Looking beyond THC: tips for when your bud just isn’t getting you high anymore

Written By: Tiffany (aka Spliffany)

Photos By: Kayla Zadow

When it comes to cannabis, lots of folks believe that it is the THC percentage alone that will determine how high you will get. I am here to share with you that this is not the case and may not have ever been. 

Pictured: A open joint with flower and a hash snake

I, like many, once upon a time would pick my cannabis based on which cultivar (strain) was sitting at the very top of any menu. I was convinced that whichever THC percentage was the highest would indeed get me the highest. I wasn’t interested in trying anything that was sitting halfway or even at the bottom of a menu for fear that I would not get the desired results I was looking for. Over time, I noticed that some of the so-called 30%+ flower were just okay and were not taking me to outer space, nor were the effects lasting as long as I hoped they would. So of course, I did what most folks would do and went on the hunt for something even higher. It was as if I was constantly chasing this imaginary cannabis rainbow, always looking for the highest THC I could find, it felt like I had reached a plateau and was feeling frustrated that nothing seemed to be working for me. The more research I did, I began to see that THC percentage presents in more of a range and really shouldn’t be the first or only sign that something was going to be out of this world. There are so many other factors that come into play when finding a potent product. How was it grown? How was it harvested, dried and cured? What terpenes are present? Were there any other cannabinoids like CBG, CBD, CBN or CBC that would help create an entourage effect and ultimately boost my overall experience? It wasn’t until I started asking these questions before purchasing, that really turned experiences around for me.

Beyond an awareness that THC percentage alone is not going to necessarily predict a cannabis product’s potency, it is also important to note is that testing practices are varied, there are plenty of ways to game a system like this one, incentive to inflate numbers is very high, and oversight and penalties are not significant. Maybe I am being biased towards some of the brands claiming that their flower is 30-37% THC, but I am very skeptical about those numbers being particularly accurate, never mind whether or not they’re meaningful in terms of experience of potency. Ask any master grower and they would agree that it isn’t common to reach these numbers and I know that you can test the same plant from top to bottom and get a different result every time. It’s simply not a plant characteristic we used to grow for. But, growers in the legal market have to cater to the tastes (and assumptions) of the buyers, and right now it seems to be a race to the top of the menu.

Pictured: Shatter in a glass container

As consumers, it is up to us to demand that Health Canada holds producers and testing laboratories accountable and that they are 100% transparent about their findings and sampling methods. As retailers, it is up to us to educate our customers about shopping beyond listed THC. All of my favourite flower right now does not sit at the top of the menu. The brands that I have come to love because they consistently put out quality products, like Carmel, Simply Bare, 1964, Pistol & Paris, and Dunn Cannabis, know that really great bud starts from selecting the right genetics, mastering the ideal growing environment for that cultivar, proper harvesting/drying techniques (I’m calling out all the brands that still rack and tray dry their cannabis), curing and packaging. They take the time to produce quality over quantity and it shows.

So, you’re keeping quality in mind, not shopping just based on THC and you still can’t get as high as you’d like off flower alone? There are a few other ways you could try to possibly enhance your high. You may have noticed the bajillion infused pre-rolls on the market right now. Some have been infused with distillate and botanical terpenes, which people either love or hate. By adding distillate (same as what you would find in a vape) you will increase the THC percentage and make your weed taste fun like candy, fruit… orrr burnt popcorn (probably not what that brand was going for.)

Then there are other infused pre-rolls, which I personally tend to gravitate towards, that have been combined with concentrates like THCA diamonds (an almost 98-99% pure form of THCA), hash, kief, shatter, rosin or resin, all of which will raise the potency and elevate the experience. An added benefit: testing for THC potency is much more reliable in concentrated products.

If you are someone who feels like you have reached your THC ceiling on flower and likes to roll your own joints or pack a nice bowl, then I highly (hehe) recommend stacking one (or all if you're brave) of these concentrates with your flower and see if that is the sweet spot you were hoping for.  For those who like to DIY, stay tuned for some ideas on creating your own concentrate concoctions, like the shatter snake joint below. We’ll be posting a follow-up soon and will link when we do!

Pictured: A joint wrapped in a shatter snake

Spliff’s Disclaimer: I would not be keeping it real if I didn’t also mention that even though cannabis is a great benefit to my life and I will most likely be a consumer until the end…. I do notice that sometimes cannabis can actually trigger negative effects in me like heightened anxiety and depression. So while my blog above is speaking on ways to enhance your high if you feel like you are no longer reaching the level of high you are hoping for, please also consider that too much of anything can also have adverse side effects and should be consumed in moderation, in a safe space and with people you trust. I will always encourage our customers to take a tolerance break if and when you can to allow your body’s endocannabinoid system time to “rebalance” itself out. You can find my blog on that topic here