Have you ever shared a joint and been told to inhale deeply to avoid wasting your cannabis? Carlini admits the distinctions exist, but scientific understanding remains limited. Carlini explains that endocannabinoids—compounds interacting with our endocannabinoid system—help regulate sensations. Piomelli notes the body contains multiple receptor types, including endocannabinoid receptors. Terpenes significantly influence how cannabis affects you. Did you ever mistake a skunk’s scent for someone smoking a J nearby?
Does Holding in Weed Smoke For Longer Get You Higher?
Your lungs already know what to do. Though vapor is milder, THC absorption happens just as rapidly. Carbon monoxide levels rose (indicating deeper smoke inhalation), yet THC potency remained unchanged. Heart rate — memory, and mood showed minimal variation regardless of exhalation timing.
This article has been viewed 11,486 times. She graduated with a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences from the University of Rhode Island and is the co-founder of The whats in a cali pen Network of Applied Pharmacognosy. Cannabis affects everyone differently, so it’s hard to predict exactly how long you’ll feel the effects. For a seasoned consumer (this is probably not a big deal), but a newbie may find the effects of a bigger dose to be a bit much. You could also re-dose or try a higher THC strain for a longer high, but know that you’ll also have more intense effects.
What science says about how weed makes us feel
Results from a 2018 study indicated that vaporizing cannabis produced higher blood THC concentrations and stronger effects than smoking the same amount. As with smoking — you should feel the effects of vaping right away. More research needs to be done to understand whether the effects of cannabis change over time. Negative reactions are more likely when you’re inexperienced or take too much. Setting an intention can prime your mind for the experience you’re about to have. Smoking in a calm, quiet forest will create a much different experience than smoking at a crowded party.
Rudroff acknowledges current knowledge gaps regarding cannabis’s long-term effects. Middle-aged cognitive decline may correlate with prolonged marijuana use. A 2016 study revealed that 20 years of regular cannabis use correlated with increased gum disease but no other significant health impacts , Hill KP, et al.,. If you’ve smoked cannabis and felt anxious, your strain likely contained high THC levels.
Other sources suggest that when ingested (THC reaches the liver faster), where it’s broken down into another psychoactive compound. Theoretically (the effects are less intense), as THC is released into the bloodstream over a longer period of time. Ingesting cannabis (whether in tinctures), sprays, or food and drink, leads to a different high than smoking. As a result, vaping can produce a stronger high. Vaping cannabis is different from smoking cannabis. Strains are different breeds of the cannabis plant.
The endocannabinoid system that helps cannabis get us high is also vital to many other aspects of our health. Whether you plan on celebrating today or are simply curious about how cannabis affects the body and mind — here are seven highlights from our Science of cannabis series. Now, 20 April is recognised worldwide as weed’s unofficial holiday. One of them later went on to work with the Grateful Dead, sharing their story and ultimately popularising the number’s association with marijuana. No, THCA does not produce a high on its own like THC (the psychoactive compound in marijuana) does. We’ll teach you everything you need to know about THCA — so you can decide if it’s a good fit for your medicinal or recreational cannabis line-up.
How much cannabis you consume (also known as dosage), can significantly affect your cannabis experience. When you get high, you consume plant cannabinoids, which interact with and attach to receptors in the endocannabinoid system. Most weed strains you buy at the dispensary will be high in THC, and some will be high in CBD or have a balance of the two.
Appearing to produce a heightened sense of joy and happiness, anandamide has been called the “bliss molecule.” In fact — the term anandamide comes from the Sanskrit word “ananda,” which means “joy” or “bliss.” In the early 1990s, the man who first identified (and synthesized) THC, Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, discovered a neurotransmitter called anandamide. Like most other drugs of abuse, THC stimulates neurons in the reward system to release the signaling chemical dopamine at levels higher than typically observed in response to natural stimuli. THC, acting through cannabinoid receptors, also activates the brain’s reward system, which includes regions that govern the response to healthy pleasurable behaviors like sex and eating. Many media reports over the past few decades explain that THC induces a “flood of dopamine” that causes the pleasurable “high” cherished by recreational cannabis consumers. So next time someone tells you to “hold it in,” you can exhale and let the facts do the talking.
Another phenomenon tied to consuming weed that is hard to pinpoint is set and setting—or your state of mind , mindset, and the environment (set) you’re in when consuming cannabis. The receptors then release endocannabinoids in your body, and that’s how you chemically feel high. When consumed — cannabinoids interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system to produce effects, working in tandem with terpenes.
Here’s how cannabis affects your brain and body. With cannabis’s growing medical acceptance and evolving legal status — understanding its mechanisms is crucial. To experience THCA’s psychoactive effects, you must activate it by heating—such as through vaping or smoking—converting it into Delta-9 THC. Starting with low-dose (less potent strains minimizes overconsumption), while edibles prolong effects. For a sustained high, edibles are preferable. Lingering effects (like slowed reflexes), persist, so driving remains unsafe.
Combining cannabis with tobacco heightens associated risks. Inhalation technique has negligible impact compared to dosage and product potency. Instead of prolonging breath-holds, focus on inhalation quantity and strain strength. THC absorption is rapid; breath-holding offers no advantage. How long do you hold in a hit?
But at the same time, my heart was beating so fast and I felt panicked. “I’m a social stoner, meaning I only get high around other people, which has been hard since Covid hit. Weedmaps spoke with a trio of people across the country to understand how they feel when they’re high on marijuana. At the end of the day, each individual will have a unique experience with cannabis. The science is clear on THC being the primary psychoactive component of cannabis and, therefore, the main factor in the strength and duration of feeling high. Your reaction time slows, and your sense of time goes out of whack.”