Many different myths surround Marijuana. One of these myths is that holding your breath when you smoke Weed makes you higher.
Holding your breath when you smoke Weed does not make you high at all. The truth is, Marijuana smokers, inhale very deeply during their inhalation, so if they are holding their breath, they are inhaling less oxygen than they would be otherwise.
On the other hand, if they exhale deeply, they will be getting more oxygen into their system and, therefore, might feel higher than someone who was not holding their breath.
Why Holding Your Breath When You Smoke Weed DOESN’T Make You Higher
The idea behind holding your breath when you smoke Weed is that it will increase the amount of THC in your system.
This misconception might have been disproven by a study that found that holding your breath increases the risk for asthma attacks and heart palpitations.
The Science of Inhaling
The Marijuana plant contains about 500 chemicals called cannabinoids. The two most studied and researched cannabinoids are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). These chemicals interact with receptors in the brain that control functions such as memory, pain sensation, moods, appetite, and more.
When inhaling Marijuana smoke, THC molecules enter through the lungs and bind to receptors in the lungs and brain. The THC molecules then go on to activate cannabinoid receptors that are located on neurons in the endocannabinoid system.
An average person inhales about 30 thousand times per day. Interestingly, this number might increase exponentially due to various factors like smoking Weed daily.
How Long Should You Hold a Hit of Weed?
It would help if you gave it time to be absorbed before exhaling. The amount of time you need to hold this hit in your lungs will depend on what type of Weed you are consuming, how much Weed you are consuming, and how potent the herb is.
The average person should keep holding the hit of Weed in their lungs for between 3 seconds and 5 seconds.
What are the Health Effects of Holding Your Breath When You Smoke Weed?
The effects of smoking can be different for everyone. While Holding your breath may not affect some people, others may experience more severe consequences.
These are the health effects that can be caused by holding in smoke:
lung damage – chronic bronchitis, lung cancer, emphysema
heart disease – increased risk of heart attack, blood clots
waterway damage – temporary constriction of vessels and sometimes permanent narrowing
How to prevent tar deposits when smoking Marijuana?
Tar is a sticky, black substance that can quickly accumulate when one smokes Marijuana. The tar consists of chemicals and the byproducts of combustion.
The tar deposits on your lungs can also come from other harmful substances such as asbestos and cigarettes.
Smoking too much Marijuana could lead to the potential risk of tar deposits, especially if you are smoking a higher THC strain with more tar particles in it, causing thicker tar deposits that could stick onto the lungs.
If you want to prevent this from happening, try taking a few short puffs before each long one, and don’t smoke over a prolonged period. For those who want more protection, the best way to avoid this is to use a vaporizer.
Do You Have to Inhale Weed to get High?
Do You Have To Inhale Weed To Get High? The answer is yes and no. Yes, if you want to experience the effects of Marijuana. But no, you don’t need to inhale it for it to get into your system (though this is most often how people consume Cannabis).
A study has shown that people who inhale Cannabis vapor do not get the same level of THC as those who smoke Marijuana. It may be higher; however, this is highly dependent on the individual’s metabolic rate.
While this is still preliminary, it can be helpful for people to use Cannabis vaporizers rather than smoking the herb. Using a ‘whole herb Vaporizer’ might improve your quality of life and lessen the adverse effects on pulmonary function.
The study tested the effects of vaporizing Cannabis on THC levels in blood and urine samples, as well as lung function tests. Researchers found that THC levels in blood were similar to oral ingestion, while urine levels were lower than inhalation or smoking Marijuana.
How to Inhale Weed?
There are many ways to inhale Weed, but most people prefer to use a bong or vaporizer for maximum effect.
Tips on how to inhale Marijuana:
Take your time before hitting your first hit
Do not smoke alone, as it may make you paranoid
Do not inhale too deeply, as it may force out more than you’d like to release
Avoid smoking it on an empty stomach, as the THC may overpower your taste buds
Drink plenty of water and avoid coffee and alcohol before and after smoking
How to Inhale Weed Smoke for Maximum THC
Take small puffs. This will allow you to keep your tolerance low and avoid feeling too high too soon.
Keep smoking at a slow pace; this helps maintain body temperature and prevent spasms due to too much THC at once.
Don’t hold onto your hits.
How to Inhale Weed Without Coughing
Keep smoke in for a few seconds before exhaling.
Hold the hit for a few seconds before breathing again.
When you feel yourself starting to cough, take a break and drink some water.
If nothing else works, try vaping Marijuana instead of smoking it because vaping is less harmful.
Click here to find more on how coughing can affect your high.
How to Not Hold in Your Smoke When Smoking Weed
Inhaling too much Cannabis smoke can lead to Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS), which causes severe nausea and vomiting. In addition, the practice also leads to lung irritation, loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, and headaches.
No matter how you smoke Marijuana (whether on the bong or joint or through vape), you should make sure that you are not holding in your breath while doing so.
- Do not hold your breath.
- Keep the rest of your body still, and don’t move too much.
- Breathe in through your nose and exhale through your mouth.
- Relax and stop thinking about what you’re doing, and focus on the feeling you get from smoking Weed or vaping.
- Try vaping instead of smoking. Vaping allows for a smoother inhale and a more natural feeling instead of the harshness of smoking.
- Avoid having anything else in your mouth when you’re trying to hold in your smoke – even if it’s gum!
Scientific Papers: Does Holding Your Breath When You Smoke Weed Make You Higher?
Acute Effects of Cannabis on Breath-Holding Duration
Breath-holding in a Marijuana smoker
Effect of Cannabis smoking on lung function and respiratory symptoms: a structured literature review
Cannabinoids in Exhaled Breath following Controlled Administration of Smoked Cannabis
