Written by Shepherd King

Why Does My High Go Away So Quickly? Find Out Why

If you love eating and smoking cannabis products but can’t seem to get a long-lasting high, we’re here to help.

It’s normal for the effects of cannabis consumption to fade after a while, but you shouldn’t feel your high dissolving only shortly after cannabis use. If you run into this common problem when smoking weed or enjoying edibles, there are some potential fixes you can try to get a better, longer-lasting high.

Let’s take a look at some of the causes of a short-lived high — and what you can do to improve your experience with consuming edibles, smoking flowers and other forms of cannabis.

Visit the Mood Shop to browse our wide selection of premium cannabis products. Subscribe for recurring orders to save 15%.

Table of Contents

• First Things First: Why Does Weed Get You High?

• Common Causes of a Fast-Fading High

• FAQs About Getting High on Cannabis

• Premium Cannabis Products From the Mood Shop

First Things First: Why Does Weed Get You High?

Weed contains naturally occurring chemical compounds called cannabinoids, which bind to receptors in your body’s endocannabinoid system to produce powerful effects.

Not all cannabinoids are psychoactive — CBD, for example, won’t get you high on its own — but they all have an impact on your experience when you lose cannabis.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the primary psychoactive component in weed. The effects of THC can include changes in your perception, feelings of happiness and well-being, and even creative stimulation. THC can also work together with other cannabinoids in unique ways thanks to a phenomenon called the entourage effect.

Learn more about the entourage effect: Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects

When you smoke or ingest weed, the intensity of your high will mainly depend on the THC content in the cannabis strain you chose. If you’re using weed for the first time, we recommend a product with lower THC content, Too much THC can be overwhelming, especially at first, so take your time and ease into your journey with cannabis.

Does Some Weed Get You Higher?

Some cannabis products are much more powerful than others; it all depends on the concentration of psychoactive cannabinoids like Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC.

The best way to know what the psychoactive effects of a form of cannabis will be like is by taking a look at the THC levels. For example, 15mg of Delta-9 THC will get you a powerful, long-lasting high, while 5mg will give you a much more mellow, mild experience.

In addition, your cannabis high can vary based on the way you smoke or ingest weed. Eating a gummy, for example, isn’t likely to have the same intense psychoactive effects that you’d expect from dabbing a concentrate like hash or diamonds.

Learn about the differences between Indica, Sativa, and hybrid cannabis from the Mood Blog.

How Much THC Does It Take To Get High?

The answer to this question varies from person to person, as we’ll discuss more below.

Your weed high threshold might be very low — as low as just a few mg of THC — especially if you’re new to cannabis and are smoking or vaping for the first time. As your cannabis tolerance level builds, it’s likely that you’ll need more THC to experience the same psychoactive effects.

How Long Should My High Last?

The length of your weed high mostly depends on the form of cannabis that you choose. Gummies can have some of the longest-lasting effects because of their path from your digestive system to your liver. Flower and other smokable forms of cannabis won’t give you the same long-lasting high, but their effects can be just as intense, if not more.

In general, you can expect the effects of consuming cannabis in any form to last for at least a few hours. After two to three hours, you can expect to gradually sober up.

Pick up a 10-count of Hero Dose Rapid Onset THC Gummies for just $39. Subscribe to save 15%.

Common Causes of a Fast-Fading High

If you aren’t getting the long-lasting, powerful effects that you want from weed, take a look at these possible causes:

Metabolism and Cannabis High

If you have a faster metabolism, your body might process cannabinoids like THC quicker than the average cannabis user. Because of genetic factors and physiology, your high might be much shorter when you smoke weed or take an edible.

Folks with faster-than-average metabolic rates might benefit from reaching for edibles rather than smoking flower to experience positive effects. Edibles can take longer for your body to process because they interact with your endocannabinoid system via your digestive system rather than your lungs, leading to a longer-lasting high.

Tolerance

The more you use cannabis edibles or flower, the more likely you are to see a gradual increase in your THC tolerance. As your cannabis tolerance goes up, you’ll need more cannabis to get the same effect — that classic high feeling — that you previously experienced with only a small amount of weed.

This can especially be the case if you've used cannabis regularly for more than a decade.

If you think your tolerance has gone beyond normal levels, be careful with increasing your cannabis consumption; too much weed at once can lead to greening out, an unpleasant reaction that can cause some uncomfortable short-term adverse effects and cause you to experience withdrawal symptoms.

Hydration and Nutrition

When you eat well and drink plenty of water, your body is set up to process cannabinoids more efficiently. On the other hand, if you don’t get enough nutrients from food and skip the H20, you might find that your high fades faster than you’d typically expect.

If you’re enjoying an edible, eating a meal high in healthy fats beforehand may help your body absorb cannabinoids and increase the compounds’ ability to bind to your cannabinoid receptors.

FAQs About Getting High on Cannabis

Q: How should I use cannabis if I’m trying it for the first time?

A: If you’re just getting started with cannabis, we recommend easing in rather than taking a head-first dive. Around 5mg of THC is an ideal starting point. You can also enjoy a more balanced high by opting for a combination of THC and calming, non-psychoactive cannabinoids like CBD.

Q: Is weed legal?

A: The Farm Bill changed the way that many cannabis products are regulated and labeled. Under this bill, any form of cannabis with no more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC content by dry weight is classified as hemp, which you can order online or pick up at a local dispensary in many states.

Before you order, make sure you know your state’s specific regulations for purchasing cannabis.

Q: How do I avoid greening out?

A: The best way to avoid greening out — taking in too much cannabis — is starting off slow and increasing your use of weed in small increments.

In general, it’s best to avoid excessive consumption by limiting your cannabis intake to one product at a time. In other words, avoid using gummies and flower at the same time when you consume cannabis, for example.

Premium Cannabis Products From the Mood Shop

The Mood Shop is the go-to for high-quality cannabis products of all kinds, including flower, concentrates, vapes, and more.

These are some of our top recommendations for beginners and seasoned vets alike:

Pluto

If you want to feel creatively stimulated while enjoying a powerful high, Pluto is the flower for you.

This strain was grown in California as a crossbreed of Gelato #33 and 1991 Triangle Kush strains. It’s a 70/30 Indica-dominant hybrid with a scent of sour lemon, fresh pine, and spicy diesel, and its high THCa content (27.62%) makes it an ideal option for anyone with plenty of previous cannabis experience.

Grab 1g of Pluto for just $17. Subscribe to save 15%.

Delta-9 THC Sour Rainbow Belts

These potent candies have a nostalgic flavor and produce a classic high. With a combination of 10mg of Delta-9 THC, 14mg of Delta-8 THC, and 1mg of ultra-powerful THCp, they’re very strong and not necessarily the best pick for beginners.

Get a 10-count of Delta-9 THC Sour Rainbow Belts for just $35. Subscribe to save 15%.

Peach Mango Seltzer

This tasty THC-infused fizzy drink is one of the newest additions to the Mood lineup. Available with either 5mg or 10mg of THC for varying levels of buzz, it’s a beginner-friendly drink that tastes amazing and feels even better.

Save $10 or more when you order a 4-count of 10mg Peach Mango Seltzers for just $25. Subscribe to save 15%.

Head to the Mood Shop to find even more top-tier cannabis goods. Shop based on your mood to find exactly what you’re looking for.

Prices subject to change.

Sources

Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects | PMC

Delta-8-THC: Delta-9-THC’s nicer younger sibling? | Journey of Cannabis Research

Cannabis (Marijuana) and Cannabinoids: What You Need To Know | NIH