High
Category: Slang & Culture · Level: Beginner · Slang term
A 'high' is the colloquial term for the psychoactive state experienced after consuming THC-containing cannabis products.
Being high is the everyday word for the altered state produced by THC. THC binds to CB1 receptors in the brain, the same receptors the body's own endocannabinoids use, but it lasts much longer and acts more widely. Typical effects include euphoria or relaxation, a changed sense of time, stronger appetite, more intense music and taste, dry mouth and red eyes; at higher doses short term memory, coordination and reaction time are clearly impaired.
Timing depends on the route: smoked or vaped cannabis is felt within minutes, peaks after about 30 minutes and fades over two to four hours. Edibles take 30 minutes to two hours to start because THC is processed by the liver into 11-hydroxy-THC, and the effects can last six hours or more, which is why people take a second dose too early and end up far higher than intended. Dose, tolerance, the THC to CBD ratio, mood, setting and whether alcohol is involved all shape the experience as much as the strain name does.
Too high and staying safe: an unpleasant high can bring anxiety, a racing heart, dizziness or paranoia. It is rarely dangerous and passes with time; a calm place, water, food and company help, and starting low with new products is the best prevention. Being high impairs driving: many countries set THC limits for drivers, for example 3.5 ng/ml in blood in Germany since 2024, and effects on reaction time can outlast the felt high. In medical and legal texts the same state is called intoxication or psychoactive effects.
Also known as
Stoned, Baked, Intoxicated, Elevated
Used in
- Recreational
Related terms
- THC: Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the primary psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis, responsible for the 'high' associated with its use.
- Psychoactive: A psychoactive substance affects brain function, resulting in alterations in perception, mood, consciousness, or behavior. THC is the primary psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis.
- Endocannabinoid System: The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a cell-signaling network in the human body that regulates a broad range of physiological processes including mood, pain, appetite, and immune function.
- Tolerance: Cannabis tolerance refers to the progressive reduction in response to a given dose of cannabis with repeated use, requiring higher doses for the same effect.