jason-crawford

Medically Reviewed by
Jason Crawford

Article Last Updated on January 19, 2023

Weed’s main cannabinoids, THC and CBD, are responsible for the effects that cannabis has on the body and the mind. THC gives users psychoactive effects, while CBD produces the famous “couch-lock” feeling. But what if you want to get the maximum effects you can get from the least amount of weed?

If you are like most marijuana users, you may have had the dilemma of how to get a better high, while also maximizing the use of your stash. Both recreational and medical marijuana users think about this when their stash is almost ending, or maybe they want to save a few bucks on their weed and ration it better. And while your cannabis dispensary may be close, sometimes you don’t want to get out and upgrade your stash before your next vape session.

If this is your case and you want to get the most out of your high and experience longer-lasting effects from your weed, here are some ways you can make that happen.

Try Weed Strains With Higher THC Levels

As you may probably know, different strains affect cannabis users differently. Indica dominant strains produce uplifting feelings and can result in enhanced creativity and productivity. On the other hand, Sativa dominant strains deliver more relaxing feelings, which are often paired with “couch-lock” feelings. 

Nowadays, you can choose from a lot of different cannabis strains in order to get the experience you are looking for. Try different kinds of weed strains that are available in dispensaries, like Trainwreck, Purple Haze, Pineapple Express, Gorilla Glue, and others in order to see what works best for you. Opt for strains that are higher in THC to get more intense effects.

Try Other Cannabis Products

Smoking cannabis either in a joint or a blunt is one of the least effective ways of consuming marijuana. You might ask yourself why that is. When you light up the joint, whenever you aren’t smoking it, it’s still burning and you’re wasting precious weed. Also, when inhaling, weed can sometimes get caught up in the “top shelf”, meaning that if you don’t inhale deeply enough, the smoke doesn’t get to your lungs. This can happen when you laugh or cough while you’re smoking.

Vape

One of the alternatives to smoking weed is vaping. By using a vape pen, you can heat up the cannabis to the exact temperature needed, without burning the psychoactive chemicals. You could also use a vaporizer instead of a vape pen. Vaporizers have more features, like additional parts that can be inserted to make the vapor cool once it reaches your mouth, and some can even be controlled by a mobile app.

Try Pipes

Pipes are a good method of consuming weed since they don’t have a filter that can trap THC like joints or blunts. Using pipes is a timeless and easy way to get your marijuana high. Moreover, you could try using one-hitter pipes which can give you a good high from even a small amount of weed.

Try Kief And Dabs

Dabs are resin or cannabis oil concentrates which contain large amounts of THC. These concentrated marijuana products provide a more intense high compared to smoking a joint since joints contain about 30% of THC, while concentrates can have up to 90% of THC. The dab is vaporized and the user then inhales it.

Kief, on the other hand, is a very potent THC product which is the residue of trichomes that gets left behind on the grinder. You could get kief yourself by using an attachment to your best marijuana grinder called a kief catcher, or you could buy kief and top off your joint with it.  

Hit the Gravity Bong

Bongs and bubblers provide smoother and larger hits since the water filters and cools the smoke and it’s not as harsh as when you smoke marijuana in a joint.

You could also try using a gravity bong next time you want to experiment with new marijuana consumption methods. This bong administers concentrated smoke and can give you a more intense high compared to a joint once it reaches your lungs. 

When using a bong, you should remember to plug the little hole on the side of the bong, called a “carb”, when you take a hit. That is used in order to clear the bowl of smoke before you take another puff.

Try Edibles

Edibles are processed differently in the body compared to inhaling weed. They first need to be absorbed by the gut, and only later they can be absorbed in the bloodstream and get to the CB1 receptors in the endocannabinoid system which results in a high. If you want to try edibles, you could go for weed brownies, cakes, chocolates, gummies, and other cannabis products made with cannabutter or cannabis oil. Although edibles take a longer time to kick in, the effects of edibles last longer and are more intense than the effects of smoking a joint.

Do a Tolerance Break

If you feel like you don’t get the same effects when using weed as before, maybe your body got used to the THC and now you need larger amounts to get the same effects. If that’s the case, you could benefit from taking a break from weed. That way the body will have time to balance itself out and we’re sure that the next time you smoke weed after your break, you’ll probably feel like it’s your first time.

Try Different Foods

Some research has been done on foods that can enhance your high and mangoes were the most commonly mentioned. Mangoes contain a terpene called myrcene which is also present in cannabis. Apparently, when you ingest a mango prior to consuming cannabis, it interacts with the THC and extends its psychoactive effects. According to a 2011 study, “Myrcene is a prominent sedative terpenoid in cannabis, and combined with THC, may produce the “couch-lock” phenomenon of certain chemotypes that is alternatively decried or appreciated by recreational cannabis consumers”. So you could also enjoy the delicious flavor of mango and probably even a better high if you decide to try this method.

Do Some Exercise

According to a study done on drug and alcohol dependence by Alexander Wong et al in 2013, “Exercise induced a small, statistically significant increase in plasma THC levels accompanied by increased plasma FFA and glycerol levels.” Another study done by Andreas Austgulen Westin et al in 2014, concluded that exercise was unlikely to cause sufficient concentration changes of THC in the body. And while both studies have some opposing conclusions, exercise can have other positive effects on you like a boost of dopamine and serotonin, which can improve your mood and make your cannabis experience better. 

To Sum It Up

It can be pretty fun to experience new ways of weed consumption in order to get a better high. It’s up to you to decide if you want to smoke weed or ingest it. As a cannabis smoker, you may want to try vaping, or even go for different techniques like using concentrates, bongs, edibles, etc. How long your high lasts and how intense it is depends not only on the weed strain and consumption method you choose but also on your tolerance to weed. Do what works best for you and make it an enjoyable experience.

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.