Does Mango Really Boost Your High?

Alternatively, how to get high from a hemp CBD tincture.

Stoner has long been said that consuming a mango can increase the potency of a THC high. Contrary to some other total stoner myths (please do not drink bong water), there is a logic that supports this myth.

The science

Both mangoes and cannabis contain myrcene, a common terpene known for its peppery, hoppy smell and taste. In popular culture, cannabis strains with high myrcene content have been reported to induce couch lock or sedation. Although there is no clinical evidence to support these claims, a study published in the journal Phytomedicine in 2002 showed that very high doses of myrcene can have sedative effects in mice. The study concluded that increased amounts of myrcene can have a sedative effect and reduce movement in animals.

While myrcene alone won’t get you high, elevated myrcene levels are often associated with experiencing a fast-acting, powerful high. Research published in the journal Nutraceuticals in 2016 suggests that this feeling is due to the fact that the myrcene terpene plays a key role in facilitating the transport of cannabinoids into your brain. In addition, myrcene has been linked to improved transdermal absorption, potentially opening up another avenue for greater cannabinoid uptake.

White Widow, Skunk XL, and Special Kush 1 are all cannabis strains that may contain high levels of myrcene, which is very common in many cannabis strains. Cannabis strains high in myrcene may have a reputation for producing superior relaxation or even calming effects, but scientific evidence has not yet supported these claims.

Bottom line: High myrcene strains are reported to be more sedative and relaxing compared to low myrcene strains. So it is possible that doubling up on mangoes will result in a stronger, more relaxing effect during your next smoking session.

The experiment

I’m by no means a scientist, but I wanted to test this theory on myself. So, on an average weekday, I went by my favorite pharmacy and shop to get the ingredients for my experiment. Without my own Rick and Morty garage, there was no way for me to simply test how much myrcene my mangoes contained. But they were big and mature, and I decided that had to be enough.

I picked up a pack of Wyld’s Strawberry 20: 1 CBD: THC gummies at the pharmacy. My tolerance levels are pretty low these days, so usually one or two of these 1 mg THC gums will make me feel soft, but not necessarily stoned. I’ve looked through countless boxes of these gummies and the barely-there high has been consistent every time. I figured if I started on a low but noticeable dose, I would have to attribute a real high to the reinforcing powers of the mango. Eat a bunch of mango at a larger dose and I might get too high or chalk it up to my normal week-night limits.

Bottom line: It would be a light 2 mg THC edible and a whole mango.

First results: I don’t think this will work?

So was I stoned after eating a bunch of mangoes with my favorite essences?

After eating a large pasta dinner (this detail will be important), I ate my whole mango and gummy bear for dessert. I assumed that I was digesting the edible cannabinoids at the same time as the mango terpenes, resulting in double relaxation. In preparation for this, I parked in front of Legendary’s first season and waited for a wave of zen to wash over me.

An episode passed and nothing. Two episodes passed and nothing more. In the third hour-long episode, I actually felt a little energetic – like I could clean up my closet or something. I hadn’t even the faintest idea of ​​the calm I usually get when I eat these gums without a mango. What gives?

Hours after eating my edible brew, I lay down in bed thinking the results were final: mangoes are not for your high. But it would take a random combination to reconsider that initial conclusion.

Second result: I’m definitely high

I thought I could repeat my first experiment, but tweak the approach. I would eat two or three whole mangoes and start my experiment early in the day to see if it just takes longer for the effects to kick in. Maybe I would smoke half a joint without mango and smoke the rest with mango later, noting any differences. I could tinker with a number of variables to see which one affects my experience.

A few days after my first test, I accidentally got into another one while making a massive mango smoothie to break out of an afternoon dip. Without thinking, I also took a full dropper of this full-spectrum hemp extract that I’ve been liking lately – mainly because I already had a hunter in my hand. With lunch a few hours behind me and dinner a few hours ahead of me, I thought my smoothie would be just the thing to get me across the finish line of my day.

Less than an hour later, I felt … changed. I felt much more relaxed than usual after ingesting this CBD tincture, and the little decorations of my everyday life – from the hummingbirds in the front yard fountain to my dog’s gentle snoring – were all the more adorable. In short, I felt high.

It was confusing because I usually take very high doses of CBD (in the 50-100 mg range) without blinking because CBD is a non-intoxicating substance. However, there will be traces of THC in a full-spectrum CBD tincture. I suspect that the combination of a high dose, an empty stomach, and three cups of mango turned those traces of THC into something noticeable.

Conclusion

Of course, the results will be different for everyone, but I was surprised at how much a full stomach can change my edible high. Mango or no mango, it was a helpful reminder that consuming weed is a constant conversation. I can cut back on my regime just to slightly shift my tolerance or add my high to the mood I’m already in. Knowing my ideal dose was the first step in getting that perfect high; understanding how to tweak that high feels like I’m rising. Fortunately for me, getting a little high from a mango and hemp combo is now part of my running equation.