Trying marijuana for the first time can be a little nerve-wracking. The idea of “getting high” can cause some people to avoid marijuana products altogether when they only want to have a delightful experience. Or, at least they can have an enjoyable experience.
Knowing what to expect and how to manage your high can help put potential newbies at ease. When it comes to what it feels like to be high from smoking weed and vaping marijuana, read on to learn more.
What Makes You High When Using Marijuana?
First, it’s essential to know that there are some marijuana products out there that won’t get you high. That’s because they are missing the compound that makes the high feeling possible. These products are an excellent alternative to smoking marijuana if you can’t overcome your fear of getting high.
So, what exactly is responsible for the high people experience? THC.
Marijuana plants are made up of more than 100 different compounds. These compounds are part of what determines the effects particular marijuana plants and strains have on users. Of these compounds, there are two that are most common: CBD and THC.
THC is the compound that is responsible for the high feelings users experience after smoking weed. THC can also offer other benefits, but it is best known for the high feelings.
CBD, the second most prominent compound, will not get you high. So, if you find a CBD product, you can enjoy other effects without the high.
What Determines Your Marijuana Experience?
Every marijuana strain and every person is unique. That makes it difficult to say what your high will feel like. Multiple factors can influence your cannabis experience, such as:
- The strain you are using. The effects of each strain will be determined by its genetic makeup and the type of marijuana plant it is (sativa, indica, or a hybrid of the two). All this will influence the kinds of effects you’ll experience. Sativa, for example, is known for offering more energy-boosting effects, while Indica plants are more relaxing and sedating.
- The amount of THC that it contains. As we mentioned earlier, THC is responsible for the high that users feel. So, the higher the amount of THC a strain has, the stronger the high you’ll feel. If you are using cannabis for the first time, you may want to look for strains with THC counts in the lower end of the spectrum.
- How you ingest it. There are many ways you can use marijuana, though smoking and vaping are among the most common. These two consumption methods typically offer users fast-acting results whose potency is dependent upon the strain used. However, if you were to use a cannabis gummy product, you would experience a delayed onset of effects and effects that would last longer.
- How much you take. Dosage is an important factor when taking marijuana, especially for the first time. Newbies should start with a lower dose so that the effects are more subtle. But experienced users may develop a bit of tolerance and be able to take more marijuana and strains with higher THC contents.
What Does It Feel Like to Be High?
Smoking and vaping both offer marijuana users similar experiences, though they depend on the product that is being smoked and vaped. When using these products, you can experience effects such as:
- Increased relaxation
- Drowsiness
- Burst of creativity
- Increased energy
- Increased appetite
- Feelings of euphoria
- Improved mood
Before trying a strain, see what effects most users experience to give you a better idea of the experience you’ll have.
Though effects can vary from energy-inducing to more sedating, your high will occur in three general phases:
- Onset. This refers to when you first start experiencing the marijuana’s effects. The beginning of symptoms, if you will. When it comes to vaping and smoking, you can expect to start feeling the effects quickly, usually within seconds.
- Peak. This is when the effects of your cannabis are most prominent, and you’ll feel its effects most intensely. For smoking and vaping, the average peak time is 20 to 30 minutes after your first puff.
- Comedown. Your high won’t last forever. The comedown period is when the effects start to taper off, and you’ll return to feeling more normal. For smoking and vaping, the comedown usually occurs two to three hours after smoking. But, for strains high in THC, it can last longer.
How to Come Down From a High Faster?
It can put new users’ minds at ease to know that you can do things to help bring yourself down from a high that you feel is too much and too strong for you. If you’re experiencing a “bad high,” you can:
- Stay calm. Remember, the effects will fade. Panicking can only increase your bad high and trigger feelings of anxiety.
- Take CBD. Remember how we said CBD wouldn’t get you high? It can also counter the effects of THC. So, grab a CBD gummy or other product to help temper the effects of the THC you’ve inhaled.
- Go lay down. Find a quiet spot to lay down and relax. You may be able to fall asleep, and when you wake up, your high will likely be over.
Smoking and Vaping Highs in Summary
The high you will experience when smoking or vaping weed will vary based on the type of marijuana and the specific product you are using. But there are ways you can estimate the kind of effects that you will experience.
Read about different strains before you use them to see what effects it is known to provide users. You should also check the THC content to see how strong of a high you will have. Knowing all this can help you determine what your high will be like.
Remember dosage is vital. If you are worried about the high you’ll have, take a small amount to start. You can increase it as you grow more comfortable.