How Long Does a THC-O High Last?

You’ve heard that THC-O is nearly three times as potent as traditional THC products–an exciting fact for many recreational cannabis consumers. Some consumers, though, are a bit more hesitant to try this near-psychedelic cannabinoid, and one important question stands between them and their very first THC-O experience–how long does a THC-O high last?

If you’re ready to dip your toes in the effects of THC-O but curious how much time you need to allot to the experience, here’s what you should know:

Table of Contents
THC-O Effects
How Long Will THC-O’s Effects Last?
How Long Will THC-O Stay in Your System?
Can You Come Down From a THC-O High?
How to Gently Try THC-O
Where to Buy THC-O

Key Takeaways

• THC-O’s effects are more potent that Delta-9-THC’s, but the duration of effects is very similar.
• In general, THC-O’s effects can last anywhere from 3 to 8 hours, but each product style offers a different onset and duration.
• The effects of THC-O may wear off quickly, but it can stick around in your system for much longer.

THC-O Effects

We mentioned that THC-O is nearly three times more potent than Delta-9-THC products, but you should also be aware that the effects are slightly different. In general, they are often described to be more uplifting and energizing. Thanks to the increased potency, THC-O is also sometimes named “the spiritual cannabinoid” and is described as borderline hallucinogenic.

This can make for a positive, uplifting, and potent high, but also means that you shouldn’t plan to drive, operate machinery, or do tasks that otherwise require sobriety. That makes it all the more important to understand how long the effects of THC-O will last (and how to potentially come down from the effects faster when the need arises).

If you want to learn more about the general effects of THC-O, we recommend you read:

• THC-O Effects
• Is THC-O Psychedelic?

Otherwise, let’s skip to the bottom line:

How Long Will THC-O’s Effects Last?

First, let’s address one thing–there is no evidence available to give us any specific guidelines for understanding the half life of THC-O.

However, it’s thought to interact with the endocannabinoid system in a manner that is incredibly similar to Delta-9-THC, and the molecules are incredibly similar in nature. So, we must draw conclusions from what we know about traditional THC products and from anecdotal experiences to better understand the duration of THC-O’s effects.

It’s also important to understand that everyone will metabolize THC-O differently, meaning that your dose may not wear off at the same time as another person who took the exact same dose. In general, the duration of the effects you will experience are also impacted by the type of product you take. In fact, this may have the heaviest impact on how long THC-O will last.

Here are some general guidelines:

• Certain THC-O edibles need to be processed through digestion. Thanks to this slow process, the effects could take 1-2 hours to kick in, and they may last longer than other methods, up to 8 hours. Many people suggest that the effects of edibles peak around 3-4 hours after dosing and begin to slowly taper off.
• Other edibles, like candies and chews, are meant to be dissolved slowly in the mouth and may be partially absorbed through the mouth’s mucous membranes. This means that they can begin to take effect after 15-30 minutes, and the effects may begin to wear off 1-2 hours quicker than traditional edibles.
• THC-O vaporizers or other inhalation products take effect quickly, usually in about 15 minutes. Typically, the body metabolizes substances quickly through these pathways, and the effects may last between 3-5 hours.

Simply put, a THC-O high can last anywhere from 3-8 hours depending on the dosing method you use and your own unique biological factors, like your metabolic rate.

How Long Will THC-O Stay in Your System?

THC-O will trigger the same results on a drug exam as if you had used Delta-9-THC prior to taking the test. For that reason, it’s important to understand how long THC-O is detectable in the body even after you come down from its effects.

To put it briefly, THC-O’s half life is thought to be about the same as Delta-9’s, and after about 30 minutes half of the original dose has been metabolized. Still, the half life doesn't determine how long THC-O is detectable. Instead, the length of time THC-O is detectable in the body depends mostly on the type of drug test being used. This is because all tests have different detection windows.

Other factors, like your metabolism, age, weight, and frequency of use will also factor in, but to a much lesser extent. In general, THC metabolites may be present in your urine for as little as 3 days or as long as 30 days after last consumption. THC is typically only present in saliva for about 48 hours after dosing and in blood for about 36 hours after dosing. Hair samples have the longest detection window of up to 90 days.

Check out “Does THC-O Show Up on a Drug Test?” for more information.

Can You Come Down From a THC-O High Faster?

If you tried THC-O and the effects are lasting a bit longer than you are comfortable with, you may be able to do some things to ease the experience along. To come down from a THC-O high more quickly, try the following:

• Take a cool shower. Many people report that a cool shower, or even a shower in general, can help to bring their high down to a more manageable level.
• Brush your teeth. This one is mostly hearsay, but many people report that it can help you to quickly feel more sober if you brush your teeth.
• Eat a small snack and stay well hydrated. Supporting your metabolism can help your body process the THC-O more quickly, but don’t overdo it with a huge mean, which can temporarily slow your metabolism down.
• Try fatty foods. THC-O is fat soluble, and a fatty snack may help to metabolize it more quickly.
• Sleep it off. If the experience is too overwhelming, you may try to take a nap so that you’ll wake up feeling more refreshed and sober.

How to Gently Try THC-O

THC-O’s effects are much more potent than other hemp-derived THC products, so its important that you process with caution if you’re new to the THC experience. If you want to test the THC-O experience safely, here are some tips that may help:

• Make sure you buy high-quality THC-O accompanied by third-party lab tests. That way you know you’re getting accurate doses of premium, hemp-derived THC-O, and not diluted or synthetic material.
• Start slow. Using a THC-O vaporizer can help you take small, spaced-out doses until you reach the desired effects.
• Alternatively, you can always cut edible doses into smaller portions to get an idea of how they will affect you before taking a full dose.
• Give adequate time for your dose to kick in before deciding to take more. For edibles, that can be up to 2 hours, and for vaporizers it may take up to 30 minutes.
• Keep track of your dose so you’ll know how much to take next time!

Where to Buy THC-O

Although THC-O is legal and accessible, not all hemp-derived THC products are made equal. Be sure to look for a trustworthy, experienced hemp manufacturer in order to find high-quality, safe products. Look for products that are made from legal hemp material in an area where both hemp products and THC-O are legal. The brand you choose should also be willing to provide a Certificate of Analysis from the third-party batch tests used to verify the information presented on the product's label.

For hemp-derived THC products that are 100% Farm Bill compliant and meet all the marks we listed above, we recommend checking out our Elev8 Collection, which includes a variety of edibles, vapes, flower, and more.