A whitey or white-out (sometimes "greening" or "green-out") is a drug slang term for when a recreational drug user, as a direct or indirect result of drug use (usually cannabis), begins to feel faint and vomits.[1] The term derives from the "whiteout" weather condition where a snowstorm causes loss of vision, and refers to the way one's skin turns pale during and after a fainting or vomiting episode.[2] While fainting is usually only a problem for those with low blood pressure, it can become possible for those without hypotension to faint after using cannabis or other drugs which have the short-term effect of lowering the blood pressure.
Whiteying is perceived by the stoner subculture as the result of using too much cannabis within too short a period of time. This is known as greening out. In fact the factors that usually facilitate fainting are tiredness, lack of fluids, and food, a hot and humid environment, as well as natural hypotension. They are just as important as the amount of cannabis involved. Moreover, of note is that a frequent occurrence of these symptoms is likewise preceded by the consumption of cannabis or hashish mixed with tobacco and that the initial symptoms of nicotine poisoning are similar in scope.[3] It is possible to experience a whitey having used only what may be regarded as a moderate dosage. Whiteying sometimes involves vomiting and shakiness. These episodes generally only last around 15–20 minutes.