Does Holding in Smoke Get You Higher? Cannabis Myths

This is one of the oldest myths in marijuana culture, and many still believe it.

Sorry to break it to you, but it doesn’t.

Your lungs soak up most of the THC in weed smoke almost right away, so holding your breath for a long time doesn’t really help.

In this article, we’ll explore why this myth sticks around, the risks of holding your breath while smoking, and the best way to inhale weed smoke.

Does Holding in Smoke Get You Higher?

No! Holding in cannabis smoke does not get you higher. Our bodies are very effective at absorbing THC and CBD, the centrally active substances in cannabis. These compounds are inhaled, and then they are almost immediately absorbed in the lungs through the alveoli, which are tiny air sacs. The moment that smoke touches the alveoli, the THC immediately enters into your bloodstream.

Most of the THC is absorbed in the first few milliseconds of inhalation by the lungs. That's right milliseconds! So, whether you puff and hold for three seconds or ten, you’re not getting any extra potency. So next time, don’t hold your breath until you turn purple or trigger a coughing fit.. this only deprives your brain of oxygen and traps irritating tars and toxins in your lungs.

Why Does Holding in Smoke Make You Feel Higher?

If the research shows that holding smoke is ineffective, then why is it that so many people think it works? Have you ever experienced euphoria when you were left breathless? It is not just your imagination.

Oxygen Deprivation

What goes on is primarily due to being deprived of oxygen. In the moments you are holding your breath, your brain slightly panics since it is being deprived of the oxygen it needs. This culmination leads to a blood pressure spike and can make you feel lightheaded or dizzy. That feeling, plus the THC already buzzing in your body, can lead your brain to interpret it as a stronger high.

Carbon Monoxide

Additionally, holding smoke in your lungs means that it's carbon monoxide along with other combustion by-products that you are trapping. So, when you finally exhale, it's not really an extra hit of cannabis joy that you are bringing, but rather your body seeking fresh air as it tries to get your normal oxygen levels back.

Dangers of Holding in Weed

While the desire for a stronger high is understandable, holding in hot smoke really isn’t doing you any favors. Let’s look at some reasons why this habit can be harmful.

1. Higher Tar Buildup: Smoke is made of submicron components that can stick to your lungs. The greater the time the smoke is in your lungs, the longer those tiny particles of tar have to deposit and irritate your lungs.

2. Inflamed Airways: The hot, dry smoke can stimulate your bronchial tubes. If you allow your lungs to stay in this heat for excessively long, it may lead to chronic coughing, too much phlegm, and a feeling of constriction in your chest.

3. Ingress of Toxins: The combustion of plant material releases harmful substances such as benzene in the breathing stream. When you inhale and exhale quickly, you can remove these dangerous toxins before they take root in the deeper parts of the lungs.

How to Inhale Weed Properly

Now that we know that holding in weed smoke to get higher does more harm than good, let’s talk about the best technique to inhale weed smoke so you can enjoy all the benefits without the discomfort.

1. Light your joint/pipe/blunt/bong, and inhale the lit cannabis for a maximum of 2 seconds into your mouth.

2. Open your mouth and do a quick almost inward "gasp" that sucks the rest of the hit into your lungs from your mouth.

3. To avoid retaining the marijuana smoke in your lungs, exhale promptly after the 2-second mark. Repeat the process until you get your desired high.

4. For even more protection against the tar and resin buildup in your lungs and to help reduce coughing fits, you can use a MouthPeace.

Stay informed & Stay Healthy: Embrace a Weed Filter!

For those who want to enjoy cannabis, the inhalation method is important in the art of smoking. Don’t hold in smoke! Use the breathing technique you learned. Also, don’t forget our Moose Lab MouthPeace filters. This combo will boost your smoking skills from rookie to pro quickly.

MouthPeace filters help you enjoy the healthiest and tastiest smoke. They also protect your lungs by stopping tar and resin from building up. With the right info and gear, every smoke session can be a blast!

Stay knowledgeable, stay informed and stay healthy!

FAQS:

How come when I hold in the smoke, I feel like I get higher?

You feel higher when you hold in smoke mostly because of a lack of oxygen, not because your body takes in more THC.

Does holding in marijuana smoke increase its effects?

Holding in marijuana smoke does not increase THC absorption - this is a myth. It only increases the amount of tar and toxins deposited in your lungs.

How to protect your lungs when smoking?

Using a triple layered weed filter from Mooselabs is the best way to protect your lungs against tar and harsh smoke. These Dr-approved filters sanitize smoke of contaminants like tar and resin before they reach your lungs.

>> Learn more about weed filters

How Long To Hold In A Hit Of Weed?

You only need to hold a hit of weed for 1 to 3 seconds to absorb almost all the THC.

What’s the best smoking method to get higher?

Dabbing is the strongest method to get high because it uses concentrated cannabis extracts with very high levels of THC.

>> Learn how to dab