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How Long Does a Delta 8 High Last?

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  For Delta 8 and cannabis newcomers, accurately judging the correct dosage can be tricky. We’ve all heard stories of people who ate an entire sheet of brownie edibles and spent 10 hours in a paranoid haze. Those scenes are rare outliers, but they highlight the importance of knowing your limits — and knowing what to expect. Understanding what products yield which results can be extremely useful in navigating the cannabis community. With that in mind, how long should you expect your high to last? And how do you ensure it is an enjoyable experience?   

The High Factors 

Delta 8 feels a lot like the active ingredient in cannabis, Delta 9, and the two effects have a similar duration. On average, a THC high lingers for between two and eight hours. That is obviously a huge variation in time, and where you fall on that spectrum is dictated by a number of factors.   
  1. Potency: How concentrated is the THC product you’re using? Higher THC content will lead to a stronger high, which will in turn stay in your system for a longer period. 
  2. Method of Absorption: The way you take Delta 8 dramatically changes both how quickly you feel the effects, and how long they stay in your system. This is by far the most important factor in determining the length of a high. Edibles are absorbed and processed by your liver, which breaks the THC down more slowly and extends the duration significantly. Smoking, whether it be dabbing, vape cartridges, or joints and pipes, causes the THC to be absorbed by the soft tissue of your lungs. This results in an experience that hits quickly but fades relatively fast. 
  3. Tolerance: How frequently you use Delta 8 will also determine how powerfully you feel the effects. A first-time user may experience the effects up to twice as long as a seasoned vet. 
  4. Body Type and Metabolism: Like any substance, your gender, age, and weight will influence how your body responds to the THC. Someone with a faster metabolism will process the cannabinoids more quickly, and the effects will fade sooner as a result. Additionally, a full stomach will help absorb some of the chemicals and contribute to a shorter high. 
 

Different Methods Yield Different Highs

Delta 8 vape cartridges, flower, and tinctures are all efficient methods that lead to a high in ten minutes or less. Typically, this high lasts anywhere from 1-2 hours, and rise and fall can be plotted on a fairly predictable graph. There is a spike in feeling right when the effects kick in, followed by an even slope that begins to taper off after about 60 minutes. The main advantages of these methods are the predictability of the sensations and rapid onset of the high.  Dabbing with Delta 8 is, by nature, more intense than nearly any other smoking method. The use of high-purity concentrates means far more THC is being introduced, and the effects linger oftentimes for 2-5 hours, or even longer for a first-time user.  Edibles offer the least predictable high by a wide margin. While they are certainly a most cost-efficient way to enjoy THC, they take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours to kick in, and they remain in your system for up to nine hours. With any of these methods, the important thing is to understand your personal limits and start with very low doses. It is always easier to take more Delta 8 than it is to un-take any amount. The last thing you want to do is overwhelm yourself.  

Delta 8 is a Smoother Experience

This ties directly to the biggest advantage of Delta 8 over cannabis: the lower psychoactivity. The less intoxicating effects make it nearly impossible to overwhelm yourself with Delta 8. Unlike Delta 9 in cannabis, which is notorious for its powerful cloudy and disorienting effects, Delta 8 typically brings an alert high that offers relief without the loss of function.  If you do wind up feeling a little too high for comfort, eating and sleeping are the proven two best ways to come down from a THC buzz. But ideally, you practice responsible smoking and use only within your limits.      Let us know how long you feel the effects of Delta 8. What products do you prefer? 

One thought on “How Long Does a Delta 8 High Last?”

  1. Bob C says:

    Thanks for the excellent article! I just got and tried some hemp-derived Delta8 THC oil. Haven’t touched THC in decades, so I was very measured in my approach. Even so, I made the mistake of having a bit more when, after an hour and a half, I was feeling nice but not really high. A couple or so hours later, I was ‘altered’ on a new level and stayed that way for several hours (3-4, maybe more… a very long time!). Maybe this was due to my 30-year tolerance break, but I cut the dose in half today and only added a bit more 4 hours later. I will ever-so-slowly increase the dose slightly with each use to find the best dosage.

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