Does Holding a Hit In Longer Get You More Stoned?
Introduction
For years, smokers have debated whether holding a hit from a bong or joint for longer actually makes you more stoned. Before the internet, loads of people swore by it. Even now, you’ll still hear someone say you should hold it in for 10–15 seconds “to feel it more.”
But does that really increase your high — or is something else going on?
🫁 What Happens When You Take a Hit?
When you inhale cannabis smoke, THC enters your lungs and passes into the bloodstream through the alveoli — the tiny air sacs responsible for gas exchange.
This process is extremely fast and efficient. Your lungs have a huge surface area, and they don’t need prolonged exposure to smoke to absorb THC.
In simple terms:
Your body starts absorbing cannabinoids almost immediately after inhalation.
🔬 The Science Behind the Myth
The idea that holding in a hit makes you more stoned is widespread, but scientific evidence doesn’t really support it.
Research suggests that most THC absorption happens within the first few seconds of inhaling. Holding smoke in for much longer doesn’t significantly increase how much THC gets into your bloodstream.
What does increase when you hold your breath is:
- Carbon monoxide exposure
- Tar and combustion byproducts
- Oxygen deprivation
That lightheaded or buzzy feeling some people get from holding a hit? That’s mostly from reduced oxygen, not extra THC.
🧠 Why It Feels Stronger
If you hold smoke in for a long time, you may feel:
- Dizzy
- Lightheaded
- Slightly euphoric
It’s easy to mistake that sensation for being “more high,” but it’s mainly caused by temporary oxygen restriction, not increased cannabis effects.
📚 What Studies Have Found
“The present study examined the effects of systematic manipulation of breathhold duration (0 and 20 s) on the physiological and subjective response to active (M; 2.3% delta-9-THC) and placebo (P; 0.0% delta-9-THC) marijuana in a group of ten regular marijuana smokers.
During the eight-session experiment, subjects were exposed twice to each of four experimental conditions (P0, P20, M0, M20), scheduled according to a randomized block design. A controlled smoking procedure was used in which the number of puffs and puff volume were held constant. Expired-air carbon monoxide (CO) levels were used to monitor smoke intake. Breathhold duration affected CO absorption; significantly more CO was absorbed from both P and M smoke after 20 s of breathholding (mean CO boost = 6.9 ppm) than after no breathholding (mean = 4.4 ppm). Heart rate was minimally affected by the breathhold manipulation.
Effects of marijuana on mood were not consistently affected by breathhold duration. The results confirm previous findings that prolonged breathholding does not substantially enhance the effects of inhaled marijuana smoke.”
You can check out the full study here
⚠️ Is It Dangerous?
Holding your breath briefly isn’t likely to cause serious harm in healthy people, but longer breath-holding does mean:
- More smoke stays in your lungs
- More toxins are absorbed
- Less oxygen reaches your brain
So while it might make you feel something extra, it’s not the kind of “extra” you’re actually looking for.
✅ The Bottom Line
Holding in a hit longer doesn’t get you more stoned in any meaningful way.
Most THC is absorbed within the first few seconds. Anything after that mostly increases exposure to smoke and reduces oxygen — which can make you feel weird, but not actually more high.
So if you want the most out of your cannabis:
Take a normal inhale, exhale comfortably, and save your lungs the stress.