Can You Get Higher by Holding in Cannabis Smoke for a Long Time?

“Baby, one breath away,

I’ll find the words to say, 

I’ll sit and light the bong,

I’ll hold my hit in real long.”

These are the lyrics to “Mary” by the band Sublime. Songwriter Bradley Nowell showcases his talent in this classic song, reflecting on the innocence of young love and the youthful naivety of how he used to hold in a hit of weed “real long”. Consumers who hold cannabis smoke in for too long not only don’t get higher as a result, but they also potentially harm their bodies. 

What Happens When You Take A Hit of Weed?

Cannabinoids like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are absorbed through the lungs rapidly after taking a puff of cannabis smoke, as gaseous air exchange happens nearly instantly. These compounds concentrate in the bloodstream and circulate in plasma and red blood cells. After just a few seconds, post-inhalation THC is present in plasma; peak absorption of cannabinoids is achieved within 6–10 minutes. 

The impact of the cannabinoids creates various responses throughout the body. The cardiovascular system increases heart rate and blood pressure. CB1 and CB2 receptors in the cerebral cortex of the central nervous system then activate with the euphoric high, potential medicinal effects, and impaired memory that cannabinoids like THC provide. 

THC is readily bioavailable in the lungs up to around 35%, and CBD up to 45%. They are soon metabolized by the liver, and metabolites remain in the body (inactively) anywhere from a day and a half to 2 weeks, depending on frequency. Cannabis metabolites are excreted out of the body through urine, but primarily through feces.

Breathhold Duration and Response to Marijuana Smoke

Researchers have conducted several studies determining if holding in cannabis smoke during inhalation affects absorption levels of cannabinoids and the subsequent high.

In 1995, the first study examined the volume of smoke inhaled by daily cannabis consumers and whether it increased concentrations of THC in plasma levels, leading to a more substantial “high” for the consumer. Several different concentration levels were examined (30, 60, and 90 mL) and were found to significantly increase plasma THC levels. The resulting high showed an increased heart rate, impaired memory, and increased subjective euphoria. 

A second study examined different breathhold durations (0, 10, 20 seconds) of 7 different regular cannabis users as study participants. Each participant inhaled a specific amount of cannabis smoke for either of those durations. Their results found that holding the smoke in for 10 or 20 seconds increased the levels of THC in plasma, but showed no significant observable effect on the “subjective high”. 

These studies feature smaller sample sizes but open the door to the possibility of more research on the subject. However, the authors note that the methods and results observed lend themselves to dispelling the belief that holding cannabis smoke in longer gets you higher. 

Other Health Concerns Related to Holding It In For Too Long

Tar is the unfortunate by-product of inhaling combusted smoke, attaching itself to the lungs of cannabis smokers, the more they smoke and hold it in. Additionally, cannabis and tobacco smoke share carcinogens, toxic gases, reactive oxygen species, and PACs – so other routes are advisable. Adverse health effects like lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema correlate with high levels of tar and toxins like these in the human lungs – but the overall connection to these diseases and cannabis remains unclear. 

Researchers and studies demonstrate that not only does holding your hit in for longer not get you higher, but it’s also potentially harmful to your body – even Bradley Nowell knew this to be true!

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Cannabis Get Stronger Over Time?

The bioavailability of smoking active cannabinoids depends on the puff volume, which then affects plasma concentration in the body. One study involved test subjects who smoked a full joint, with THC levels peaking just about the time the joint was finished. Researchers determined that about 8 minutes after smoking, THC-plasma concentrations were at their peak. 

How Long Do You Stay High After Smoking Cannabis?

The same researchers concluded that THC-plasma concentration and the subsequent high decrease significantly after about 3–4 hours. According to sources, the entire experience can last anywhere from 2 to 8 hours after smoking cannabis on average, depending on experience, metabolism, and dose. Experienced consumers may expect a 1-2 hour duration from an inhaled dose.

Other inhalation methods like dabbing and edibles can potentially lead to an all-day high that varies in intensity depending on the amount ingested. 

Can Breathing In Cannabis Smoke Make You High?

Yes, if you inhale THC cannabis smoke, it will coordinate with the CB1 receptors in your body’s endocannabinoid system as a result of the activated THC cannabinoids. Smoking CBD or CBG-dominant cannabis does not make you high because they don’t feature psychoactive cannabinoids. These compounds instead increase endocannabinoids and attach to various other receptors (e.g., serotonin, TRP, etc.) responsible for potential medicinal and therapeutic effects without a high.

What Happens If You Stay High for Too Long?

We’ve all been there, way too high, and wondering when the effects won’t be so intense. Feelings of anxiety and panic can sometimes ensue, depending on your psychological state and the amount of THC-rich cannabis you consumed. Taking adequate hydration, several deep breaths for a few seconds at a time can help slow your heart rate and blood pressure down, potentially leading to decreased anxiety and tension. Some consumers also report that countering a high THC experience with CBD can help to balance out an overly edgy high.  

How Many Hours Does Cannabis Last?

As mentioned, after smoking cannabis, novice consumers may perceive effects lasting anywhere from 3-4 hours or longer, depending on body type and volume of cannabis smoked. People with experience, high tolerances, and frequent or daily use may expect closer to 1–3 hours from inhaled routes. 

For THC edibles, the cannabinoids absorb into fatty tissues after about an hour of ingestion and, depending on body type, last much longer than smoking cannabis.  

READ:How Cannabinoids Flow Through Our Bodies: Inhalation VS Ingestion

Can Some People Not Get High?

The amount of cannabis consumed, along with an individual’s physiology and metabolic functions, typically determines how fast and intensely a person gets high, but they can also determine whether you get high at all. 

The same amount of weed can deliver different levels of cannabinoids to different people, creating varied experiences that may also include not getting high at all. Some consumers of edibles may also be “ediblocked” from feeling any type of high as a result of a highly efficient liver enzyme that processes and removes active cannabinoids faster than they can be absorbed into the individual’s blood and brain.