How to Enhance Your High

If you're a seasoned smoker, you've probably noticed an increase in your tolerance. Trying new strains and products can help you experience different highs, but a strong tolerance can be hard to crack. Here are a few simple ways to boost your next high.

Eat a Mango

Mangoes can boost your cannabis high.

No, really. Healthy mangoes can boost your cannabis high if you eat them at least an hour before enjoying cannabis. This happens because mangoes contain myrcene, a terpene found in both mangoes and marijuana. With myrcene in your bloodstream, your high will hit faster and last longer. Make sure the mango is ripe for the most powerful effect. Smoke a myrcene-rich strain like Skunk #1 or White Widow for an even bigger boost.

Enjoy Coffee or Tea With Your Cannabis 

One of the easiest ways to enhance your high is to light up while enjoying a cup of black coffee or green tea. Coffee and tea are rich in catechin, a natural antioxidant that binds to the brain’s CB1 receptors. These cannabinoid receptors allow cannabinoids like THC and CBD to work more efficiently. 

Try Dark Chocolate 

If you’re not a fan of coffee or tea, dark chocolate can help boost your high as well. Dark chocolate contains cacao, an ingredient that can break down the brain chemical anandamide and help your high to last longer. It also activates other neurotransmitters that influence feelings of euphoria. You want to look for dark chocolate that contains at least 72% cacao. 

Eat Foods Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids 

Omega 3s help your body to produce additional endocannabinoids and can thereby stimulate the cannabinoid receptors. When taken before or alongside cannabis, omega 3s may produce heightened effects as a result. You can find abundant omega 3s in hemp seed oil, fish oil, mackerel, salmon, cod, anchovies, flax seeds, chia seeds, walnuts, and soy beans, just to name a few examples. Consider nuts as well. In addition to being a nutritious all-around snack, nuts are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids.

Exercise After You Toke

If you enjoy going to yoga or spin class with a buzz, try smoking up after you break a sweat as well. The elevated heart rate from cardiovascular activity can help increase the presence of THC found in the brain. Elevate your heart rate for least 30 minutes before indulging in your favorite kind of cannabis. Higher Leaf staff members have named Zoots Energy Blasts and THC Capsules by Fairwinds as some of their favorite post workout products.

Try Concentrates

Concentrates deliver the strongest high currently available.

If you've only enjoyed marijuana flower, concentrates are the next level in the pot game. Concentrates deliver the strongest high currently available. Start with a vape pen or progress to a portable concentrate pen or dab rig with torch. We carry a wide variety of concentrates and you can always ask our budtenders for their recommendations at your next visit. Current team favorites include Shatter by Millennium Extracts and the Odo Nectar in a variety of flavors. 

Try Edibles 

Edibles can also boost your high, but there’s a bit of a tradeoff here. Whereas concentrates have a really fast onset of action, edibles can take an hour or longer to kick in. However, edibles also have much longer-lasting effects. The reason is because edibles have to be partially digested before they work. The liver releases an enzyme called 11-hydroxy-THC, a THC metabolite which is proven to be much more potent that regular delta-9 THC. In many cases, 11-hydroxy-THC can be 3 to 4 times more potent than THC. 

Take A Tolerance Break

The most proven but least popular method is simply taking a tolerance break. Don't want to go cold turkey? Stick to a single method of delivery like only eating edibles or only smoking low THC flower. Save those dabs and bong rips to celebrate 4/20 with Higher Leaf in April! Future you will thank you. 

Add Some Ice to Your Bong 

If bong rips are your thing, try tossing a few ice cubes into the bong water before inhaling. The ice cools down the smoke, resulting in smoother and fuller hits that last longer. It can also cut down on throat burn, leaving you with a more satisfying hit as you enjoy the more intoxicating effects. 

Try a Higher-THC Strain 

This might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s one of the simplest solutions when you’re looking to increase your high. On average, a cannabis flower product will contain 10-20% THC. You can find strains that have near or above 30%, though. You might try strains like Girl Scout Cookies, Chemdog, Bruce Banner #3, and White Fire OG, just to name a few examples. Visit us at our cannabis dispensary in Bellevue or Kirkland, and we can offer you some of the most potent strains available. 

Try a Lower-CBD Strain 

Just as higher THC can produce a more intense buzz, higher cannabidiol (CBD) may actually reduce the buzz. That’s because CBD has been shown to counter the psychoactive effects of THC. If your favorite strain happens to have a high concentration of CBD, that might be part of the problem. Also, if you routinely use CBD oil in addition to consuming cannabis, you might want to put the CBD aside for a while. 

Drink a Beer 

You have to be extremely careful when mixing alcohol and cannabis, but there’s no denying that it can be a highly potent combo that will intensify your high. It’s all about knowing how to strike the right balance and avoid making yourself sick. One study found that the presence of alcohol can boost THC levels in your blood. But many people make the mistake of overdoing it with the alcohol. In most cases, you just need one beer before you light up. This should give you a more intense and longer-lasting buzz. 

Store Your Weed Better 

If your buzz isn’t as strong as it used to be, the problem could be the weed itself. If you’re grabbing flower from a baggie that has been sitting on the dresser for a few weeks, there’s a good chance that those trichomes just aren’t as potent as they used to be. Over time, the cannabinoids and terpenes degrade, especially when exposed to light, heat, and air. That’s why cannabis should always be stored in a cool, dark place and in an airtight container like a jar or stash box. When stored under optimal conditions, it’s possible to maintain peak potency for 1 to 2 years. 

Mix It Up 

Finally, one of the best ways to boost your high is to change up your routine as much as possible. Ditch the wake-and-bake routine for a bit. If you’re used to smoking in the morning, try waiting until the late afternoon. Skip a day every once in a while, and alternate between different delivery systems like joints, vapes, edibles, dabs, and even tinctures. 

The body will easily adapt to consistent routines, so you can keep it fresh by simply enjoying cannabis at different times and in different ways. It can also be a lot more fun and satisfying when you ditch the monotony and treat each smoke session like a new exploration. With the suggestions on this list, you have plenty of ways to get started. So add some variety to your life, and get the intensity enhancement you’ve been looking for.