How Long Should You Hold In Your Cannabis Hit?

One question that keeps cropping up is how long to hold in your cannabis smoke. I often see in the comments of Instagram posts that these people taking massive rips are losing all the effect by not holding the hit in their lungs for a longer time. 

You could already have formed your own opinion on this. Or you may be new to consuming cannabis and want to know the answer to this. While there is undoubtedly a range of views online, we are keen to get down to the facts and put this question to rest.

So right off the bat, we want to begin by busting the age-old myth that the longer you hold in your hit for the better high you’ll experience. 

While it’s common for smokers to think, “I do feel higher when I hold the hit in longer.” It is not the weed that’s doing anything extra.  

While it’s partially true, holding in your hit may make you feel lightheaded, it’s all because you are depriving your brain of oxygen that’s creating the light-headedness rather than the magical herb having a more significant effect. 

A 1997 study showed that the lungs could only consume about 5 to 6ml of oxygen per minute at an esophageal temperature of 28 degrees C.  

Another study into the THC absorption in cannabis indicates that as much as 95% of the THC is absorbed within the first few seconds. 

Consumption Method Matters

The consumption method is the most important thing to consider when determining how long to hold your hit. 

Your body absorbs cannabinoids through each consumption method differently. 

These differences can be explained by looking at the bioavailability. Bioavailability is the process where substances are absorbed by tissues and organs. The bioavailability can show us how likely it is for the molecules in cannabinoids to pass through the gastrointestinal tract liver filtration system and then be put to work in the body. 

Smoking delivers cannabinoids at an average bioavailability rate of 30%, where edibles deliver cannabinoids at an average bioavailability rate of 5%. 

This means that only 5% of a product’s cannabinoid content will get absorbed into the bloodstream. This is why edibles will take much longer to kick in. Whereas smoking a bong hit takes just a few minutes before you feel the effects. 

Because smoking cannabis produces an oxidization process, cannabinoid absorption is relatively high. The molecules do not pass through the acidic stomach environment as with edibles but go into the bloodstream through the lungs.

In Summary: The higher the bioavailability, the lower dosage you need to achieve a high. 

Holding in Your Hits

As we have seen, cannabinoids from combusted cannabis are absorbed rather quickly. There is no need for holding in your hit too long. This will just result in unwanted absorption of smoke and tar. 

In fact, approximately 88% of combusted smoke gases contain non-cannabinoid elements.

Therefore, take it easy on that bong and your lungs; a simple 2-second pull will still get the maximum THC you need.

Due to its high bioavailability, smoking produces rapid effects that last for a short to medium time. So the consensus among medical experts is that holding the smoke for just a few seconds should do the trick.

Holding the smoke for any longer than that is just a waste of time and can create more harm to your lungs. 

Cannabis that is vaporized or dabbed as a concentrate is cleaner and contains fewer tars and other non-cannabis elements. 

Studies have shown that vaporizers can convert 46% of available THC into vapor, compared to only 25% of THC when smoking a joint or bong.

(It’s also perceived as much safer than smoking). 

Although each vapor can alter the dosage, you should still only hold your hit for a few seconds to get the best results.

Don’t Hold Your Hit Longer, Inhale Deeper.

If you’re inhaling from a joint or bong, your lungs expand as you draw in the oxygen and cannabinoids in the smoke. They then pass these through the lungs into your blood vessels. This blood transports these around your entire body and is how you get high.

A shallow breath will only draw in 0.5 liters, compared to a full deep breath that can be up to five liters of air. So by taking a long, deep inhale, you will draw in more smoke or vapor, which gives the cannabinoids more room to enter the bloodstream.

A slow deep breath for a few seconds or so is just the right amount of time to fill your lungs and move as many cannabinoids as possible to your bloodstream while preventing your brain from being deprived of oxygen.

So, to get the most out of your next cannabis purchase, think about how you’re consuming your marijuana and take each hit appropriately. 

Consider inhaling a little clean air after a rip and allow a little time between hits to allow your body to absorb the cannabinoids at their own speed. We always encourage experimentation, so get out a timer and run some tests to discover the best time and intensity for you.