I’ve only recently tried CBD gummies. I bought the ones from Martha Stewart’s line of gourmet CBD gummies for “wellness.” I felt like one of the gummies didn’t do anything, but two really did make me feel noticeably relaxed and I slept really well. I haven’t tried the THC-infused drinks or whatever, I think those are only sold in states where marijuana is completely legal. So, like everybody else, Ellen DeGeneres has started experimenting with CBD stuff. Apparently, she’s been trying the CBD and THC-infused drinks. She had three of them and a couple of melatonin pills and that’s when she realized that her wife Portia was on the floor in pain. So in that state, Ellen drove Portia to the hospital. Yikes!
Reefer madness! Ellen DeGeneres is catching heat online for admitting that she drove her wife, Portia de Rossi, to the hospital in March after drinking three “weed drinks” and taking over-the-counter sleep aids. DeGeneres made the admission that what she did was “probably not safe” to Jimmy Kimmel Tuesday during a marijuana-themed episode of his show.
DeGeneres explained that she found de Rossi on the bathroom floor of their home, visibly in pain — but only after the daytime talk-show host had consumed three Cann drinks and the sleep aid melatonin. She then drove de Rossi to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy.
“Chelsea Handler told me about these weed drinks, they’re called Cann, and they have CBD or [THC] — I don’t know what the good thing is,” DeGeneres, 63, explained. “I drank one, and I didn’t feel anything, so I drank three, and then I took two melatonin sleep pills. And I’m laying in bed, and I realize [Portia’s] not in bed. She’s moaning. I get out of bed, and she’s on the ground on all fours, and I said, ‘You’re not OK.’ She goes, ‘I’m OK.’ I said, ‘No, unless you’re playing Twister by yourself, you’re not OK.’ So I rushed her to the emergency room.”
Kimmel, 53, asked DeGeneres, “You drove her by yourself?”
“I did,” she replied. “I mean, I kicked in, like my adrenaline, because I just had to rush her there. It’s probably not safe. I shouldn’t be saying any of this,” DeGeneres added.
Some social media users decried DeGeneres’ anecdote as an example of her privilege, with one writing, “She could’ve killed someone. I’m so sick of her entitled a–,” according to the Daily Mail.
According to the company that produces Cann, Vana, their line of marijuana-infused drinks ranges in potency from a mix of 2 milligrams of THC combined with 4 milligrams of CBD to 5 milligrams of solely THC. (For reference, the Marijuana Policy Project recommends that a first-time edible user start with a 5-milligram dose.)
I think if this happened to a normal person with no money, we would say “well, what other option did she have.” But Ellen has other options! Surely she has a driver, or security personnel, or, you know, friends who are sober and just five minutes away from her house. Ellen probably didn’t think about any of that because she was high. She’s lucky she didn’t fall asleep at the damn wheel, and she’s lucky she didn’t hurt anyone.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Because rich people don’t call ambulances…which they can actually afford.
I learned this during a board meeting at work when a board member’s husband had a stroke during dinner and she still insisted they be driven to the hospital by one of us instead of calling an ambulance.
So whats the actual reason for not calling an ambulance, are all ambulances charged? Does that go on your medical insurance ?
Yes the cost of the ambulance is usually claimed on insurance. I have had several claims myself and recently my mom before she passed away.
Volunteer ambulances transport for free (more of a rural thing where fire fighters and the ambulance crew are all volunteers). But a medical ambulance ride can cost a lot. I remember a bill for my mom’s transport for something like 900 dollars for a short trip from hospital to a physical rehab facility. She was visiting my sister out of state so there was confusion with the billing and it finally got settled with no out of pocket several months after her death .
Because they just don’t go to the hospital in ambulances. And no it doesn’t always go on your insurance. It depends on your plan. I had to pay $900 out of pocket the one time I had to go to the ER in one. And I couldn’t afford it. I am very very fortunate to have a loving family who was able to contribute a bit to help me out.
Everyday I learn something new about America that makes me wonder at how Americans are convinced they live in the greatest country on Earth – you have to PAY FOR AN AMBULANCE??? That’s insane.
isn’t it? and it’s very expensive too
First time I heard about this I was shocked, it makes no sente
@Ninks – I think less and less Americans think that these days. It’s something politicians made up to distract from how much they screw everyone but their rich friends.
Well, Black people are certainly not convinced of that so maybe qualify that with who exactly is doing the talking about “greatest country on Earth”…
Not that it’s fair or right, but if you have good insurance it’s covered.
Sorry, is this supposed to make her sound more relatable or something. I assume those thc drinks must have a pretty a low amount of thc in them if she managed to drive. Irresponsible and incredibly dangerous for someone with all the money and resources to find another option to get her wife to the hospital.
Yikes! Reckless, dangerous and yeah she shouldn’t be telling people that story. I’m also pretty sure that calling an ambulance is not that much of an expense for her, so she had many options, she just went with the worst possible one. What an ahole.
Not cool at all to drive under the influence
Dumb. She is able to afford an ambulance, Lyft, etc.
“Afford” an ambulance? America is weird. I wonder how many people die while deciding if they can afford to call 911?
It’s ridiculous. It’s super weird. I’m sure so many people die or suffer unnecessarily because of it. I once received a bill after a car accident, in which I didn’t even call the ambulance/fire department, and it was like 2,000$. I was 19 and worked as a hostess at a restaurant.
Yes, America is weird. But it’s the truth – ambulances can be very, very expensive.
We got a bill for $10k because the hospital insisted our son be transferred to a different hospital in an ambulance- although he wasn’t in critical condition. Luckily insurance eventually covered it but it was several months of anxiety about the bill.
She couldn’t call an ambulance? Or at least ask one of their infinite house staff to?
That was my first reaction too.
Why not call an ambulance?
Than I remember this is the US, but still Ellen got enough money to call an ambulance.
She has THAT much trouble sleeping? I’d retire with all my riches rather than drug myself to that degree. Maybe it would be easier to start an antidepressant? Just spitballing ideas that wouldn’t leave me groggy and dull headed.
She obviously should not be behind the wheel if she’s taken THC, but as someone who also has THAT much trouble sleeping this sounds a lot like what I have to do just to sleep without waking up hourly. It’s awful. So I’m totally judging her for driving and think she’s a jerk, but I don’t think her bedtime routine is all that noteworthy. Not being able to sleep is miserable.
I feel like she’s too stressed. It’s a negative symptom of our current hectic, anxious society that so many people need a sleep cocktail in order to get rest.
I’m not judging her I just know I’m far too sensitive to meds to take that much stuff and be functional. Guess I’ll never be rich.
I hear you! For me, it’s not really about stress. It’s been about 12 years or so since I’ve slept through a night, and I’ve tried just about everything. It was hit or miss with edibles, but I’ve finally found a combination that helps me – a high CBD:THC ratio. CBD alone doesn’t do it for me, and I’m very sensitive to THC so the amount needs to be minimal. I take a little melatonin to help me get sleepy, and the edible help me stay asleep for at least a few consecutive hours. Waking up once or twice as opposed to 5 or more times has been life changing! And no grogginess. The edibles aren’t cheap, but the cost of not sleeping was too much for me.
Poor Portia.
She’s a shell of herself since getting with Ellen.
That’s exactly what I’ve noticed too. I divorced and separated a couple years ago and can spot someone undergoing emotional abuse very easily. Of course I don’t point it out to people in person, everyone has their own path and their own timeline, but i definitely see the signs with Portia.
@Embee, I agree. Portia was suffering in the bathroom BY HERSELF, apparently too afraid to ask Ellen for help. And when Ellen finally noticed Portia wasn’t around and found her there, Portia tried to pass off her distress as no big deal. I see HUGE red flags there.
@iconoclast59 That was my first thought too. Portia was suffering in incredible pain by herself rather than disturb Ellen with her problem. I was in an abusive relationship and I empathize with that situation. I hope Portia recovers soon.
Ellen can drink all the weed drinks in the world, smoke all the joints and drink all the wine. It won’t change the fact that inside she is toxic and supremely unhappy.
She must’ve had 3 more before this interview. I can’t believe she admitted this as if people would find it charming and funny.
Glad Portia is ok. Like others have said, I don’t understand why she didn’t call an ambulance if her wife was in that much pain.
Eh, maybe it’s just because of my body reacts to THC, but this doesn’t sound particularly dangerous to me. My own experience is just feeling somewhat drowsy but not overwhelmingly so, no worse than you may feel in the morning driving to work or after a late night shift. Melatonin’s effects can also take hours to kick in. I wouldn’t think much of driving after having some, not the way I would after, say, taking a shot at a bar. I’m not impressed by the decision, but it’s not the same as driving hammered or hopped up on something to me.
Celebrities are bizarrely insistent on avoiding certain public services, though. I get it from the perspective of HIPAA leaks and the way their information gets sold, but like…if I was rich, just chauffeur me everywhere lol. Isn’t that the appeal of being rich??
It’s still driving under the influence.
I don’t know about CBD but isn’t three drinks a lot? Combined with otc sleep aids is dangerous. It sounds like Ellen may have a problem.
I mean Ellen obv is an asshole for many different reasons, but neither CBD nor melatonin precludes you from driving. It’s a common misconception that melatonin makes you sleepy. It actually helps your circadian rhythm adjust resulting in a better, deeper sleep. It doesn’t have any sedative effects. And it’s perfectly legal to drive or operate machinery after taking CBD. The THC is the only psychoactive substance here and at 2mg per drink, it’s still quite low when you think that one joint has about 120mg of THC.
Bingo. I’m surprised others on here don’t know this,
They don’t like Ellen so that’s the most likely reason. Plus, many people see THC & assume the worst. I did eat an edible cookie though & it messed me up. I don’t know how much was in them but I doubt Ellen was messed up.
Part of the problem with all of this is that (other than the THC) these “wellness” drugs are not regulated in any way. People can tout them for anything because they don’t legally have to do anything. For example, Kristen Bell has a line called Hello Bello where she sells “sleep well” tablets that include melatonin, chamomile, passionflower, and lemon. The write-up says “It’s a nightly lullaby” with melatonin for sleep. The disclaimer is the “product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure,or prevent any disease” and has not been evaluated by the FDA. Bell also sells CBD products (also unregulated) and in a recent advertisement she touted the cute packaging for why one should buy it. Again, CBD oil and other products are not regulated. A consumer actually has no idea how much CBD is in any one product. In the research I have done, CBD is basically a placebo. That’s OK because there has been a lot of research done on placebos, but people may be able to find a less expensive placebo than $100 jars of designer CBD lotion.
Dr. Jen Gunter has written articles on these issues as have many other respected doctors about the dangers of the “wellness” and “supplement” industries. Just because something is “natural” does not mean it is good for you or that products should be combined. Consuming without full understanding can lead to dangerous situations.
CBD doesn’t seem to cause a “high” but I would disagree it is a placebo. In 2020, the FDA approved Epidiolex (cannabidiol / CBD) oral solution for the treatment of seizures associated with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) in patients one year of age and older. I’d add, from personal experience, it did have a noticeable calming effect on me when I was going through some rough times.
Agreed. In places where THC is legal a standard serving size of an edible is 10mg of THC. Depending on your tolerance level and body chemistry, 10mg in an edible can zonk you out (me) or have almost no effect at all (my partner). Not that I would recommend driving after consuming THC, but it doesn’t sound like she had much in her system at all. Still, I wouldn’t be telling this story on TV…
Thanks Penguin. No one here would bat an eye if Ellen drove after 1 cocktail, but no one here understands cannabis dosage I guess.
AM BU LANCE. 🙄
Personally melatonin knocks me out cold, so…this sounds crazy to me.
I’m glad Portia’s OK, but geez, Ellen. Give stuff a chance to work before drinking 2 more and adding melatonin. Once her adrenaline kicked in I assume she was ok, but I’m kind of shocked they don’t have any staff around to drive them.
For people having big trouble going to sleep and staying asleep, Benadryl.
I’m bipolar and if I’m manic I take 4-6 25mg benadryl. Im out in 10 minutes and stay asleep. And i dont get any blow back from it the next day like melatonin, weed or actual sleeping pills, no groggyness or hangover headache.
I prefer benadryl because its safer and doesn’t interact with any of my other medication.
it’s the same stuff thats in sominex and Tylenol pm, only wayyyy cheaper.
I know a number of bipolar people who use benadryl, but when you take it you have to go right to bed and lay down with your eyes closed, no phone.
I took Benadryl for the first time in my life a couple of months ago after having a weird reaction to a vaccine. There was no way I could stay awake, not even if somebody paid me to. Made me wonder how people with chronic allergies who have to take it on a regular basis manage to function.
Driving while, high, drunk and or on pills, sleepy or on the phone is crazy dangerous & very poor decision. Driving is a privilege not a right I wish people would see it as such
Before flonase changed my life, April-October was about managing the benadryl coma fog. None of the other ones worked for me…. I tried them all. You just get used to moving around perennially exhausted. It’s better than the alternative…. Swollen eyes, constant sneezing and nasal drip, feeling like ants crawling around in my sinuses.
And re ambulance cost…. No one has even touched on the ambulance showing up, but they are “out of network” even if you can negotiate them taking you to a hospital that’s in your network. My brother in law was choking in a restaurant… Ambulance and one of the er docs he saw was out of network. Took two year for them to get anything of those expenses covered. This is pre aca… It’s a little better but not much. When you’re choking to death you are not really going to ask for the ambulance that takes your insurance plan.
I’m just stuck on Portia being contorted on the floor in pain and not calling out to her wife for help. That….doesn’t sound like a good marriage, in my mind. I mean, trying to brush off needing to go to the hospital, yeah, I can see doing that. But to be in that much pain and not call for your spouse/partner for help? That just seems…not good.