Top Tips to Hide That You're High | Culture

In an ideal world, you're smoking within the comfort of your home, in the crowd of a massive concert or during a session with your friends while on the hiking trail. Even though all of this sounds so dreamy and perfect, sometimes we're high when we perhaps shouldn't be. You might have stoner eyes and are constantly asking yourself, "do I look high?" while talking with your parents or on an unexpected work zoom meeting. For most, being high in public only increases anxiety, so next time you find yourself in a sticky situation, below are some tips and tricks on how to not act high and keep your cool.

How Does THC Actually Work?

Before we dive into topics that range from how to hide being high from parents or how to get rid of stoned eyes fast, it's important to touch on what is actually happening within the body to cause those "high eyes" and all the buzzing feelings that come with marijuana.

THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the compound within cannabis that emits the psychoactive effects of feeling high. THC that is inhaled through smoking goes straight into the lungs and is absorbed into the blood. When THC is inhaled, it reaches high levels fairly quickly, and within 20 minutes the circulatory system is carrying THC through every tissue in the body, especially the brain. An edible, on the other hand, is metabolized through the liver, creating a much more potent and long-lasting cannabis experience as THC is broken down into 11-hydroxy-THC.

In either case, THC binds with receptors in the endocannabinoid system, which works to create homeostasis to keep the body in equilibrium. In the ECS, reactions occur where THC can flood the brain with dopamine while the receptors that are abundant within the brain can bind with the THC molecule to regulate pain, nausea, depression and more.

How Long Is a Typical High?

There are several factors that come into play when thinking about the duration of the high. It's all about how much you consume, the amount of THC present, your tolerance and your metabolism - among other things. Puffing on a vape pen or joint will cause the user to feel effects immediately, with the peak high feelings starting after 1 hour, with a high typically lasting for 1 to 3 hours. Edibles will typically kick in anywhere between 30 to 60 minutes, peaking at 2 hours, and can even last for up to 24 hours. Keep this timeline in mind to stay out of an unwanted situation of being too high when you don't want to be.

How to Not Look High & Other Tips to Keep Cool

Freshen Up

The best way to not seem like you are totally stoned is to get the smell off of you. This means you can either change clothes or rid yourself of the smell by using your favorite cologne, perfume or deodorant. Remember, your breath and hands may reek of marijuana, too. So don't forget to wash your hands thoroughly, apply a scented lotion or rinse with some mouthwash to get rid of the stink.

Get Rid of the Stoned Eyes

Everyone knows that those piercing red eyes are going to be a dead giveaway for someone who is absolutely baked. Make sure you have your handy eye drops around as THC lowers your blood pressure, causing dilated blood vessels in your eyes. Some of the best eye drops for stoners include the likes of the classic Visine Red Eye Comfort drops or the Rohto Cooling Eye Drops. If you're not a fan of eye drops, throw on that pair of favorite sunglasses you own. Sure, you may look ridiculous (especially if you're inside) but people won't automatically know that you're stoned.

Remember to Chill

Even though you have removed the stink and appearance of weed, you may still be acting totally odd, which is going to blow your cover. This means you may have to keep the laughing to a minimum, not eat every single piece of food in sight and keep those high thoughts to yourself for the time being. Try to stay focused on the present moment too, and not completely zone out into outer space.

Set Yourself Up for Success

You can tackle just about anything if you have taken the necessary and appropriate steps beforehand. If you know you're in for a heavy smoking session, make sure to fuel your body properly in the AM. This includes actually grabbing a nutritious breakfast and not just reaching for that cold brew beverage. Stay hydrated, too. Marijuana is known to cause dry mouth so get drinking early to combat it and your body will be thanking you later for it. This also included mapping out your day before your session. If you know you need to make some calls, run errands or get other miscellaneous tasks down for the day, do it before you light up.

Have you ever been too high when you shouldn't have been? What was it like? Do you have any tips to stay calm? Let us know down below.