jason-crawford

Medically Reviewed by
Jason Crawford

Article Last Updated on January 3, 2023

The increased legalization laws around the US have made weed the go-to controlled substance for marijuana aficionados and those looking for a high. While the average THC levels of weed are adequate for most marijuana users, some are looking for more potent strains, and therefore, more intense effects. 

Even though we’ve covered subjects like how many hits does it take to get high and how long after smoking can you drive, we still haven’t covered the subject of getting the most out of your weed and getting really high. So, this article will focus on exactly that, how you can get the best high you can out of your stash, and we’ll also mention some potent new strains you can buy at the local dispensary.

The Cannabis Plant and Its Cannabinoids

The cannabis plant is known for its anti-inflammatory, psychoactive, and calming effects, which is why it’s used both recreationally and medically. The effects of marijuana include the psychoactive high, increased levels of euphoria and energy or deep relaxation, depending on the strain, as well as increased creativity in people who use it.

Apart from the desired psychoactive effects, weed can also produce some unwanted side effects like bloodshot eyes, dry mouth, an elevated heart rate, the munchies, and other physical and psychoactive effects.

THC vs CBD

The main “culprits” for the effects weed has on users are its two main cannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). The former is responsible for the psychoactive high, while the latter is the cause of the sedative and anti-inflammatory effects.

These and other cannabinoids like CBC and CBG interact with the cannabinoid receptors that are part of the body’s endocannabinoid system. When smoking weed, we inhale the cannabinoids which affect the cannabinoid regions in the brain and all over the body (which results in increased levels of dopamine and a psychoactive high).

What Can You Do to Get Really High From Cannabis?

If a regular high isn’t enough for you, in the following paragraphs we’ll give you information on how you can get as much from your weed as you can to get as high as you can. 

Use Weed Strains With High THC Content

If you haven’t been getting as high as you’d like, maybe your cannabis strain doesn’t have very high THC levels, so you may want to try a new one, or swap your Sativa for an Indica. 

Indicas deliver more uplifting feelings which result in increased creativity and productivity levels, while Sativas deliver more relaxing and sedative feelings. Opting for an Indica rather than a Sativa might result in a better high.

You might also benefit from trying more potent weed with higher levels of THC to get the high you’re after. Experiment with different strains and see which one fits you best. Your budtender can help you choose the right strain for you, but our recommendations are strains like Trainwreck, Purple Haze, Pineapple Express, and Gorilla Glue.

Try a Variety of Cannabis Products

If you’ve only tried smoking blunts or joints, it’s no wonder that you haven’t been getting as high as you’d like. Smoking cannabis in a joint makes it burn faster, and if you don’t inhale the right way, you may even end up coughing. If this is the case with you, it may be time to try out some other marijuana products.

Try Vaping

A popular alternative to smoking weed is using a vape pen or a vaporizer to consume the precious cannabinoids. Vaping gives you all the benefits of smoking a joint while providing you with a smoother inhale, since the vape pen doesn’t burn the cannabinoids as a joint does (but rather heats them up at a really high temperature).

Try Pipes

Pipes are another timeless option for smoking marijuana (or tobacco) since they don’t require you to have additional equipment such as rolling papers or filters, as joints and blunts do. You can even try one-hitter pipes which give a potent high from a small dose of weed.

Try Kief And Dabs

Dabbing is one of the preferred methods of consuming weed for long-term users who have a higher tolerance for weed. To try dabbing, you’ll need a dab rig with which you’ll vaporize the cannabis concentrate (dab) so you’ll get one of the most intense highs ever.

Kief is the residue of trichomes that’s left behind in your grinder when you grind your weed, and is one of the most potent cannabis products. You could add kief to your joints to make them more potent, put it in edibles, or add it to concentrates.

Try a Gravity Bong

To get a smoother and larger hit of weed, you can try various types of bongs and bubblers like the gravity bong which administers concentrated smoke and a high no joint will give you. To use a bong, you need to fill it with water, place the weed in the designated place, light it up, cover the carb hole, and start inhaling. You’ll feel the effects in no time.

Try Edibles

Since edibles take a longer time to kick in, their effects last much longer, so giving them a try might be a good idea if you don’t find that your joint is giving you a proper high. You have a wide array of cannabis edibles to try including weed brownies, cakes, chocolates, gummies, and other cannabis products made with cannabutter or cannabis oil, so the only thing left is for you to choose your preferred option. 

Try a Tolerance Break

There’s nothing like taking a little break from weed, and later coming back to it and getting a potent high similar to the first time you smoked. So, if you’ve been having trouble getting the desired effects from weed, maybe a little break of a few days, even weeks will do you good, and the next time you smoke you’ll feel like it’s your first time. Remember, the longer you wait, the more intense the high.

Try Different Foods

To increase the potency of your high, you might want to include some mangoes or food rich in the terpene myrcene. Myrcene is a terpene found in cannabis, and consuming myrcene through food while consuming cannabis may increase its psychoactive effects, according to a 2011 study. Next time you’re planning on lighting up, make sure you have some mangoes lying around.

Do Some Exercise

According to a 2013 study, the effects of cannabis may be increased with exercise, however, a 2014 study concluded that exercise doesn’t increase THC levels in the body. It doesn’t matter if exercise affects the THC consumed through weed, as it has other positive effects on users like increasing the happiness hormones dopamine and serotonin, so you get some benefits either way.

To Sum It Up

It can be a fun experience to try out new strains to increase the potency of your high. The intensity of your high will also depend on dosing according to your tolerance level, as well as the method of consumption. Dabs and kief provide the fastest and most intense onset of the effects together with edibles, but trying a bong or a bubbler may be more down your alley.

Whichever method you choose, make sure you dose according to your tolerance level so you don’t get any of the negative side effects. Talk to your budtender as they can help you figure out the appropriate dose for you so you can enjoy your high as much as possible.

A passionate advocate for the benefits of cannabis. Fraser Horton, who has a background in botany and a strong love of nature, has spent years researching how cannabis affects the body and mind. He established Leaf Nation in 2020, where he has devoted himself to educating people about the legalisation of marijuana and its safe and responsible use. Fraser is committed to highlighting cannabis’ potential for improving wellness and working to dispel the stigma associated with its use.

Disclaimer

The information presented on this page is provided as a public service to aid in education and is derived from sources believed to be reliable. Readers are responsible for making their own assessment of the topics discussed here. In no event shall Leaf Nation be held reliable for any injury, loss or damage that could happen if using or abusing drugs.