Does Holding In Your Cannabis Hit Longer Get You Higher?

Does Holding In Your Cannabis Hit Longer Get You Higher?

Fact or Myth: Does holding in your cannabis hit longer make you higher?

There are many myths about cannabis use and consumption and how to get the most from vaping or smoking weed.

In my student days, it was common for us to share a joint and play a game called traffic lights. The game was supposed to get you higher faster by absorbing more THC into your system.

This game starts with the first person taking a single toke from the joint. They then pass the joint to the second person, who also takes a hit and passes it to the next person, and so on. The first person can only exhale the hit once the joint is passed back to them. In the next round, each of the players takes two tokes, followed by a round of three tokes, and so on.

It was an entertaining game, which inevitably resulted in everyone coughing a lot, but did this get us any higher? Sadly not.

One of the most common myths is that holding in the smoke in your lungs will make you higher. You might have seen influencers in videos or even in real life people taking a hit from a joint or bong and then holding their breath for as long as they can. But does this work? 

The answer is no, it doesn't. In fact, holding the smoking in for too long can be detrimental to your health. Let's break down why.

How Smoking and Vaping Cannabis Works

When you smoke weed, the active ingredient called THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) enters your lungs with the smoke.

As you inhale, your lungs expand, drawing the smoke and air into the small sacks called alveoli. Some of the THC is then absorbed through the lining of the lungs and enters the bloodstream. The bloodstream carries the THC and other cannabinoids around your body and organs, where they interact with your endocannabinoid receptors, and this is what makes you feel high.   

THC affects specific receptors in the brain that usually respond to natural chemicals similar to THC. These natural chemicals are essential for normal brain function and development. When someone uses marijuana, it overstimulates the parts of the brain with the most of these receptors, causing the "high" feeling. This can lead to effects such as seeing brighter colors, feeling like time is passing differently, changes in mood, difficulty with movement, trouble with thinking and problem-solving, problems with memory, and in extreme cases, experiencing hallucinations, delusions, or psychosis, especially with regular use of high potency marijuana.

The process is pretty quick—THC enters your bloodstream within just a few seconds of inhaling. So, does holding your breath help more THC get into your blood? Not really. Studies have shown that most of the THC is absorbed within the first few seconds. Holding the smoke in your lungs for longer doesn't mean more THC gets into your body—it just means you're depriving your brain of oxygen.

What Actually Happens When You Hold Your Breath

You might feel lightheaded or dizzy when you hold your breath after taking a hit. Some people mistake this feeling for being "higher," but it's your brain reacting to a lack of oxygen. This can be dangerous and doesn't make the effects of cannabis any stronger. Plus, holding in the smoke longer means more tar and other harmful chemicals stay in your lungs, which isn't good for your health.

Better Ways to Get the Most Out of Cannabis

Instead of holding your breath, there are healthier and more effective ways to enjoy your cannabis experience:

1. Use Stronger Strains: Some types of weed have more THC than others. If you want to feel a more potent high, look for strains with higher THC content.
2. Longer, Slower Inhales: By inhaling slowly and taking a deeper breath, you will take more smoke into your lungs and, hence, more THC.
3. Try Dabbing: Dabbing is a way to vaporize concentrated cannabis, which has much more THC than regular weed. You can use a wax pen or vape cart and 510 battery. Just be careful because it's very strong, and a little goes a long way.
4. Eat the Right Foods: Certain foods, like mangoes, might help you feel higher by helping THC move through your body faster. This is because mangoes contain a chemical called myrcene that interacts with THC.
5. Use a Vaporizer: Vaporizers heat cannabis just enough to release the THC without burning it, which means you get more THC and fewer harmful chemicals. Vaping cannabis has a higher efficacy rate then smoking.

Bottom Line

Holding your breath after taking a hit doesn't get you higher. It just makes you lightheaded and can be harmful to your lungs. If you want to get the most out of your cannabis, focus on using more potent strains, trying new methods like dabbing, and making sure you're smoking safely with good equipment like vaporizers or ice bongs. Remember, the best way to enjoy cannabis is to use it responsibly and take care of your health.