They can get high. Turtles have cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2. Cannabinoid receptor 1 regulates serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate release.
That means eating cannabinoid-rich food can make a sea turtle high.
The population of sea turtles is rapidly dwindling due to unending plastic pollution. The IUCN now lists all seven sea turtle species as endangered.
The dramatic decline in the sea turtle population has led to many issues, including an increase in the jellyfish population.
Except for sea turtles, few predators eat jellyfish. Because jellyfish are abundant now, turtles eat more of them.
Crush is a 150-year-old turtle who looks like Sean Penn from the film Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
This led to the famous theory that sea turtles get high on jellyfish.
So, do sea turtles get high? What about the jellyfish high?
Let’s go.
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Do Sea turtles eat Jellyfish and get high?
They can get high. Turtles have cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2. Cannabinoid receptor 1 regulates serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate release.
That means eating cannabinoid-rich food can make a sea turtle high.
Cannabinoids bind to CB1 and CB2 receptors. In this way, it alters a sea turtle’s perception of pleasure and pain.
Few plants contain cannabinoids. Rarer still in marine vegetation. But tropical liverwort has cannabinol properties.
Sea turtles may get high from consuming large amounts of liverwort.
But there’s no evidence to back this up.
Can Turtles Get High? Why You Shouldn’t Get High Around Your Turtle
Can jellyfish give sea turtles a high?
Although jellyfish are a large part of a sea turtle’s diet, they do not contain any psychoactive chemicals. So the internet buzz around this topic is false.
So, Why Do People Believe This Rumor?
Venomous nematocysts exist in the tentacles of jellyfish. They sting their prey or predator with these poisonous stinging cells. So, eating venomous jellyfish can make turtles high.
But, no.
Let me explain.
Jellyfish stings can penetrate human skin and inject toxic venom. Symptoms include trouble breathing, chest pain, muscle cramps, skin blisters, nausea, and difficulty swallowing.
However, turtle anatomy is very different from ours. They have scales on their skin and beaks instead of lipped mouths, unlike freshwater turtles.
Jellyfish stings will have no effect on them.
But what of their trachea? Their tummy? Can a turtle’s stomach handle poisonous creatures?
Again, anatomy is critical. It protects them from jellyfish stings.
Their stomachs are built to digest poisonous jellyfish.
Is It Safe For A Turtle To Eat Jellyfish?
There are several advantages to sea turtles. Their sharp beak, papillae, and hardened shell help them eat jellyfish.
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Beaks
Sea turtles have a razor-like beak that helps them tear apart a jellyfish’s gooey body.
Their beak skin is thick enough to withstand jellyfish stings.
The eye of a turtle appears to be its only weak point. When eating jellyfish, turtles close their upper eyelids.
A turtle’s nictitating membrane allows it to see. Even if they don’t have 20/20 vision when their eyes are covered, they can still spot their prey.
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Papillae
Papillae are spike-like keratin projections that point inward towards the stomach.
They cover the esophagus of a turtle. Its main purpose is to catch food and expel water before swallowing.
They also help reduce the impact of jellyfish stings while swallowing.
Papillae look like this:
Fundacion Los Roques – Cardon
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Shelly
Sea turtles’ hardened shells render jellyfish stings useless. Though turtles have nerve endings on their shells, they will not feel jellyfish stings.
Can Sea Turtles Get High?
All turtles, including sea turtles, have cannabinoid receptors, making them psychoactive.
There have been no reports of sea turtles getting high from eating liverworts or jellyfish.
There are rumors of sea turtles getting high from jellyfish. Still, no empirical evidence has surfaced.