How Long Does a Weed & Edible High Last?

As the world of cannabis becomes increasingly more mainstream, the desire to dip your toes into the green waters of weed makes a lot of sense. Whether you like the idea of cannabis for recreational or medical purposes, there is still a little bit of onboarding to do before you get started. Practical considerations that need to be dealt with before you begin.

For example, what does being high on weed feel like? How long do you stay high on weed? And just how high can you get, anyway?

In this article, we take a look at the ins and outs of the effects of weed to help you better understand what you are getting yourself into.

Effects of Weed

Anyone who has ever watched a stoner movie probably has some preconceived notions of what a cannabis high is like. You’ve seen the red-eyed toker staring aimlessly at the television or nothing in particular. But how reflective is this of reality? What does weed feel like?

Here, we take a look at some of the effects of weed.

It’s important to note that there are many subjective considerations that will impact your experience with cannabis. It’s a lot like drinking alcohol. One beer with a meal might not do so much, especially parsed out over an hour. Several beers on an empty stomach may leave you feeling disoriented.

The cannabis high is equally subject to variables. How used you are to cannabis, how much you take, the kind of weed you ingest, all contribute to the types of symptoms you will experience. Nevertheless, there are some symptoms that are dependably common enough.

They are as follows:

• Lightheadedness
• Short term gaps in memory
• Mild to severe confusion
• Hunger
• Decreased inhibitions
• Sleepiness

All totaled, there might be dozens of other less common symptoms to factor for as well. For example, some experience headaches and nausea when they consume cannabis.

One thing you may have noticed is that some of these symptoms align (more or less) with the cinematic notion of a stoner. While this may be true, it is also true that many cannabis enthusiasts are entirely productive and efficient, regardless of their recreational habits.

What Does a Marijuana High Feel Like?

Ok, so symptoms are well and good, but they are also a little medical, aren’t they? How does weed affect you?

Most people report a sensation of euphoria while they are under the influence of cannabis. The general experience is one of relaxation, coupled, perhaps, with an undercurrent of mild to severe confusion or lightheadedness (similar, though not identical to the sensory impairment brought on by alcohol consumption).

But while this is a general explanation of cannabis and its effects, it is also important to note that the type of marijuana you are dealing with will have an impact on the outcome.

Indicia High

Indica is designed to be a more relaxing form of cannabis. Many take indica as part of a nighttime routine to help them fall asleep. It’s a body buzz that usually contributes to a sense of calm that will highly benefit restless minds trying to go to bed.

Of course, indica can be taken at any time of the day, and will ultimately produce results comparable to that of other forms of marijuana.

Sativa High

Sativa is known more for its head high and euphoria. Sativa can be a little more energizing and is often associated with the creative process. Many use sativa for reducing anxiety and functioning throughout the day. Indeed, to better understand the two types of cannabis, you might be well-served to think of indica as a night time weed, and sativa as a day time weed.

CBD High

And then there is CBD. It’s important to note that there is no such thing as a CBD high—at least not one that compares to a THC high. CBD is a non-psychoactive ingredient of the cannabis plant that is usually extracted from hemp—the marijuana plant’s brother.

However, it can produce a more mild sense of ease without actually producing the euphoria that THC is known for.

How long does the effects of CBD oil last?

The general rule of thumb is between 2-6 hours, though this can be impacted by many factors like how much you take, how you take it, and the overall quality of the CBD.

Cannabis and Weed High Questions:

Now that you know a little bit more about the weed high in all its glory, let’s take a look at some of the more nitty-gritty details, shall we?

Do you get high the first time you smoke weed?

It is definitely possible to get high the first time you smoke weed. However, the unfortunate truth is that many people don’t. There could be a variety of reasons for this. For example, you might not know how to smoke cannabis properly.

Another theory is that the first time or two you ingest cannabis your body just doesn’t know what to do with THC. If you are frustrated with your initial forays into the world of cannabis, try to be optimistic. It will work eventually!

However, try not to make the mistake of continuously updating the quantity that you experiment with. If the dose is too high the first time the cannabis works, you may not have a pleasant experience.

How much THC does it take to get you high?

This question is a little too subjective to have a conclusive answer. Technically, any amount of THC can have an effect on your body. However, certain quantities are not considered psychoactive. For example, CBD oil may feature .3% THC without producing any psychoactive effect at all.

Dispensary grade cannabis usually features a much higher level of THC. There, you might find cannabis with 20-40% THC—more than enough to get thoroughly and completely stoned.

How many hits does it take to get high?

Again, it’s just too subjective a question to answer definitively. In your initial experiences with cannabis, a single hit may be more than enough.

However, people with tolerance to THC will probably find that a much more significant quantity is needed to feel the desired euphoria.

How long does a weed high last?

Cannabis stays in your system for a very long time. However, the effects it has on your brain and body are relatively short-lived. Depending on how you have ingested it and how much you took, it could take anywhere from two-six hours for the cannabis to wear off.

However, it’s also worth noting that there are massive differences between, say, a bong rip, and a hit from a joint. Over time, you will learn that your body responds differently to certain methods of ingestion.

How can you make your high last longer or get higher?

The easiest way to make your high last longer is to ingest more cannabis or to consume it in a more potent way (for example edibles).

However, there are other factors that might help as well. For example, consuming cannabis on an empty stomach may be more potent than consuming it when you are full. Everyone’s body handles THC differently, so results will vary substantially.

Beginners are likely to find that it is better to start slow and build from there. This is especially true for people living in a green-friendly community. Dispensary workers are usually very knowledgeable about their inventory, and always willing to answer questions. It’s a good idea to tell them that you are a beginner, and find out what strains they recommend.

Here’s one other hint. Try eating mangos if you’re looking to get higher for a longer period of time. Studies have found that mangos are high in terpenes. Some of these terpenes are also found in the cannabis plant. If you eat a mango before you smoke, these terpenes flow into the bloodstream and brain. The theory is that since the mango terpenes are already in your body, the THC and other cannabinoids bind themselves to those terpenes and flow to your brain faster, causing the high to come on quickly and stay longer.

A Look into Edible High Questions:

Now we come to the edible. There are actually many benefits to this form of ingesting cannabis. Among them, the most notable is that you don’t have to expose your lungs to the tar that is created by smoking.

People also appreciate edibles for the fact that they are associated with a more intense and often longer-lasting sense of euphoria (though this does not have to be the case).

In this section, we take a look at everything you could possibly need to know about the world of edibles.

What is the difference between edibles and cannabis flower?

While there is an obvious cosmetic difference between an edible and “flower” chemically speaking, there is not a meaningful distinction between the two. While the cannabis flower that you purchase at the store looks more or less like the materials that are retrieved from the plant, edibles have simply been taken through a few additional steps.

Edibles are all made with “cannabutter” a material that is processed via cannabis flower. The qualities and characteristics of this material will vary substantially based on how much cannabis is involved, what type of strain was used, and how it was prepared.

What does an edible high feel like?

There is a lot that could be said about the edible experience, but perhaps comedian Joe Rogan said it best in the following: “When you eat [marijuana], it’s processed by your liver and it produces something called 11-Hydroxy metabolite. That’s five times more psychoactive than THC … and it lets you talk to dolphins.”

Edibles are like any other form of cannabis but significantly more potent. While you won’t actually talk to dolphins, you will find that the experience is significantly more intense than that of simply smoking cannabis.

Consequently, it is important to be very careful with how you dose your edible intake. A quantity that may be mild when it comes to smoking could be completely overwhelming when taken in the form of an edible.

How long does an edible high last?

As with all things relating to the cannabis high, this is a bit of a subjective consideration. However, just based on the way your body metabolizes THC, you should expect the edible high to last up to eight hours—much longer than your average smoke sesh buzz.

However, you should note that the effects also won’t be felt right away. When you smoke cannabis, the THC is absorbed into your bloodstream almost in real-time. It’s not uncommon to start feeling high the moment your lips leave the pipe.

Edibles take a little bit longer to kick in because they have to be activated by the digestive process. Consequently, it may be closer to an hour (or longer) before you feel anything at all.

Many the stoner have made the mistake of consuming more and more edibles because they worried that their first dose was a dud, only to find a little bit later that they have consumed far too much. Don’t make that mistake.

If your goal is to be a functional human, it’s a good idea to approach edibles gingerly.

What makes cannabis edibles stronger?

As briefly touched on above, it’s all about how your body metabolizes the THC. Because THC is being processed by your liver instead of your bloodstream, the effects are amplified. Many say that as a general rule of thumb you can expect edibles to be 4x more potent than smoked cannabis of a comparable quantity.

It is actually possible to take a moderate approach to your edible intake. For example, some people use edibles to micro-dose. In other words, they consume an extremely small amount of THC through edibles in the hopes of experiencing relaxation without confusion or lightheadedness.