Do Mangoes Help Get Me Higher? | Education

For decades, cannabis users have been stereotyped as granola-loving hippies obsessed with natural and organic foods. Of course, those assumptions ignore years of stoner love affairs with junk food, but beneath the health food cliche, there are a few fruits, vegetables and spices that are actually believed to increase and accentuate the psychoactive effects of weed.

Marijuana enthusiasts have long celebrated mangoes in particular as a catalyst for longer, more intense intoxication from bong packs, blunts and pipe hits. So what's behind the rumors about mango and weed? In this article, we'll go through a handful of popular methods for counteracting a growing THC tolerance, investigate why mangoes are a go-to snack to accentuate the high of marijuana and break down other natural foods that can help intensify and elongate the effects of cannabis.

Myrcene, Mangoes & Smoking Pot

According to legend, together mangoes and weed can get you higher. Does this actually happen, and if so, why? It all comes down to terpenes. A number of fruits, vegetables and other natural foods are packed with the same terpenoids and flavonoids that give cannabis its distinct smell and flavor.

Mango, in particular, has high quantities of terpene myrcene. Myrcene is also one of the most common terps in cannabis and is often associated with the calm, relaxing effects of indica strains. Eating a mango or two up to two hours before a smoke session will increase the levels of myrcene in your body, creating a stronger entourage effect and allowing the THC in your weed to interact with your body faster.

Of course, cannabis interacts with every person differently, and you might not notice the effects of eating a mango before you smoke if your tolerance is already sky-high. Still, mangoes are delicious and healthy, so it is definitely worth a shot.

Other High-Terpene Foods To Help Your High

As you've probably guessed, mango isn't the only food that is high in natural terpenes and fatty acids that can accentuate your cannabis high.

Black pepper is known for its high levels of caryophyllene, another terpene that is frequently found in indica-dominant cannabis strains. In fact, the calming effects of caryophyllene are so well known that many weed users will chew on peppercorns to calm down if they experience anxiety after smoking. Broccoli, oregano and cinnamon are also all high in beta-caryophyllene, in case your pepper grinder ever runs dry.

If you don't want something quite as flavorful as a fist full of black pepper or a bite of mango, a handful of raw nuts is packed with a heavy dose of Omega-3 fatty acids. The so-called "good fat" binds to cannabinoid receptors in the body and helps hasten the effects of your favorite strain.

How To Get As High As Possible With Your Weed

For longtime, experienced cannabis users, there inevitably comes a time when THC tolerance eclipses the amount of weed a person wants to consume during every session. If one bowl or joint doesn't get you the effects you desired, you could grind up more of your stash and roll another one, but that can get costly quickly. Instead, try switching up your consumption methods to get the most out of every gram.

Tolerance Breaks

The cheapest and most effective way to get higher from every hit of weed is to take a tolerance break and stop consuming cannabis for a few days or weeks. Scientifically, a tolerance begins to weaken the effects of a substance once the chemical builds up in your body for an extended amount of time. By halting your cannabis habit, your body is able to flush out the THC. After only a few days or a week, that reset will have a dramatic effect on how high you get from each hit of weed.

Experiment With Edibles or Dabs

If you aren't getting high enough for your liking when you smoke, you could always try your hand at more potent versions of weed. Edibles have been scientifically proven to carry heavier effects than flower, and doing a dab of highly concentrated cannabinoids and terpenes is like taking a shot of whiskey after years of drinking beer. Of course, if you make edibles or dabs into your regular consumption method, it is only a matter of time before your tolerance re-adjusts and you will need even more THC to feel the same effects.

Change Strains

If you are used to buying weed from the same dealer or dispensary, your body might be sick of a specific strain. Switching up the variety of weed you smoke will alter the terpenes and cannabinoids you consume, giving your body a fresh perspective on cannabis and potentially giving you a new, more potent experience.

Try a Hot Box

To get the absolute maximum exposure possible to your smoke, try breathing nothing but weed smoke. Either in a small room or a car (stationary, of course), a hot box will keep cannabis circulating in the air for as long as possible, making it a great way to counteract an overactive tolerance.

Do you have any tricks for getting higher? Let us know about your preferred methods in the comments below!