Does Holding in a Hit of Weed Get You Higher? True or False? - The Newbie Question That Never Dies! (Part 2)

There are countless misconceptions about cannabis use, and one of the most popular is the belief that holding a hit longer will get you higher. You've probably seen videos of stoners keeping their smoke in for extended periods, thinking this enhances the effect. However, this practice is a myth. What actually happens is that the consumer feels lightheaded because their breath has been held.

Holding your hit in your lungs doesn't help with getting high; instead, it strains the lungs. We'll explore better ways to optimize your smoking experience without holding off on exhaling the smoke.

Stoner Culture and Its Myths

Over the years, various stoner cultures have adopted methods to optimize smoking experiences. Some work, but many don't. A lingering belief from early stoner culture is that holding your breath enhances the high. To dispel this misconception, it's essential to understand how the lungs work when you take a drag on your joint.

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Physiologically, our bodies take in about 20% of oxygen when air is inhaled, retaining only 5%. This oxygen enters the bloodstream after passing through the lungs. Studies show that human lungs cannot hold up to six liters of oxygen at once, explaining why breathing is rhythmic. With this understanding, we can discuss how cannabis smoke works.

How Smoking Works

When you inhale from a joint, bong, or other delivery device, your lungs process it like they process air. They expand, picking up THC compounds and transferring them to the air sacs. The THC then moves into the bloodstream, diffusing to other parts of the body. The "high" or psychoactive feeling settles once the THC enters the bloodstream.

Unlike other consumption methods, where it takes up to 30 minutes for THC to enter the bloodstream, inhalation completes the process within minutes.

Holding on to Your Hit

Whether you hold your hit for seconds or extend it to minutes, the effect remains the same. Research shows that 94% of THC enters the bloodstream within 5 seconds after inhalation. A 1989 study revealed that holding hits for 0, 10, or 20 seconds has no impact on THC absorption. Instead, prolonged holding increases carbon monoxide absorption and leaves more tar in the lungs.

The lightheadedness felt when holding hits is due to oxygen deprivation, not an enhanced high. This accelerates the heart rate and induces dizziness or temporary confusion, indicating your body has lost its homeostatic balance.

Better Ways to Optimize Your Smoking Experience

Forget the myths and adopt methods that enhance your session's effects without compromising lung health. Hold your hit for just 3 seconds to enjoy the full potency of THC. Better yet, choose healthier delivery methods like vaporizing, which preserves more cannabinoids than smoking.

Tips for a Better High

1. Consume High-THC Strains: If you're struggling to get high, switch to more potent strains or products with higher THC percentages. Rather than holding hits longer, take bigger and faster hits. Check out Uppercut Culture’s High THCA brand, G-High Jane, for a powerful experience. 

2. Use Dab Concentrates: Dabbing delivers stronger highs by increasing the potency of regular buds by about 70-80%. Start gradually to find your comfortable peak.

3.Eat Well: Eating certain foods especially fruits like mangoes, can enhance your high. Mangoes contain myrcene, a terpene that boosts THC movement in the brain.

4. Invest in Premium Delivery Devices: Weed vaporizers and ice bongs offer better experiences. They don't overheat cannabinoids, providing cooler, more enjoyable hits.

Conclusion

Holding hits longer doesn't improve your high; it strains your lungs and introduces more harmful substances. For a better and safer smoking experience, explore potent strains, dabs, and healthier consumption methods like vaping. By making informed choices, you can enhance your cannabis journey without compromising your health.