Cannabis users are in it for the powerful psychoactive high. Sometimes, however, this effect can start to feel like its losing its therapeutic potency. Here are some tips for boosting and maintaining the intensity of your high.
Educate Yourself about Different Strains
Once you break the surface of understanding the plant, you can end up feeling a bit like Alice, tumbling down the rabbit hole – there is so much to learn! Hopefully though, you have a good source for your weed. If you live somewhere where your choices are limited, it may still be possible to at least know the name of the strain you’re offered so that you can do some research from there.
Even with some limited information, you can learn about the mellowing impacts of indicas and the face-tingling excitement of sativas. It can be exciting to discover what sensations emerge from different hybrids and seek out one that is favourable to you. Of course, these traits will vary depending on who grew the strain, and from which seeds. The best thing to do is to experiment until you find the strain that provides the sensations you desire.
Properly Store your Weed
The importance of properly storing your weed is often underestimated. If you use a plastic container or zip bag, there is a chance that this could spoil the herb’s potency. It can end up drying up or growing mold. Dry weed will have lost a good portion of the flavor and potency while moldy weed is unsafe to smoke. Plastic bags and containers can conduct an electric charge, which will fry the THC-rich trichomes on your flowers. This is easily avoidable with the use of a good glass jar, such as a mason jar.
There are also specialty containers available that were designed specifically for this purpose. Some come with humidity controls built in, as well as ones with removable humidity packs. If you lack these options, a simple solution for curing is to leave a peel of orange, lemon, or lime sealed in with your weed for 2 or 3 hours. This will stop your supply from becoming dry, crumbly, and less potent as a result. A dark, cool place is recommended for preserving the quality of your stash.
Switch Things Up
So you’ve got a good stash and you’re taking care of it. Why is there still a sense of diminishing returns from your weed? By definition, taking anything in excess is not ideal. If you’re smoking too much cannabis, that can spoil the delight of it. As your body adjusts to having more cannabinoids in its system, you raise your cannabis tolerance.
Consider how you can switch things up in terms of your cannabis use. Are you in the habit of smoking first thing in the morning? Try abstaining until evening, or vice versa. Change up some habits and observe when you’re smoking and see how you might catch your brain off-guard by altering the schedule a bit.
Explore New Methods
Another thing you can consider adjusting is the method by which you’re getting high. Some people prefer to smoke but will experience a different sensation when trying different methods. You may enjoy the high from vaping or a bong hit. This may also be something you dislike. It depends on the individual constitution of each person.
Avoid using your lungs altogether by experimenting with edibles and tinctures. Compared to puffing a joint, edibles can give you a much stronger body high that lasts longer, sometimes four to six hours, but they take longer to kick in. Yes, you’ll feel the effects of smoking within minutes, but they’ll peak within 30 to 60 minutes and taper off between two to four hours. In general, edibles and concentrates are considered two of the most high-potency cannabis products. Stay educated and proceed with caution.
Be Mindful of What You Eat
Users can be surprised to learn that tweaking your diet can improve the quality of your high. There are a number of pleasant accompaniments to marijuana that will boost its potent impact. A simple cup of black or green tea contains catechin, an antioxidant that binds with your brain’s CB1 receptors. This will help the calming effects of cannabinoids come on much more efficiently.
Dark chocolate has a similar effect when containing 72% or more cacao. This will not only act as an antioxidant, but it will also slow down the breakdown of anandamide, the brain chemical named after the Sanskrit word for “bliss”. This will sustain the length of your high.
Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish and other seafood, seeds, and nuts, will also efficiently synthesize endocannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors. Also, look out for foods with terpenes in them, like THC-boosting myrcene or high-enhancing pinene. Pinene can be found in sage, thyme, and other herbs, while myrcene can be found in mangoes and broccoli.
Get Moving
Marijuana and exercise don’t seem like an obvious combination. Some users have pointed out that using marijuana before highly-repetitive exercises, such as running on a treadmill, can make it more enjoyable and motivate you to run for longer. It is also important to note that body fat is where a lot of THC is absorbed and stored. Sometimes this can be slow to release, diminishing the quality of your high. So, a diet and exercise routine that reduces your overall amount of body fat is appropriate.
It may mean switching from ice cream to the above-mentioned dark chocolate. The exercise component is also highly relevant. Not only is exercise good for your overall health, but studies also suggest it impacts the brain in similar ways to cannabis. It doesn’t just elevate mood, it can actually trigger the release of THC from stored body fat. A 2013 study in Drug and Alcohol Dependence found that a cardio session raises blood-THC levels by 15%. On the other hand, there is evidence of marijuana allowing users to push through perceived physical pain during a workout, and this does have some scientific merit. Cannabinoid compounds found within marijuana are known to affect the perception of pain and discomfort.
Take a Break
If you have tried all of this and you’re still not feeling like you are getting as high as you used to, it may be time to take a break. You’ve revamped your circumstances for intensifying that high and it’s still not happening for you. You may want to consider why you’re chasing the high. Cannabis can enhance our lives in many ways, but it won’t resolve deep-seeded emotional issues. Be honest with yourself about your consumption levels. If you have been over-indulging, maybe over-exposure to cannabis is creating diminishing returns.
It is okay to decide to take a tolerance break from cannabis. See if you can last a month, or several, without any. The longer you leave it, the stronger your next high will hit you. It is estimated that a month is needed for cannabinoids to completely leave your system. Choose a date. It’s super important to have a deadline. This will motivate you through the “yeah, it’s been long enough” stage to shine through to your goal date. Without a clear date, there will be nothing in your brain telling you that you haven’t already gone long enough. Always be aware with the place cannabis holds in your life. Feel good about taking a break and then get back in and feel a more powerful high than before.
