When you breathe in residual cannabis smoke, there is a chance that you could get high from it. In the world of cannabis, it is commonly known as a contact high. Every time someone sparks up a joint or burns some weed, the active cannabinoids such as THC and CBD are activated and can be absorbed by your body to get you high.
But is it really the same as smoking a joint or hitting the herb and inhaling the smoke yourself?
Keep on reading and we’ll share all we have to know about the contact high.
What is a Contact High?
A contact high is usually a psychological phenomenon where people claim to feel the effects of someone else’s high by breathing in the cannabis smoke that another person has either exhaled or burned off.
Since combustion is what activates the cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, inhaling the smoke means that you’ll be inhaling the cannabinoids along with it.
When we inhale cannabis smoke, the cannabinoids enter our lungs and get absorbed by our alveoli and get transported to our bloodstream. Of course, the actual amount of THC needed to get someone high will vary greatly from individual to individual, and on top of that, the source of the smoke will also play a role in how easy it is for someone to get a contact high.
So is it possible to not be able to get high from second-hand smoke?
THC Lingering in the Air
Believe it or not, even cannabis smoke that has been inhaled has the potential to carry a few active cannabinoids that could get you high.
In fact, there are a few studies that delve a bit deeper into the topic. Researchers from The British Journal of Anesthesia found that “approximately 50% of the THC and other cannabinoids present in a cannabis cigarette enter the mainstream smoke and are inhaled.
The amount absorbed through the lungs depends on the smoking style. With experienced smokers, who inhale deeply and hold the smoke in the lungs for some seconds before exhaling, virtually all of the cannabinoids present in the mainstream smoke enter the bloodstream.”
Another study from 2005 also looked at the average THC bioavailability in plant material. In the study, the researchers had concluded that “THC bioavailability averages 30%.”
While these numbers may not seem like substantial amounts given that cannabis smoke usually dissipates throughout the area in seconds, it still has the potential to produce a contact high if bystanders are in confined spaces with the smoke for long enough.
To further solidify this, researchers conducted back-to-back experiments regarding second-hand cannabis smoke and its effect on bystanders.
The researchers had a custom chamber specially constructed for the experiment. In this chamber, the researchers placed 12 people, six cannabis smokers, and six non-smokers together for one hour while the smoking group consumed ten high potency joints per person.
In a non-ventilated chamber, the control group (non-smokers) got a contact high from the lingering smoke, as their blood and urine tests came back as positive.
However, in a ventilated chamber, the control group only mentioned feeling hungry by the end of the experiment. Therefore, no substantial THC levels were recorded in their blood and urine tests.
All in all, the studies do show that contact high is real. However, it is hard to catch it and usually, contact high only occurs in the most extreme scenarios.
So if you’re out hiking with your friends who are doing a little puff-puff-pass, you shouldn’t be too concerned with catching a contact high because you caught a few whiffs of their weed, especially if they are smoking vaporizers.
Vaporizers allow cannabis enthusiasts to medicate and enjoy their weed without attracting attention, and they also protect people from getting high since they produce vapour instead of smoke.
If you are on the market for some odourless vaporizers and want to use them to protect your friends who don’t smoke from getting high, try Pyro vaporizers. These convenient vape pens vaporize THC distillate instead of dry flower. What’s the advantage?
On top of not getting your friends contact high, THC distillate vape pens won’t leave a lingering odour with its vapour, won’t smell as pungent as burning flower itself and can be used whenever and wherever you go.
THC distillate is also magnitudes more potent than dried flower itself. Boasting potency THC levels of 85% and above, you’ll only need a few small puffs to get yourself elevated. They’re the perfect cannabis tool for tokers of all levels.
What it Feels Like to Catch a Contact High
Catching a contact high is a rare event, but if you think you’ve been too much around cannabis smoke, then here are signs to look out for:
Physical Signs
Red Eyes
Similar to being sleep deprived and having tired eyes, cannabis has been well documented at making its users’ eyes red. On top of that, you’ll notice that your eyes might be slightly squinted and relaxed, which is a typical sign of being high. If you take a look in the mirror and your eyes are red, you probably have a contact high.
Munchies
The munchies go hand in hand with cannabis. Cannabis smokers are known to consume enormous quantities of food with little effort while they are high. If your tongue feels incredibly dry and you have an insatiable feeling of hunger, then there is a good chance you’ve inhaled enough THC to trigger a contact high.
Lethargy
Cannabis is an excellent sedative. It has relaxing properties that will make you want to lay on your couch or bed all day. Feeling lazy and relaxed could be an indicator of overexposure to cannabis smoke.
Mental Signs
Euphoria
Cannabis is known to lift your mood and enhance many sensory experiences. If you think you’ve caught a contact high, a good indicator would be whether you experience a sense of euphoria or excitement in the current moment, even though what you’re doing isn’t all that exciting. A general increase in mood is a good sign.
Divergent Thinking
Cannabis has been used to stimulate creativity for generations. You may catch yourself with some crazy thoughts you would never have expected to come together. Cannabis can promote what is known as divergent thinking, the thought process that generates creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions in a spontaneous and free-flowing manner.
Dizziness and Nausea
While this is usually only an occurrence with high doses of cannabis, you may experience some dizziness or nausea after being exposed to large amounts of cannabis smoke in a confined space. Though it is highly unlikely to happen through a contact high, dizziness and nausea are commonly associated with heavy cannabis consumption.
How to Avoid Getting a Contact High
If you’re out smoking your weed in the vast expanse that is mother nature, no problem, the smoke has room to escape, but if you’re hotboxing indoors, then it’s important to be considerate of others around you.
Even though you’re not blowing the smoke directly in their faces, they might be sensitive to the smell of cannabis and might prefer to stay away. Use vaporizers instead of joints and bongs to protect your friends. In return, using vaporizers will also help you cover the smell of your cannabis and even add some tasty flavors to it.
People looking to avoid getting a contact high can rest assured that there is a slim chance that it’ll even happen. There’s no need to worry about those times when you accidentally catch a whiff of someone else’s cannabis smoke.
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