The Surprising Science Behind Why Weed Hits Differently Now

Confession time: I was a big stoner in college. My weed habit peaked during the pandemic, when I was living at home and taking classes online; I often spent evenings nursing a joint or popping a gummy before bed. These tendencies were not lost on my mother, and eventually she wanted to try a bit with me. I offered her my vape pen with the warning to take the smallest inhale possible, which she did.

Cue the anxiety attack and major paranoia. My mom eventually mellowed out, and we spent the rest of the time looking at my baby photos, but that incident really got me thinking. She grew up in the ’60s in California, so it wasn’t like she hadn’t ever tried weed before. Could today’s grass be that different?

The answer, without question, is yes. “On average, in the late ’70s and early ’80s, the plant that people were smoking was around 1 to 3 percent THC,” explains Margaret Haney, PhD, a professor of neurobiology in psychiatry and the director of the Cannabis Research Laboratory at Columbia University. (THC is the compound in weed that makes you feel high—more on that later.) “Nowadays, the plant has been engineered to contain more than 30 percent THC.”

In other words: A joint you smoke today is anywhere from 10 to 30 times more potent than the ones you may have tried in high school or college. And smoking is far from the only way to get high—there are now vapes, gummies, chocolates, tinctures, seltzers, and more. “It’s a whole new, very potent ballgame,” Haney says.

Despite all of the things we still don’t know about cannabis—from its long-term effects on the brain to the extent of its therapeutic potential—there’s been a massive shift in the U.S. in how we view the plant. To date, 24 states, the District of Columbia, and several U.S. territories have legalized marijuana for recreational use, while close to 40 have legalized it for medical use. And there’s a growing movement to reclassify it as a less dangerous substance at the federal level. Millions of people have very recently gained legal access to marijuana—and suddenly everyone from your neighbor to your usually straitlaced mother-in-law is singing its praises. It’s enough to make your head spin, which is why we’ve put together this guide. Welcome to Weed 101.

Legal? Illegal? What’s going on?

Haney calls the legality of weed a “complicated patchwork of nonsense”—and for good reason.

Weed is legal in many U.S. states, but illegal on the federal level. (PSA: Don’t fly with it!) According to the DEA, it’s a Schedule I drug alongside heroin, LSD, ecstasy, and peyote. But experts say that weed is more comparable to alcohol than the other drugs on that list. So why is it so harshly condemned? “The war on drugs, the classification and scheduling—it all contributes to an unfair, unjust system that has historically targeted people of color,” says Dae Lim, owner of the edibles brand Sundae Flowers and the smoke-wear brand Sundae School. That is to say, a big reason why weed is classified so harshly is (surprise!) systemic racism and has little to do with the actual effects it can cause.

Thankfully, things are slowly changing, even under the current administration. As mentioned, recreational use of marijuana is legal in 24 states and other localities—including New York, California, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C. These places regulate sales and collect taxes from cannabis purchases, while no longer prosecuting people for possessing the drug in small amounts (this amount varies but is typically around an ounce of plant). Before lighting up that joint, check out your state’s or territory’s laws to get the lay of the land.

THC, CBD, CBN…OMG, WTF?!

Cannabis is an extremely complex plant. It contains over a hundred closely related chemical compounds called cannabinoids, each of which has unique potential benefits or other effects. Some of these cannabinoids can be extracted from the plant and formulated into different products (tinctures, gummies, etc.), which is why you’ll see product labels cluttered with many similar-sounding acronyms.

THC and CBD are the main players in this alphabet soup: They’re backed by the most research and are the cannabinoids commonly found in dispensaries. Other cannabinoids might be marketed to you in a particular way (such as being good for sleep or anxiety), but there’s just not enough research on them yet, so you can’t be sure. Here’s a primer to get you started:

THC

As we mentioned, THC—also known as tetrahydrocannabinol or delta-9—is the primary psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis. It’s in charge of getting you high. It’s also been great for pain management and for helping people with cancer manage nausea and other chemotherapy side effects. State regulations require dispensaries to report potency (the total percentage of THC by dry weight) on their packaging, so you should know exactly how much you’re ingesting.

CBD

CBD, or cannabidiol, won’t get you high, which is why it’s often referred to as nonpsychoactive. While that description stands in comparison to THC, it’s not entirely true. You’re not going to feel extra giggly, chatty, hungry, or confused, but you may feel a mood change, physical relief, relaxation, or drowsiness after ingesting.

Haney says that CBD has “anti-inflammatory, anti-seizure effects” and has even been shown to help with treatment-resistant childhood epilepsy. It’s also known for reducing chronic or inflammatory pain from conditions like arthritis, and some studies say it helps with sleep, too. Others swear that CBD improves sexual satisfaction (check out our Menopause O-wards for some great CBD products, including CBD lube!).

CBN

CBN, or cannabinol, is about 25 percent as psychoactive as THC—but you’ll only feel high if you take it in large doses. In the doses you’ll find at your typical dispensary (around five milligrams), it’s not likely to get you faded. So why take it? Some research suggests it can increase REM sleep.

CBG

Also a nonpsychoactive compound, cannabigerol is sometimes dubbed “the mother of all cannabinoids” because its acidic form is the source of other cannabinoids, like THC and CBN. Some studies claim it has therapeutic potential for neurological disorders like Parkinson’s or multiple sclerosis.

CBC

Cannabichromene is another compound that won’t get you high. Certain recent studies suggest it has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial therapeutic properties.

THCV

Tetrahydrocannabivarin (say that five times fast, especially after taking some!) has been dubbed “diet weed” and is sort of an offshoot of THC. It’s not as powerfully psychoactive but has been shown to both curb appetite (hence its nickname) and boost energy while you’re using.

Delta-8

Haney calls delta-8 “the poor man’s delta-9,” since its effects are similar to those of THC but it’s far less potent. Because it’s derived from hemp, it acts as a sort of legal workaround for people who can’t access the real stuff. It has not been evaluated for safe use in any context, so beware!

Hemp

Okay, hemp isn’t a cannabinoid, but the difference is important to address. Hemp and marijuana are the same species of plant, with the main distinction being the THC content (hemp has very little THC). Hemp is also fully legal and often used for industrial purposes, like producing fibers, textiles, and paper.

The situation with strains

You’ve probably heard the terms sativa, indica, and hybrid thrown around in stoner movies or in line at the dispensary. Sativa and indica refer to the type of cannabis plant (literally, cannabis sativa and cannabis indica); hybrid refers to a combination of the two.

There used to be a rule of thumb: Sativa strains give you a more active “mind” high, and indica strains give you a more relaxing “body” high (as my stepmother once told me, indica means you are “in-da-couch”), while hybrids are the best of both worlds. But newer research suggests that sativa/indica labeling is actually obsolete.

“Strains are like wine: They’re variable,” says Allan Gandelman, founder and former president of the Cannabis Association of New York, a cofounder of Florist Farms, and an adjunct professor at Syracuse University. “You could get the same strain in three different regions of New York across three different years, and each time you’re going to get a different profile of cannabis.”

Long story short: Knowing how a strain will make you feel is a bit more complex than a rhyming mnemonic conjured up in a frat house living room. You’ll just have to try stuff mindfully to see what you like and what feels best.

Toking, tablets, tinctures, or topicals?

We’ve come a long way from sharing a hastily rolled joint in your friend’s dorm—there are so many more ways to consume weed than ever before.

You can still smoke it, either by inhaling the actual ground-up plant in joint or bong form or by puffing distilled THC oil from a vape. Smoking weed means you’ll feel high almost immediately, because the vapor delivers THC through your lungs, where it passes quickly into your bloodstream and straight on to the brain. But be warned: Vapes are much more powerful than joints or bongs, Haney says, since the oil is so concentrated.

If you take edibles (gummies, pills, tinctures, sodas, chocolate, candies, and baked goods), chances are you won’t feel high for a while. The THC from edibles gets broken down in your liver, which actually makes it stronger before it gets into your bloodstream and brain. It can take two hours or more to feel the full effects. Because of all this, edibles (a) can feel more potent than smoking once the effects hit and (b) are very easy to overconsume, since you might think, Hey, this isn’t kicking in. Lemme do more. Conversely, it’s much easier to track your dosage with edibles than it is with a joint, and you don’t get the negative health effects associated with smoking.

Edibles are typically measured in milligrams of THC: A “low” dose would be 1 milligram, while a “high” one would be upward of 10 milligrams. (Low and high are relative to you, your body, and your tolerance—but we’ll get to that.) Food edibles, meaning tablets and gummies, can take longer to hit than something like a tincture that you apply sublingually (under your tongue).

Lastly, there’s topical weed, which differs from other options because it will not get you high—not even if it has THC in it. At best, you might feel some very mild euphoria. These creams, oils, and transdermal patches have mostly been shown to alleviate various skin conditions and help with acute pain management.

The deal with dispensaries

Cannabis is generally regulated in the states where it’s recreationally legal, but stuff still falls through the cracks. Gandelman says incorrect labeling can be an issue. For example, if you’re a farmer, you might sell a particularly popular strain to a dispensary. But because there are no regulations around naming weed products, if you ever run out of that popular strain, you can sell the dispensary a different strain under the same name. While this isn’t necessarily dangerous, it does make it harder to be sure of what weed you’re getting.

Haney has also found that some dispensaries just spout nonsense. “They’ll claim weed is good for your pregnancy-induced nausea—it’s definitely not!—or that a particular strain will help with a particular type of pain,” she says. “But it’s all marketing. Don’t believe everything you read.” (For the record, experts say it’s not safe to use cannabis of any kind during pregnancy.)

With all this said: How do you find a reliable dispensary? It definitely requires research on your end, as well as some trial and error. Your first nonnegotiable is a place that’s fully licensed: Look for a sign clearly posted in the window or elsewhere in the store. (If it’s not obvious, red flag!) These dispensaries will take your name and scan your ID. You also want a place where the products are clearly labeled (including with the dose of THC and other cannabinoids) and where plenty of knowledgeable workers (often called “budtenders”) can guide you through your options.

If you’re overwhelmed, narrow your search by checking out your local government’s cannabis management operations. In New York, for example, there’s a full list of licensed dispensaries across the state and all dispensaries are required to have a Dispensary Verification Tool (in the form of a QR code) near their entrances.

The risks and rewards

There’s a reason weed is so popular. It can make food taste better, music sound incredible, and conversations flow more easily. And doing it can be very fun, period. “Cannabis has been a great tool for me—for creativity, resting and relaxation, and productivity,” says Lim. He likes to drop a gummy while he’s sketching campaign ideas or before working out.

“Cannabis is particularly promising for neuropathic pain, which really has no effective treatment right now,” adds Haney. This type of pain is common in people with cancer, autoimmune diseases, and many other conditions.

But it’s not all rainbows and flowers. Contrary to what some believe, weed can be highly addictive, regardless of why you’re using it. Daily use and repeated use throughout the day increases a person’s risk of developing a substance use disorder. “A big red flag for me is the wake and bake,” says Haney. (In layman’s terms, that means getting high as soon as you’re up in the morning.) Weed does not help with depression or anxiety, even if it does make you feel better in the moment. Haney compares it to a glass of alcohol: “Wine makes me feel better if I’m stressed, but that’s not a medicine.”

Am I doing it right?

There’s no real right or wrong way to get high, but there are a few things you can keep in mind to prevent yourself from overindulging. “We tell people to start low and slow,” says Gandelman. “You’ll build up a tolerance quickly, and over time, you can slowly increase your dosage.”

“I always say, less is more,” agrees Lim. “Take it slow and figure out which consumption form is your favorite. And remember, if your friend is high off the rocks from five milligrams of weed, you might feel nothing from the same amount—or vice versa.”

Lim also recommends setting an intention for your high. “It could be to just not worry, or to enjoy music, or draw a bit,” he says. Your intention can serve as a point of return should you be tempted to overconsume, or even a safe space if your high isn’t as pleasant as you hoped it would be. Most importantly, though, setting an intention for your high will bring your priorities more in focus—and, hopefully, will lead you to feeling better all around.

A modern guide to cannabis, from a former stoner.   Read More  

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