What does it feel like to be high on marijuana?

by Jenna Fletcher

For years, people have associated marijuana with recreational use and "getting high." Though many people may talk about the effects of marijuana, it is important to understand that different people may have very varied reactions to marijuana use.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana is the "most commonly used illicit drug" in the United States. In fact, a 2015 drug abuse and use survey stated that over 22 million people used marijuana in a single month.
Keep reading for more information on what it feels like to be high on marijuana, what causes it, and the factors that can affect how a person may respond to marijuana in its various forms.

How does marijuana affect the brain?

Marijuana use can produce sensations of relaxation and euphoria.

Marijuana contains hundreds of compoundsTrusted Source. Scientists and researchers are particularly interested in two of these chemical compounds: cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
THC produces the high when a person smokes, ingests, or vapes it. It enters the bloodstream and makes its way to the brain. It then attaches to receptors in the brain, which causes the high to occur in most people.
THC also slows down communication between the brain and rest of the body, which gives marijuana its calming effect.
Proponents of recreational marijuana use often talk about the positive effects of being high. These sensations can include:

• a feeling of relaxation
• euphoria
• laughter or giggles
• hunger
• greater amusement and enjoyment
• greater sensitivity to color, touch, smell, light, taste, and sound
• a feeling of being more creative

Marijuana can cause the body to become dependent on the good feelings it produces.
Over time, a person's body may greatly reduce the number of endocrines it creates because the chemicals within marijuana replace the naturally occurring chemicals present in the body. However, this is still just a theory, as there has been no research yet.

The stages of being high

THC levels in the blood vary over time. Generally, they will build until they peak, and once they peak, they start to work their way out of the blood through a person's urine or stool.
As THC levels rise and fall, a person may experience different effects from marijuana. During the peak, a person is most likely to experience the euphoric effect. As the THC concentrations in the blood begin to fall, however, a person may experience:

• hunger
• sleepiness
• anxiety or mild paranoia

The speed at which a person goes through these stages, and which stages they experience, will depend on several factors, including:

• the method of use, such as vaping, smoking, or ingesting
• strain
• potency
• dose
• sex
• age
• physiology
• frequency of use
• use of alcohol or other drugs while using marijuana