Can I get high from secondhand smoke from marijuana?

You’ve heard the fabulous stories about the second-hand high. A friend of a friend was mugged at a music festival for just sitting next to a hippie smoking a joint. Or your neighbor went to a house party and felt dizzy from all the smoke. Or your co-worker blamed the guy at the end of his apartment building for his lethargy. Can you get high from the second marijuana smoke?

Is it really possible to feel the intoxicating effects of cannabis simply by inhaling the second-hand vapors? However, almost every story you hear is heavily embellished. Yes, it’s possible. But it’s even more likely that it’s the placebo effect.

what you need to know

If you actually intend to get high from secondhand smoke, you can. According to the Urban Dictionary, hotboxing is the practice of smoking marijuana in an enclosed space (e.g. a car or a small room) to maximize the narcotic effects. The “enclosed space” part of the definition is important. When ventilation or airflow is present, the chance of getting high is limited. In addition, copious amounts of smoke are required.

When you’re outdoors (music festival, backyard cookout, waiting at the bus stop) it’s just not possible to inhale enough secondhand smoke to feel an effect.

Even the National Institute of Drug Abuse agrees.

“Studies show that when a smoker exhales, very little THC is exhaled back into the air. So little, in fact, that sitting in a room while others exhaled the smoke of four marijuana cigarettes (sometimes called joints) in an hour wouldn’t get you high. You would have to be trapped in a room and inhale the smoke from 16 burning joints before showing any signs of high,” reports NIDA.

Again, the chances of you inhaling enough THC to get a positive result are almost non-existent.

From NIDA:

In a 2010 study, researchers measured the effects of secondhand smoke of marijuana on non-marijuana smokers. The non-smokers were taken to a well-ventilated room where people casually smoked marijuana for three hours. The researchers then took blood and urine samples from the non-smokers. They found that THC was present, but in amounts well below what would be required to fail a drug test. Another study found similar results: positive tests are rare and limited to the hours immediately after exposure.

The conclusion:

If second-hand smoke of cannabis bothers you, be sure to share your concerns with the person who committed the offense. But if you’re afraid of getting high or of failing a drug test, relax. Only if you really make an effort will you be amazed.