How Long Do Weed Highs Last? Cannabis Effects, Use & Abuse

How Long Do Weed Highs Last?

The quickest way to get high with weed is to smoke or vape. The effects will be most noticeable after 10 minutes. The high typically lasts one to three hours, although the effects might last up to eight hours. It used to be considerably more difficult to predict How long do weed highs last. Experienced smokers might try to determine the intensity of a bud by looking at it and smelling it. However, relying just on sight and aroma is not an exact science. However, things have gotten a lot easier after stores began advertising the actual THC level of their products. If you are new to cannabis, it is best to start carefully.

Within a few minutes after inhaling marijuana smoke, a person’s heart rate speeds up, the breathing passages relax and become enlarged, and blood vessels in the eyes expand, making the eyes look bloodshot. The heart rate—normally 70 to 80 beats per minute—may increase by 20 to 50 beats per minute or may even double in some cases. Taking other drugs with marijuana can amplify this effect.

Knowing how long do weed highs last will help you organize your day. You might consider timing your high for optimal enjoyment. Or maybe you have something later in the day that you don’t want to be too high for. Furthermore, certain states may have adopted laws legalizing the recreational use of cannabis, but on the federal level, cannabis remains illegal. [1] The federal government classifies cannabis, along with heroin and cocaine, as a Schedule I drug with a high potential for abuse and little to no medical benefit.

How long do weed highs last? Although detectable amounts of THC may remain in the body for days or even weeks after use, the noticeable effects of smoked marijuana generally last from 1 to 3 hours, and those of marijuana consumed in food or drink may last for many hours.

Marijuana Use Statistics

Marijuana is the illicit drug most frequently found in the blood of drivers who have been involved in vehicle crashes, including fatal ones. Two large European studies found that drivers with THC in their blood were roughly twice as likely to be culpable for a fatal crash than drivers who had not used drugs or alcohol.

However, the role played by marijuana in crashes is often unclear because it can be detected in body fluids for days or even weeks after intoxication and because people frequently combine it with alcohol. Those involved in vehicle crashes with THC in their blood, particularly higher levels, are three to seven times more likely to be responsible for the incident than drivers who had not used drugs or alcohol. The risk associated with marijuana in combination with alcohol appears to be greater than that for either drug by itself. [5]

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Common Risks & Negative Effects of Cannabis

Like tobacco smoke, marijuana smoke is an irritant to the throat and lungs and can cause a heavy cough during use. It also contains levels of volatile chemicals and tar that are similar to tobacco smoke, raising concerns about the risk for cancer and lung disease. Marijuana smoking is associated with large airway inflammation, increased airway resistance, and lung hyperinflation, and those who smoke marijuana regularly report more symptoms of chronic bronchitis than those who do not smoke.

Several studies have linked marijuana use to increased risk for psychiatric disorders, including psychosis (schizophrenia), depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders, but whether and to what extent it actually causes these conditions is not always easy to determine. Recent research suggests that smoking high-potency marijuana every day could increase the chances of developing psychosis by nearly five times compared to people who have never used marijuana.

The amount of drug used, the age at first use, and genetic vulnerability have all been shown to influence this relationship. The strongest evidence to date concerns links between marijuana use and psychiatric disorders in those with a preexisting genetic or other vulnerability. [6]

Below are often reported co-occurring symptoms/disorders with chronic marijuana use. However, research has not yet determined whether marijuana is causal or just associated with these mental problems.

Acute (Present During Intoxication)

• Impaired short-term memory
• Impaired attention, judgment, and other cognitive functions
• Impaired coordination and balance
• Increased heart rate
• Anxiety, paranoia
• Psychosis (uncommon)

Persistent (Lasting Longer Than Intoxication, But May Not Be Permanent)

• Impaired learning and coordination
• Sleep problems

Long-Term (Cumulative Effects of Repeated Use)

• Potential for marijuana addiction
• Impairments in learning and memory with the potential loss of IQ*
• Increased risk of chronic cough, bronchitis
• Increased risk of other drug and alcohol use disorders
• Increased risk of schizophrenia in people with genetic vulnerability**

How long do weed highs last? A cannabis high can last anywhere from 2 to 10 hours, depending on a range of factors. These include:

• How much you consume
• How much tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) it contains
• Your body weight and body fat percentage
• Your metabolism
• Whether or not you’ve eaten
• Your tolerance

Weed Addiction

Marijuana use disorders are often associated with dependence—in which a person feels withdrawal symptoms when not taking the drug. People who use marijuana frequently often report irritability, mood, sleep difficulties, decreased appetite, cravings, restlessness, and/or various forms of physical discomfort that peak within the first week after quitting and last up to 2 weeks. Marijuana dependence occurs when the brain adapts to large amounts of the drug by reducing the production of and sensitivity to its own endocannabinoid neurotransmitters.

Weed Addiction Symptoms

How long do weed high last? Some people who have marijuana use disorder may need to use more and more marijuana or greater concentrations of marijuana over time to experience a “high.” The greater the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in marijuana (in other words, the concentration or strength), the stronger the effects the marijuana may have on the brain. The amount of THC in marijuana has increased over the past few decades.

The following are signs of marijuana use disorder:

• Using more marijuana than intended
• Trying but failing to quit using marijuana
• Spending a lot of time using marijuana
• Craving marijuana
• Using marijuana even though it causes problems at home, school, or work
• Continuing to use marijuana despite social or relationship problems.
• Giving up important activities with friends and family in favor of using marijuana.
• Using marijuana in high-risk situations, such as while driving a car.
• Continuing to use marijuana despite physical or psychological problems.
• Needing to use more marijuana to get the same high.
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when stopping marijuana use.

People who have marijuana use disorder may also be at a higher risk of other negative consequences, such as problems with attention, memory, and learning.

How long do weed highs last? How quickly you feel the effects mostly depends on your method of use.

• Smoking or vaping. You can begin to feel the effects of cannabis within 2 to 10 minutes. It kicks in quickly because it enters your bloodstream via your lungs within minutes of inhaling it.
• Eating. Your digestive system metabolizes pot when you eat it, which can take a while. Edibles usually kick in within 30 to 60 minutes, but can sometimes take as long as 2 hours.
• Dabbing. With this method, a highly concentrated form of marijuana is smoked through a special pipe. Dabs have a higher THC content than other forms of cannabis, so the high kicks in almost instantly.

Weed Addiction Rehab

Marijuana use disorders appear to be very similar to other substance use disorders, although the long-term clinical outcomes may be less severe. On average, adults seeking treatment for marijuana use disorders have used marijuana nearly every day for more than 10 years and have attempted to quit more than six times.

People with marijuana use disorders, especially young adults, often also suffer from other psychiatric disorders (comorbidity). They may also use or be addicted to other substances, such as cocaine or alcohol. Available studies indicate that effectively treating the mental health disorder with standard treatments involving medications and behavioral therapies may help reduce marijuana use, particularly among those involved with heavy use and those with more chronic mental disorders. The following behavioral treatments have shown promise:

• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: A form of psychotherapy that teaches people strategies to identify and correct problematic behaviors in order to enhance self-control, stop drug use, and address a range of other problems that often co-occur with them.
• Contingency Management: A therapeutic management approach based on frequent monitoring of the target behavior and the provision (or removal) of tangible, positive rewards when the target behavior occurs (or does not).
• Motivational Enhancement Therapy: A systematic form of intervention services designed to produce rapid, internally motivated change; the therapy does not attempt to treat the person, but rather mobilize his or her own internal resources for change and engagement in treatment.

Top 3 How Long Do Weed Highs Last? FAQs