briefly passing out. A whitey happens largely because cannabis can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, reducing blood flow to the brain, a bit like a fainting episode. It is usually short-lived and not dangerous, and it is best managed by sitting or lying down, getting fresh air, sipping water or something sugary, and waiting for it to pass. Frequent whiteys or heavier cannabis use can be a sign worth examining, because cannabis can become a problem.
What a whitey is
A whitey is a slang term, used mainly in British and Australian English, for the sudden, unpleasant physical reaction that can come on after smoking too much cannabis. The name comes directly from what it looks like: the person goes visibly pale, the colour draining from their face until they look white, as they suddenly feel dizzy and unwell. It is also sometimes called a greenout, by analogy with the alcohol blackout, though greenout can refer more broadly to feeling sick from cannabis. A whitey is essentially the body being briefly overwhelmed by a large dose of cannabis, often made worse by other factors.
Although the word whitey has other, unrelated meanings in general English, including as a slang word for a white person or for white people, in the context of cannabis it refers specifically to this faint, pale, sick episode. It is a common and well-known experience among people who use cannabis, especially those who are inexperienced, who have taken more than they are used to, or who have combined it with tobacco, alcohol, or an empty stomach. Understanding what a whitey is, why it happens, and what to do about it takes a lot of the fear out of it, because while it feels alarming, it is usually short-lived and harmless.
The symptoms of a whitey
A whitey comes on quickly, often within minutes, and the symptoms are those of feeling faint combined with the effects of cannabis. The person typically goes pale and clammy, feels suddenly dizzy and lightheaded, and may feel as though they are about to faint or pass out. Nausea is common, sometimes leading to vomiting, and people often feel a cold sweat, a racing or pounding heart, ringing in the ears, blurred or narrowing vision, and a sense of weakness. Some people briefly lose consciousness, which is frightening to witness but usually very short.
Alongside the physical symptoms, a whitey often comes with intense anxiety, a feeling of dread, and sometimes paranoia, because a large dose of cannabis can itself cause anxiety and panic, and feeling so suddenly unwell is alarming in its own right. The combination of feeling faint and feeling anxious can make a whitey deeply unpleasant even though it is not dangerous. The symptoms usually peak quickly and then ease over a short time, several minutes to half an hour or so, especially once the person lies down, and most people feel much better fairly soon, if shaky and tired afterwards.
Why a whitey happens
The main reason a whitey happens is a sudden drop in blood pressure. Cannabis, particularly in a large dose, can cause blood vessels to widen and blood pressure to fall, and it can also cause a drop in blood pressure on standing. When blood pressure falls suddenly, less blood reaches the brain, which produces the dizziness, pallor, sweating, and faintness, the same mechanism behind an ordinary fainting episode. The body’s response to this, including the cold sweat and racing or slowing heart, adds to the cluster of symptoms. In essence, a whitey is close to a cannabis-triggered faint.
Several things make a whitey more likely. Taking a larger dose than the person is used to is the biggest factor, which is why inexperienced users and those trying stronger cannabis are most affected. Mixing cannabis with tobacco, which is common in joints, contributes, as nicotine affects blood pressure and the cardiovascular system. Drinking alcohol alongside cannabis makes it considerably more likely and worse. And having an empty stomach, being dehydrated, being too hot, or standing up are all contributing factors, because they independently lower blood pressure or blood sugar. The table below summarises the picture.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| What it is | A faint, pale, sick reaction to too much cannabis |
| Key symptoms | Pale, dizzy, faint, nauseous, sweaty, racing heart |
| Main cause | Sudden drop in blood pressure reducing blood flow to the brain |
| Makes it worse | High dose, tobacco, alcohol, empty stomach, dehydration, heat, standing |
| How long | Usually minutes to about half an hour |
| Dangerous? | Usually not, but injury from fainting is a risk |
What to do during a whitey
If you or someone you are with has a whitey, the most important and effective step is to sit or lie down straight away, ideally lying flat with the legs raised, which helps blood return to the brain and counters the drop in blood pressure that is causing the symptoms. Getting fresh air, loosening tight clothing, and cooling down help too. Sipping water rehydrates, and something sugary, such as a sweet drink, fruit juice, or a snack, can help if low blood sugar is contributing. Staying calm and reassuring the person that it will pass is genuinely useful, because the anxiety makes it feel worse.
The person should stop using cannabis for the rest of the session and avoid standing up quickly until they feel steady. Most whiteys resolve within minutes once the person lies down, and full recovery usually follows within an hour, though they may feel washed out afterwards. While a whitey itself is rarely dangerous, the main risks are injury from falling or fainting and, very rarely, a more serious problem masquerading as a whitey. If the person does not recover, has chest pain or difficulty breathing, hits their head when fainting, or you are worried for any reason, seek medical help, because it is always better to check.
When cannabis use is worth a closer look
An occasional whitey from overdoing it once is not, in itself, a sign of a problem; it is a sign of having taken too much cannabis on that occasion. But repeated whiteys, or a pattern of using cannabis heavily, frequently, or in ways that keep causing problems, can be worth examining. It is a myth that cannabis is not addictive: regular use, especially of potent cannabis, can lead to cannabis use disorder, with tolerance, an inability to cut down, and a withdrawal syndrome of irritability, anxiety, poor sleep, and craving when stopping.
If cannabis has become a daily habit, is being used to cope with anxiety, low mood, or stress, or is causing problems with motivation, memory, mood, work, or relationships, those are reasons to take a closer look, regardless of whether whiteys are happening. Cannabis use disorder is treatable, usually without a medical detox because cannabis withdrawal is uncomfortable rather than dangerous, through structured support and therapy. Recognising that the body’s dramatic protest in a whitey might be part of a wider pattern is sometimes the prompt a person needs to reassess their use.
When substance use has become more than occasional
Whiteys often happen when cannabis is combined with other substances, particularly alcohol and tobacco, and that wider pattern of use is usually more important than the whitey itself. Drinking and smoking cannabis together is a common combination that makes whiteys worse and carries its own risks, and many people who use cannabis heavily also drink, with alcohol use disorder commonly sitting alongside cannabis use. Tobacco, often mixed into joints, brings nicotine dependence into the picture as well.
If you or someone you love is using cannabis heavily, combining it with alcohol, or finding that substances have become a regular way to cope, it is worth seeking an honest look at the whole picture. Cannabis use disorder is treatable and stopping is usually safe without a medical detox, though support makes the early weeks easier. Anyone who is also physically dependent on alcohol or benzodiazepines should not stop those suddenly, because withdrawal can cause seizures. Help is available, and recovery from cannabis and other substance problems is very achievable.
Summary
A whitey is a slang term for the sudden, unpleasant reaction some people have after smoking too much cannabis, especially when combined with tobacco, alcohol, or an empty stomach. The name comes from the way the person goes pale as the blood drains from their face. The symptoms come on quickly and include dizziness, faintness, nausea, sweating, a racing heart, and sometimes vomiting or briefly passing out, often with intense anxiety. A whitey happens largely because cannabis can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure that reduces blood flow to the brain, much like a faint. It is usually short-lived and not dangerous, and is best managed by lying down with the legs raised, getting fresh air, sipping water or something sugary, and waiting for it to pass. Frequent whiteys or heavier cannabis use can be a sign worth examining.
As Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan, addiction medicine specialist at Phuket Island Rehab, puts it, “A whitey looks terrifying, the person goes white and drops, but it is essentially a cannabis-triggered faint from a sudden fall in blood pressure, and lying them down usually fixes it within minutes. What I pay more attention to is the pattern around it: someone having whiteys is someone taking large amounts, often with drink and tobacco, and that wider use is the part worth a proper conversation.”
Frequently asked questions
What is a whitey from cannabis?
A whitey is the sudden, faint, pale, sick reaction some people have after smoking too much cannabis, named for how the person goes white as the blood drains from their face. Symptoms include dizziness, faintness, nausea, sweating, a racing heart, and sometimes vomiting or briefly passing out, often with anxiety. It is most common in inexperienced users, with large doses, and when cannabis is combined with tobacco, alcohol, or an empty stomach.
Why do you go pale and faint after smoking weed?
A whitey happens mainly because cannabis can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, widening blood vessels and reducing blood flow to the brain, the same mechanism as an ordinary faint, which produces the pallor, dizziness, sweating, and faintness. An empty stomach, dehydration, heat, standing up, and combining cannabis with tobacco or alcohol all make it more likely by further lowering blood pressure or blood sugar.
Is a whitey dangerous?
A whitey is usually not dangerous and passes within minutes to about half an hour, especially once the person lies down. The main risks are injury from falling or fainting and, rarely, a more serious problem mistaken for a whitey. Seek medical help if the person does not recover, has chest pain or difficulty breathing, a persistent irregular heartbeat, injures themselves fainting, or if you are unsure what is happening.
What should you do if someone has a whitey?
Have them sit or lie down straight away, ideally flat with the legs raised, which helps blood return to the brain. Get fresh air, loosen tight clothing, cool them down, and offer water and something sugary such as a sweet drink or snack. Keep them calm and reassure them it will pass, stop the cannabis for the session, and avoid standing up quickly. If they do not recover or you are worried, seek medical help.
How do you avoid a whitey?
The main way to avoid a whitey is to use less cannabis, especially if you are inexperienced or trying something stronger, and to go slowly. Avoiding the combination with alcohol and tobacco, eating beforehand rather than using on an empty stomach, staying hydrated and not too hot, and not standing up quickly all reduce the risk. Because a whitey is essentially a faint from low blood pressure, anything that keeps blood pressure and blood sugar steady helps.
Does having whiteys mean I have a cannabis problem?
An occasional whitey just means you took too much cannabis on that occasion, not that you have a problem. But repeated whiteys, or using cannabis heavily, daily, or to cope with anxiety or stress, can be worth examining, because cannabis is addictive and regular use can lead to cannabis use disorder. If cannabis is causing problems with mood, motivation, memory, work, or relationships, it is worth taking a closer look regardless of whiteys.
Sources
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Cannabis (Marijuana) DrugFacts. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/cannabis-marijuana
National Health Service (NHS). Cannabis: The Facts. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/addiction-support/cannabis-the-facts/
National Health Service (NHS). Fainting. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/fainting/
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Marijuana. https://www.samhsa.gov/
World Health Organization (WHO). Cannabis. https://www.who.int/teams/mental-health-and-substance-use/alcohol-drugs-and-addictive-behaviours/drugs-psychoactive/cannabis
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Is Marijuana Addictive? https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/marijuana-addictive
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