‘I begged them to save me’: Anupam Kher recalls his frightening marijuana and bhaang experience; how it disrupts perception and triggers fear in users

He went on to describe how his hostelmates, also intoxicated, stood on the terrace saying, “The army is coming.” Meanwhile, he felt completely out of control, sharing, “I kept telling them I would die laughing and begged them to save me.”

Looking back, he realised that much of his distress came from impaired perception and communication. “And I kept waiting for my friend to reply, wondering why he wasn’t answering me. It was exactly like how they show things in Jim Carrey’s film The Mask. But after that, I never touched it again.” 

To understand what actually happens in the brain and body in such moments, we reached out to an expert who could break down these reactions in simple, science-backed terms.

Neurochemical changes trigger intense psychological effects

Public health intellectual Dr Jagadish Hiremath, tells indianexpress.com, “The primary psychoactive compound in marijuana and bhaang is THC. Once it enters the bloodstream, THC binds rapidly to cannabinoid receptors in the brain, especially in regions responsible for memory, perception, coordination, and emotional regulation. In first-time or low-tolerance users, the brain is not accustomed to this sudden surge of receptor activation. This can disrupt normal communication between neurons and can produce exaggerated sensory inputs, time distortion, and emotional instability.”

Because the prefrontal cortex is still trying to interpret these altered signals, Dr Hiremath states,  individuals may feel as if they are losing control or experiencing thoughts that are disconnected from reality. When the dose is higher than what the brain can comfortably process, the result can be intense fear, confusion, or the feeling of ‘going crazy.’

Why can marijuana or bhang trigger paranoia or loss of control, and why should they be avoided without medical guidance?

Dr Hiremath states that these reactions usually occur when THC overstimulates areas of the brain linked to threat detection and emotional regulation. “Individuals who have underlying anxiety, sleep deprivation, or high stress levels are particularly sensitive because their baseline emotional threshold is already elevated. Genetics also plays a role in how quickly one metabolises THC and how strongly the receptors respond.”

Without proper guidance or awareness of dosage, Dr Hiremath stresses, individuals may unknowingly consume a much higher quantity than their body can handle. “Recreational preparations of bhang or edibles can be unpredictable in potency. This is why unmonitored use can trigger panic, paranoia, or dissociation. A healthcare professional can help assess individual risk factors, guide safe use where medically indicated, and prevent escalation into a medical emergency,” he says.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.