What does it feel like to get high?
I have been a management consultant for most of my career and the answer to this question, unfortunately, sounds like something a consultant would say. So please forgive me in advance when I tell you that the answer is… it depends.
Obviously, there are the basic factors that will affect the high that you might feel such as your experience using cannabis previously and how your individual body chemistry might respond. But there are several other big factors to consider:
The method you use to consume cannabis
The type of high you want to experience
The type of cannabis (also called "the strain")
Unlike alcohol which has a trajectory that many of us are familiar with, there is a lot to consider when trying cannabis. That's a big reason why we created Omlie, to help all of us navigate this new experience. You likely know how a vodka shot vs. a vodka soda will impact you but most of us don't have a reference point for cannabis. And even if you have previously been a consumer, the marijuana that is available at legal dispensaries is state regulated so it's often much stronger (a.k.a. cleaner) than something you may have had in high school through a-friend-of-a-friend (no judgement!).
Method of consumption
There are several different ways to try cannabis. Smoking, vaping, edibles, and oils will all produce a slightly different effect. We've created a guide for beginners to help you determine what is the best method for you to consume.
If you have never tried cannabis before, we DO NOT recommend edibles! Although edibles are a discreet way to try cannabis, the effects can be intense and longer lasting than other methods. This can be unsettling for newbies.
Plus it's hard to know the right dosage and you'll need to read the fine print. As an example, often an edible cannabis gummy bear is more than 1 serving and if you don't read the package, you may unknowingly overindulge. It's ridiculous, I know. Who eats half a gummy bear?! For the best first experience, we will repeat: we do not recommend edibles for beginners.
Beginners beware:
Edibles are discreet but often 1 gummy bear edible is 2 or more servings. Begging the question,
who are the insane people that eat half a gummy bear?!
Type of high
Newbie question that we asked so you don’t have to: What’s the difference between a body high and a head high? Isn’t my head part of my body?
One of the ways that people refer to the feeling of “getting high” is as a "body high" or a "head high". A "body high" is typically a relaxed feeling throughout your entire body, as if you've just had an incredible 90-minute massage. A "head high" can be energizing and euphoric, bringing calm to anxiety and potentially creating the giggles. While a body high is like a great massage, a head high is like the sensation of being a kid and watching Sunday morning cartoons - focused and light-hearted.
It's important to understand if you want to experience a body high, head high, or a mix of both, so that you can choose the right type of cannabis to consume.
Type of cannabis
The biggest impact on your 'high' will be the type (or strain) of cannabis you consume. There are two main ways that people categorize cannabis and unfortunately, they are both imperfect, but it's the best system that we have so far.
We have Federal Prohibition to thank for that because it significantly limits the ability to conduct clinical trials and studies with cannabis. Off my soapbox and back to the topic at hand.
You will often hear people refer to cannabis strains as Sativa, Indica, or Hybrid. This is the first level categorization. Generally, Indica tends to produce more of a body high while Sativa tends to produce more of a head high and Hybrid tends to produce, you guessed it, a hybrid effect. An easy way to remember the difference is to think in-di-ca will leave you sinking in-da-couch.
The second level of classification is the specific strain name. This is where it gets really confusing and intimidating for newbies. For us, these names have no meaning and sound like gibberish. Pineapple Kush, Gelato, Blueberry Space Cake… huh?
An easy way to think of strain names is like apples. Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Red Delicious. When you put them in a row, they also sound funny. But we've come to understand what to expect from each of them. Just like when you first tried a new apple variety, cannabis strains will require a bit of experimentation to find out what you like.
Omlie Tip: For cannabis newbies, we recommend starting with the strain named Harlequin, a sativa. It has a high CBD to THC ratio so it will be a very mild high that provides clear-headed effects and the ability to relax without feeling overly intoxicated. Our favorite newbie way to consume it is a cartridge with a buttonless vape pen. You can learn more about consumption methods here.
We hope this helps explain why it is hard to give a clear answer to the question: what does it feel like to get high? And that you feel confident enough to start exploring different types of cannabis strains and consumption methods. Still need more clarity? Reach out to us with your questions or schedule time with a cannabis coach. We started Omlie, to share our cannabis journey, so that we can be by your side in yours.
