How Many Hits Does It Take To Get High From A Cannabis Vaporizer?

September 20, 2024

When using a cannabis vaporizer, it is good to know just how many hits it will take to get you the experience you want without tipping you over the edge. However, it is not just as simple as working out a formula due to the amount of personal factors involved in how each individual experiences cannabis. There are a few things you need to take into account when determining how many hits you need from a cannabis vaporizer, so join us as we help you to figure out how to enjoy cannabis just the way you want to.

Things To Consider When Vaping Cannabis

First things first: there is no objective way to determine how certain amounts of cannabis will affect your user experience fully. Every person has unique biological characteristics as well as different vaping habits that can all affect your user experience. Therefore, there is no single rule that applies to all users at all times – except perhaps to start with a low dosage and to wait long enough before taking any more (especially if you are a new user).

Here are a few factors to consider when it comes to vaping cannabis:

Your tolerance and frequency of cannabis use
The quality of your cannabis products
Different cannabinoids and their potency
The THC concentration in your products

Your Tolerance And Frequency Of Cannabis Use

Tolerance has a very big effect on your mind and body’s response to cannabis. The higher your tolerance, the more puffs it will take for you to experience the effects of your product fully. Think about how frequently you use cannabis and for how long you have been following that pattern.

Chronic and daily cannabis users can experience reduced sensitivity in the CB1 receptors. As THC enters the body, its affinity for the CB1 receptors determine the intensity of its effects. The release of dopamine that is triggered by consuming cannabis starts to get normalised with regular consumption, and hormone influxes will hardly be noticeable after a while.

However, tolerance can also be specific to a single cannabinoid. You could have built a high tolerance to delta 9 THC but may still be able to feel significant effects from delta 8 THC, even though it is a weaker cannabinoid.

How quickly you develop a tolerance will depend on a few factors, including:

Genetics: Some users are more prone to CB1 receptor desensitisation and may develop a tolerance faster.
Sex: Women are more prone to developing a THC tolerance at a quicker rate.
Age: THC tolerance may also decrease with age.

The Quality Of Your Cannabis Products

The quality and ingredients of your concentrates, dry herbs, or vape oils, and your vaping device will greatly influence the potency of your hits. Make sure that you always buy your products from reputable stores to avoid low quality and inconsistent products as you will never know what you are going to get.

However, proper storage and care is also important. Even the highest quality products and devices can lose their potency/get damaged. Exposure to heat, UV rays, and humidity can degrade cannabinoids and weaken the effects of concentrates, flowers, and oils, while vaporizers can overheat or get damaged internally. Store your cannabis products and your vaporizers in a cool, dry area away from direct sunlight.

Different Cannabinoids And Their Potency

Some cannabinoids tend to have more psychoactive effects than others. This may vary between users, but most cannabinoids have the following potency level:

Delta 9 THC: This is the primary active cannabinoid found in cannabis and is specifically known for its intoxicating and psychoactive effects.
Delta 8 THC: Generally regarded to be about half as intoxicating as delta 9 THC.
HHC: Around 70-80% as potent as delta 9 THC.
THCV: Can provide mildly intoxicating effects in high doses, so more hits are required with this cannabinoid.
CBN: Mildly intoxicating to very inexperienced users and usually only in larger amounts.
CBD: Completely non-psychoactive when on its own.

The THC Concentration In Your Products

Higher levels of THC are generally associated with a fast acting and more potent high. However, this is not always the case.

The entourage effect plays a large role in how cannabis products affect you – other compounds found in cannabis, including terpenes and minor cannabinoids, have the ability to enhance or balance each other’s effects for an overall better experience. While some people may only need a potent distillate to get high, those with a higher THC tolerance can get better results with rosin oils or live resin with broader profiles.

Will Vaping Cannabis Get Me Higher Than Smoking It?

Vaping cannabis can get you high in less puffs than you would when smoking it due to a few reasons. Whether you use concentrates, oils, or dry herbs, your product will be vaporised evenly and efficiently instead of getting burnt all in one go. This minimises the amount of product you waste and increases the potency and consistency of each hit.

If vaping cannabis is not one of your regular consumption methods, you may be surprised to see how effective a few puffs can be, even for someone with an impressive tolerance. Switching up your consumption method can actually refresh your body’s response to THC and other cannabinoids.

How Many Hits Should I Take?

Considering there are so many factors that influence how each person will react to vaping cannabis, there are not really rules but rather some general guidelines to follow. Always start with a small amount and wait long enough before increasing your dosage – you can always take more at a later stage if necessary but you cannot really do anything about it if you take too much cannabis immediately.

There may be some trial and error, but take note of how a certain number of hits make you feel. This will vary depending on the type of product you use as well (concentrates, oils, dry herbs). Some users may also have different tolerances to different consumption methods, so try to keep a cannabis journal with notes on how each method and product affects you so you know just how much you need for a pleasant experience.