Can Turtles Get High? (Yes?!)

In several places, like California, it is now legal to sell cannabis. Since widespread cannabis usage first emerged and some of those folks may have pets, it leads them to question whether their turtles and other animals would be impacted.

Turtles may get high. Reptiles like turtles are equipped with cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2, making them susceptible to the stimulating and sensitizing effects of cannabis and other hallucinogens containing THC.

You may be astonished to learn that several species of animal are capable of getting more stoned than humans. Stimulants in the animal realm range from locoweed and booze to urine and mushrooms, and they’re every bit as peculiar as the creatures that use them.

Where do turtles stand, then? How do they get high? how hallucinogens like cannabis affect turtles, and if there are any other substances that may get turtles high. Let’s find out all there is to know about this now.

What Is THC?

THC, which is also known as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is a psychotropic component that may be extracted from marijuana plants.

The release of dopamine in the brain may be stimulated by THC, which can result in a feeling of pleasure.

The impact begins to manifest itself anywhere from ten to thirty minutes after consumption and may last for as long as three hours.

There are up to sixty different cannabinoid chemicals that may be found inside the marijuana plant, which is also known as cannabis.

THC, on the other hand, is the only component known to have hallucinogenic properties. Cannabidiol, often known as CBD, is another prominent cannabinoid.

It is best recognized for the medical benefits it has, including the ability to aid with chronic illnesses, sleeplessness, anxiety, and other similar conditions.

Because of this, they are often used as oils, nibbles, and treats for domesticated animals such as cats, dogs, and sometimes even horses.

Unfortunately, there are currently no tailored CBD products on the market or scientific studies supporting its use for turtles.

For the sake of your turtle’s natural well-being, I would advise you to keep clear of marketing ploys that make promises to “calm” or “heal” your reptile.

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What Can Cause Turtles to Become High?

There is no conclusive evidence to suggest that turtles in the wild get high or how they do it. There is also the question of whether or not they do it intentionally.

THC, on the other hand, may cause your turtle to get intoxicated since they contain C1 and C2 receptors. Therefore, everything that contains cannabinoids has the ability to get your turtle intoxicated.

This includes marijuana, black truffles, cocoa, and black pepper, among other things. Concerning cannabidiol or CBD, researchers still don’t have a clear understanding of how it engages with the endocannabinoid mechanism.

On the other hand, there can be little doubt that CBD does not bind to C1 and C2 receptors in the same manner as THC does.

How Do Hallucinogens Affect Turtles?

Because turtles aren’t very communicative, it might be difficult to determine how THC will affect them. They won’t be able to walk backward, and their eyes won’t be red.

On the other hand, if you are intimately familiar with your turtle’s character, you could notice some tiny changes in the way they behave.  Lethargy and sleepiness are going to be your best bet here.

In light of the above, it is somewhat impossible to conceive of any scenario in which your pet turtle may get intoxicated. Unless, of course, a pile of marijuana “unintentionally” drops into their aquarium.

The topic of purposefully making your turtle intoxicated by exposing it to the smoke has been discussed at length in several online communities.

Some users even recommend that they injected their turtles with THC. That is in no way the correct course of action to take.

If you want to be an accountable pet owner of a turtle, you need to ensure that there is never even a single time in which your turtle is high, neither intentionally nor unintentionally.

That’s because researchers haven’t done much to determine how weed and THC affect reptiles. You have no way of knowing how the instant or long-term effects on the well-being of your pet turtle will play out.

Trying to find out whether or not turtles can get intoxicated via self-experimentation might result in long-term health problems for your turtle, and in some extreme situations, even fatality.

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Do Turtles Get High On Jellyfish?

The answer to that question is “no,” despite the fact that eating something that would afterward cause you to experience excruciating agony seems like an odd option for meals.

There is no evidence that any of the seven different kinds of ocean turtles ever observed get high from eating jellyfish.

This is only a myth that has been circulating on the internet, and it will stay that way. It is true that jellyfish make up a significant portion of a turtle’s food, however, the chemical composition of the jellyfish does not in any way cause the turtle to get intoxicated.

It’s a little-known fact that Green Sea Turtles are among the only species on Earth that can digest the venomous jellyfish found in the water.

When they eat jellyfish, sea turtles often devour the jellyfish’s stalks rather than the jellyfish’s nourishing core.

Jellyfish will use the tentacles on their bodies to sting their prey and inject them with poison in order to defeat them.

The majority of jellyfish include structures known as cnidocytes on their tentacles. These cnidocytes are what provide the stinging sensation and are accountable for the damage they cause.

These little structures resemble harpoons and are triggered into action when the skin of a person is contacted by a jellyfish.

But turtles and much like other reptiles, their skin is covered with scales. These scales are impenetrable by the cnidocytes of the jellyfish because they are too thick.

Again a large amount of poison that jellyfishes store inside their cells is not the only means of self-defense.

If an animal is able to avoid being stung by the jellyfish’s tentacles, it will still have to contend with the aftereffects of ingesting all of the poison that is contained within the jellyfish.

To the relief of turtles, their digestive systems are well-equipped to deal with this challenge. Their stomachs have the ability to change the poison into a substance that is less damaging yet still enjoyable.

The only areas that may be susceptible to damage are its eyes, although they are adequately protected by its flippers. This is how turtles can consume jellyfish without getting intoxicated or injured.

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Is It Harmful To Smoke Around Turtles?

It is suggested that people who own domestic pets, including turtles, do not smoke in the same room as such animals.

This is due to the fact that exposure to passive smoke may still release chemicals and induce consequences that are long-lasting, such as cancer.

The ability of reptiles and notably turtles, to withstand stress is limited. As a result, when the habitat in which a turtle lives is contaminated with cigarette smoke, it will always cause the animal to experience anxious responses.

A weakened immune system is one of the many potential outcomes of this. To ensure the continued good health and well-being of turtles, it is essential that they be kept in appropriate habitats and fed appropriate food.

Although turtles breathe in a manner that is comparable to that of humans, the size of their lungs makes them far more sensitive.

It is of the utmost importance to supply turtles with an aquarium that isn’t just well-equipped to filter the water in which they live but also produces a healthy equilibrium of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other airborne particles.

Is It Safe To Vape Around A Turtle?

Vaping and the use of electronic cigarettes have lately seen a meteoric rise in popularity among adolescents and young adults.

In spite of the fact that these various smoking gadgets are touted as more secure and accessible substitutes for cigarettes, they nevertheless contain the same cancer-causing chemicals that cause lung disorders.

It is essential for pet owners to regard their usage of a vape or an electronic cigarette in the same manner as they would a traditional cigarette and to follow the cautions that are provided to smokers with respect to their companions and their lifestyle.

Final Words

The question “can turtles get high?” has a straightforward answer: yes, they can. However, they should not.  Cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 are present in turtles since they are reptiles.

THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana, binds to certain receptors on their bodies, causing them to feel excited and elusive while also causing them to experience a high.

However, there is not a single incidence of a wild turtle getting wasted on any kind of stimulant on its own that has been reported.

In the same vein, there is a dearth of sufficient scientific data and study that investigates the impact that psychoactive substances, like marijuana, have on turtles.

It’s possible that there will be negative responses, but we won’t know anything about them since turtles aren’t very communicative animals.

Therefore, you should never give in to your natural want to satisfy your fascination and conduct a test to see whether or not turtles could get high.