What if feels like to be high

In general, frequent users of cannabis believe that Cannabis indica strains produce a sensation of relaxation, while Cannabis sativa strains produce more of the euphoric high, which is better for creativity and social interaction. A hybrid strain may cause both effects, to varying degrees. However, according to an interview with Dr. Ethan Russo , an established expert on the human endocannabinoid system, there is no evidence to suggest that the different strains actually produce different effects.

Instead, he explained that the differences are based on how a person reacts to the individual plant and the amount of terpenoids within the particular plant the person is using. More research is needed in this area, however. THC absorption differs depending on the method a person uses.

For example, when a person smokes or vapes cannabis, the effects of being high occur almost immediately. The THC enters the lungs and bloodstream, and the user very quickly reaches their peak high.

When a person ingests cannabis in the form of edibles, however, it has to travel through the digestive tract, which slows down the process of absorption into the blood.

Therefore, it takes longer for the effects of the edibles to kick in. Take care not to take too much while waiting for an effect.

In , a review of studies identified the following time frames for smoking, vaping, and using edibles:. Learn more about the similarities and differences here. CBD does not cause a high. Manufacturers often extract CBD from the cannabis plant for medicinal use. Healthcare professionals have used CBD to treat pain, anxiety, and several other medical conditions.

Learn more about CBD oils and their effects here. THC is present in the bud of the cannabis plant, which is why people tend to use these parts in recreational joints and edibles. On the other hand, it can also lead to paranoia, dizziness, insomnia, nausea, dry mouth, fear, and hallucinations.

Adie Rae, a neuroscientist and scientific adviser to Weedmaps. This is typically called euphoria. There is a huge range of positive mood, from a subtle sense of ease all the way up to full-blown joy and elation. Joy and elation are possible outcomes of ingesting THC but some people feel a heightened urge to paint, write, play music, or otherwise express themselves.

Or they may choose to read or engage in deep, thoughtful conversations. Marijuana use can cause a change in perspective or thought processes that some say makes them more creatively inclined. Clearly, what it feels like to be high is a subjective experience that's different for everyone.

How you feel when you're high also depends on a multitude of external factors. But does being high always feel good? It's best to test the weed waters with small doses of low-THC products. Once you know how that makes you feel, you can increase as needed. In addition to altering your mood and perception, cannabis use can also affect your ability to function, remember things, reason, and feel inhibition.

A study published in in the journal Behavioural Pharmacology found that cannabis decreased inhibition , particularly in doses high in THC, but had a less concrete effect on memory and reasoning.

Your reaction time slows, and your sense of time goes out of whack. The science is clear on THC being the primary psychoactive component of cannabis and, therefore, the main factor in the strength and duration of feeling high.

But terpenes may also play a role in the marijuana high experience. According to a study published in the European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, there are many studies where terpenes have been shown to ease pain, anxiety, and depression , which could account for part of the euphoria that many people associate with being high. At the end of the day, each individual will have a unique experience with cannabis.

Also, some research has shown that higher doses result in less creativity than lower doses. One study did not find significant differences in the creativity of individuals using low dose THC and those not under the effects of marijuana at all. Typically, people under the influence of marijuana express ideas that may seem bizarre, muddled, unfeasible, or incomprehensible to others.

Some would-be artists use marijuana in the hope of a shortcut to artistic success—however, marijuana may make it more difficult to use creative thoughts productively. Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Modulation of auditory and visual processing by deltatetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol: An FMRI study. Drug Alcohol Depend. Tambaro S, Bortolato M. Cannabinoid-related agents in the treatment of anxiety disorders: current knowledge and future perspectives.

Cannabis and creativity: Highly potent cannabis impairs divergent thinking in regular cannabis users. Psychopharmacology Berl. Guilford, J Psychoactive Drugs. Effect of marijuana on divergent and convergent production cognitive tests. J Abnorm Psychol. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellMind. Finally, THC enhances smell and taste, which can cause you to start or continue eating.

Vaping marijuana is different from smoking marijuana. When you vape, you are inhaling vapor instead of smoke. As a result, vaping can produce a stronger high. As with smoking, you should feel the effects of vaping right away. These effects can last up to four hours. Results from a study indicated that vaporizing cannabis produced higher blood THC concentrations and stronger effects than smoking the same amount.

Ingesting marijuana, whether in tinctures, sprays, or food and drink, leads to a different high than smoking. Theoretically, the effects are less intense, as THC is released into the bloodstream over a longer period of time. For example, in a study that compared the effects of smoking, vaporizing, and ingesting cannabis, users reported weaker drug effects when cannabis was ingested. However, there are anecdotal reports of edibles producing a strong and sometimes debilitating high.

This might be due to the dose. The high might change depending on the concentration and ratios of THC and its metabolites in the bloodstream. More research needs to be done to understand these differences. It can take between 30 and 90 minutes before you start to feel the effects of marijuana edibles. Edible highs tend to last longer than a smoking or vaping high.

The effects are typically gone within 24 hours. The duration of a marijuana high depends on a variety of different factors, including the dose and potency. In addition, how you consume marijuana can drastically affect how long you feel high. A review identified the following times for the onset, peak, and total duration of a marijuana high.

Keep in mind that other differences, such as whether you smoke marijuana using a bong or a joint, can also affect how long the high lasts.