How Long Does the High from Marijuana Last?

The question “how long does the high from marijuana last” is being asked more frequently than ever before. This is largely due to the growing number of individuals in America who use the drug. The CDC says that marijuana is the most frequently abused federally illegal substance in the United States, with 48.2 million people, or 18% of the population, having used it in 2019 alone. 

How long a cannabis high lasts is one of the first concerns a new or inexperienced user might have. Every person is different, and the length of a cannabis high is determined by a wide range of factors. The length of your high is generally determined by how you personally react to cannabis, the type of cannabis you consume, and the method you consume it.

How Long Does the High from Marijuana Last?

 The answer to that question depends on a combination of factors, including the type of Cannabis being used, the concentration of THC and CBD compounds, how it is consumed, and the user’s metabolism and cannabis experience. It may also impact your response to a product if you have a higher weight, a higher percentage of body fat, or if you have eaten recently. Regular cannabis users may build up a tolerance, resulting in less powerful effects. 

Smoking or Vaping 

Smoking is one of the most popular ways to consume cannabis. Cannabis can be smoked alongside tobacco or using water pipes or hand pipes. Using pens or other portable devices, cannabis can be vaporized as flower oil or wax. Smoking or vaping results in a long-lasting high that lasts up to four hours. 

Dabbing 

Using a dab pen or rig, dabbing is the process of taking in concentrates or extracts. Dab pens and rigs are used to consume these substances. Concentrates and extracts are used in place of smoking to obtain pain relief. Dabbing is one of the fastest ways to acquire pain relief. In addition to being potent, dabbing is easier on the lungs than smoking. The high from dabbing lasts between one and three hours. 

Edibles 

Edibles are a type of cannabis-infused food items, such as gummies, brownies, cookies, or beverages with cannabis. You will experience the effects of edibles slower than you would with smoked cannabis, but their highs are typically more intense. If large amounts of edibles are consumed, the high can last up to eight to ten hours. 

Factors that Affect the Length of a Marijuana High 

There is a significant amount of diversity in how cannabis affects people. The strength of the high, the effects of the high, and the strain or consumption method all vary from person to person. However, the following factors significantly impact the length of a marijuana high. 

Dosage 

The quantity of cannabis you take is one of the most significant things that will affect your high. If the dosage is too low, the cannabis will barely have any effect. If the dosage is too high, you may experience unpleasant side effects such as paranoia, nausea, or a long-lived high. 

Method 

Your method of consuming cannabis will significantly influence the high it produces. An edible might create a longer-lasting high, but it will take longer to begin working. Vaping, on the other hand, will provide a shorter but quicker high. The method of consumption will also play a role in determining how much cannabis you consume. For example, it is simpler to gauge the dosage when you vape or take a tincture than when you eat an edible. 

Metabolism

A person with a high metabolism will metabolize cannabis quicker, thus absorbing THC more rapidly and resulting in shorter-lasting effects. 

Tolerance 

Frequent cannabis consumers usually have a higher tolerance to the substance, resulting in weaker and briefer effects. Those with a lower tolerance for cannabis may find that its effects are weaker and last longer than those with a higher tolerance. 

How Long Does it Take to Kick In? 

The length of time a weed high lasts is determined by the same factors that determine how long it takes to kick in. How a person uses cannabis is the primary factor in determining when THC levels in the blood reach their peak. 

• Smoking and Vaping – Within 2 to 10 minutes after inhaling cannabis, you can begin to feel its effects. Because it enters your bloodstream via your lungs within minutes of inhaling it, the effect occurs quickly. 

• Dabbing – A pipe specialized for dabbing allows users to inhale a highly concentrated form of marijuana. Because dabs have a higher THC content than other forms of cannabis, the high occurs immediately. 

• Edibles – It can take a long time for your digestive system to metabolize marijuana when you eat it. Edibles usually take 30 to 60 minutes to kick in, but occasionally take as long as two hours. 

What Can You do to Sober Up from Weed? 

These are some methods you can use to reduce the high if you need to cut things short. These suggestions are designed to minimize the effects rather than eliminate them entirely. Therefore, you might still experience lingering consequences, including a diminished reaction time, so you still won’t want to drive. The following pointers are based on anecdotal evidence and academic research: 

Eat Black Pepper 

Caryophyllene, a molecule present in black pepper, may enhance the drowsiness caused by THC, a psychoactive element in cannabis. Try chewing on a piece of whole pepper without swallowing it. 

Take a Nap 

Sleep can help you relax if you’re high and feeling anxious or paranoid. It also gives your body time to eliminate and process the cannabis, allowing you to wake up feeling refreshed and more alert. 

Eat Lemon Peel 

The theory behind consuming lemon peel is that it contains compounds that have a calming effect. By consuming some lemon peel, you might be able to counteract some of the psychoactive effects of THC and come down. Try steeping some in hot water for a few minutes and then removing them before drinking. 

Use CBD 

Yes, it may seem strange, but CBD may counteract the effects of THC. Just like THC, cannabidiol (CBD) is a cannabinoid. The receptors in your brain that THC binds to are different from those to which CBD binds. THC gives you the high you receive from cannabis, but CBD has a calming effect that may help to reduce your high. 

How Long Does Marijuana Stay in Your System? 

Several factors can affect how long marijuana stays in someone’s system. The duration is determined by how frequently the person uses marijuana, the concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) it contains, their metabolism, and how hydrated they are. 

THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, can be detected in hair for as long as 90 days, in urine for as little as one day or as long as a month (depending on how often the individual consumes it), in saliva for up to 24 hours, and in blood for up to 12 hours.

Urine test 

A urine test may reveal recent cannabis use, as the body takes time to break down THC into metabolites. Although some research suggests that chronic marijuana use may result in detectable urine levels for up to 70 days, marijuana is usually undetectable in urine within one to four days. 

Hair Test 

A hair test has a lengthy detection period. Scalp hair can reveal marijuana use for as long as three months. In reality, a hair test is most effective for regular or near-daily marijuana consumers, but it is not able to detect light marijuana use. Furthermore, one survey found that 39% of individuals who reported light cannabis consumption tested positive for THC through a hair sample. Heavy cannabis users were detected by 75% of respondents. 

Blood Test 

As the concentration of THC in the bloodstream rapidly decreases after consumption (less than 4 hours after consumption), blood tests for marijuana detection are not typically used. However, THC enters the bloodstream quickly (within minutes of inhalation) and thus remains in the bloodstream for a short period of time. 

Recovery from Cannabis Addiction at Oasis Recovery Center

The first step in assisting oneself or a loved one to overcome marijuana addiction and begin the road to recovery is to seek professional treatment. At Oasis Recovery Center in Asheville, we combine conventional and alternative therapies to create individualized marijuana addiction treatment plans. 

Our intensive treatment programs help patients recover physically, mentally, and psychologically from the negative effects of marijuana abuse and how to handle future addiction problems. You are not alone. Please don’t hesitate to contact us to learn more about our addiction treatment options.