{"id":40910,"date":"2026-01-28T06:00:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T11:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/?p=40910"},"modified":"2026-01-26T10:42:36","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T15:42:36","slug":"will-shotgunning-cannabis-get-you-high","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/will-shotgunning-cannabis-get-you-high\/","title":{"rendered":"Will Shotgunning Cannabis Get You High?"},"content":{"rendered":"

While out on a date, your crush pulls you in. You think it\u2019s for a kiss as their lips purse and eyes flutter shut. But as you lean in and part your lips for contact, they exhale a stream of cannabis smoke right into your mouth. YOU just got shotgunned. Is it your first time? No worries! We are here to explain how shotgunning cannabis works, if it can get you high, and everything else you should know about it.<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s Shotgunning Cannabis?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Shotgunning is when a person takes a hit (inhales), usually from a blunt, and exhales the smoke into the mouth of another person. In social gatherings, people often shotgun as a fun alternative to the classic puff, puff, pass. Some couples also do it to share a joint and a moment of intimacy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Besides being fun, shotgunning can help conserve weed, especially in group settings where multiple smokers burn through joints faster. You can shotgun using joints, vapes, and bongs, but not all methods have the same effect. The smoke from bongs and joints typically offers the strongest effects, while shotgunning cannabis vapor has the mildest effect.<\/span><\/p>\n

Allegedly, the practice started among American soldiers during the <\/span>Vietnam War<\/span><\/a>. These soldiers would load cannabis into the barrels of their <\/span>shotguns or rifles<\/span><\/a> and light it. Then, they\u2019d blow through one end to send the smoke out the other end into a waiting mouth.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"shortgunning\"<\/p>\n

Can Shotgunning Cannabis Get You High?<\/b><\/h2>\n

According to the participants of a<\/span> 2012 study<\/span><\/a>, the most common reason for shotgunning is to experience a more intense high. So, yes, shotgunning cannabis can get you high, but it\u2019s not guaranteed. Why? Lungs are basically THC sponges. Once cannabis smoke passes through them, it loses much of its THC content \u2013 <\/span>estimated anywhere from 10\u201335%<\/span><\/a>. So when you inhale that exhaled smoke during shotgunning, you’re getting a weaker, less potent hit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s why getting high from shotgunning typically requires highly potent cannabis or inhaling a lot of smoke. A higher potency means that despite the THC loss in the lungs, enough of the cannabinoid might remain in the exhaled smoke.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You\u2019re also more likely to feel it if your partner controls how much smoke reaches their lungs and exhales directly into your mouth. Research suggests that other <\/span>smoking topography factors<\/span><\/a>, like number of puffs, duration, spacing, volume, and even the expectation of reward, can get you higher. Shotgunning with this level of skill minimizes waste and gives you a fresher, more THC-rich hit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Is Shotgunning Dangerous?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Some participants in the same 2012 study said they shotgunned to lessen the <\/span>harshness of the smoke<\/span><\/a>. 8% also believed that shotgunning could expose them to catching or <\/span>transmitting a disease<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The truth is, while shotgunning can soften the harshness of cannabis smoke for the recipient, it poses several risks. The biggest of these risks is the potential of receiving respiratory pathogens with the smoke.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The risk significantly increases if both parties\u2019 lips actually touch while shotgunning. During the brief moment of intimacy, you\u2019ll share a breath and probably saliva, both of which can carry infectious diseases.<\/span><\/p>\n

Common transmissible diseases shotgunning might expose you to include:<\/span><\/p>\n