20 Best Things To Do While You’re High

Cannabis has a way of making everyday experiences feel brand new. THC interacts with your brain’s endocannabinoid system, heightening your senses and making colors brighter, music richer, and food taste like it was prepared by a Michelin-star chef. Whether you’re flying solo or hanging with friends, these activities are designed to make the most of that elevated state of mind.

One quick note before we dive in: don’t drive while high. Seriously. Cannabis DUI is illegal everywhere, and your reaction time isn’t what you think it is. Cool? Cool. Let’s get into it.

This probably goes without saying, but music hits completely different when you’re high. THC stimulates the part of your brain that draws connections between ideas, and music is packed with patterns and metaphors your sober brain glosses over. Put on a pair of quality headphones, close your eyes, and let an album take you on a journey. You’ll hear layers, harmonies, and details you’ve never noticed before.

Pro tip: Try a genre you’ve never explored. Classical, Afrobeat, lo-fi Japanese jazz – your high brain is way more open to new sounds than your sober brain. Spotify’s Discover Weekly playlist is also surprisingly great for this.

Grab a blanket, find a patch of lawn away from city lights, and let your mind wander into the endless abyss of the universe. Download a stargazing app like SkyView or Star Walk to identify constellations and planets in real time. There’s something about staring at a sky full of stars while baked that makes your problems feel beautifully small.

Water feels incredible on your skin when you’re high. Jump in a shower or fill up a bath, close your eyes, and just focus on the sensation. Research has also shown that we do some of our best thinking in the shower – combine that with a cannabis-enhanced brain, and you might just come up with your next big idea. Light some candles, put on some ambient music, and turn your bathroom into a spa.

Pro tip: Add some essential oils or a bath bomb to really take it up a notch. Lavender and eucalyptus pair beautifully with a mellow indica high.

Everyone says “watch a movie” when you’re high, and they’re right – but don’t just scroll Netflix for 45 minutes. Pick your film before you smoke. Bad action movies become works of art, old sci-fi takes on a surreal new energy, and animated films are almost hypnotically beautiful. Studio Ghibli, Planet Earth, and anything by the Coen Brothers are all top-tier stoner viewing.

For specific recommendations, check out Herb’s guide to the best 420 movies or the best shows to watch high.

Cannabis is famous for quieting your inner critic – that annoying voice that says “this isn’t good enough.” With that voice turned down, your creative side gets room to play. You don’t need to be Picasso. Grab some colored pencils, watercolors, or even just a Sharpie and some paper. Adult coloring books (especially cannabis-themed ones) take just the right amount of concentration to keep you engaged without stressing you out.

If drawing isn’t your thing, try other creative outlets: make jewelry, arrange flowers, build something with LEGOs, or mess around with a free digital art app.

Don’t just assault your fridge – make it an event. Challenge yourself to pick three random ingredients and create something edible. Or go full Chopped and compete with friends. The munchies are coming anyway, so you might as well channel that energy into something delicious.

For cannabis-infused cooking, Herb has a massive collection of 420 recipes that range from beginner-friendly cannabutter pasta to full-on infused dinner parties. And if you’d rather snack than cook, check out the best food to eat while high.

What could be better than being high and relieving the stresses of gravity while suspended in warm, salty water? Float tanks remove all external stimulation – no light, no sound, no gravity – and let your mind do its thing. Paired with cannabis, it’s one of the most deeply relaxing experiences you can have. Most cities have float centers where you can book a session for under $80.

There’s a big wide world out there, and seeing it through green-colored glasses only makes it more interesting. Walk along a beach, cycle through a park, explore a neighborhood you’ve never been to, or just let your feet take you somewhere new. Nature hikes are especially rewarding – THC makes the rustle of leaves sound like a symphony and the colors in a sunset look impossibly vivid.

Pro tip: Bring water, snacks, and your phone (for maps, not doomscrolling). And obviously, get to your starting point before you consume.

Yes, seriously. Make your living room into a palace using sheets, blankets, pillows, pegs, and every comfortable item you own. String up some fairy lights for ambiance. Stock it with munchies and your smoking essentials. Establish a password for entry. This works even better with friends, but solo fort sessions are also deeply satisfying.

It’s no secret that cannabis can be a direct route to heightened pleasure and relaxation. THC can increase arousal, heighten sensitivity to touch, and help you get out of your head and into the moment. Research suggests that regular cannabis users tend to have more active sex lives, and both men and women report using cannabis before intimacy to intensify the experience.

For strain recommendations that pair well with the bedroom, check out Herb’s guides to the best strains for female arousal and best strains for sex.

Gaming while high is a time-honored tradition for a reason. Exploration games are especially great – think Zelda, Stardew Valley, No Man’s Sky, or Minecraft. Your reaction time might take a hit, so maybe skip the competitive ranked matches, but the immersion factor goes through the roof. If you’re with friends, Mario Kart, Overcooked, or Jackbox Party Packs are guaranteed good times.

Whether you’re going to a live show or diving into a YouTube rabbit hole, comedy and cannabis are a legendary pairing. THC increases dopamine and disrupts normal filtering in your brain, which means even mildly funny things can feel absolutely hilarious. Try comedians like Nate Bargatze, Ali Wong, or Mark Normand for reliably great sets.

Live comedy shows are even better – the energy of a room full of people laughing is infectious, and being slightly elevated makes you a much more generous audience.

This one might sound counterintuitive, but cannabis and meditation can be an incredible combination – especially at lower doses. THC can help quiet the mental chatter and bring you into a present, focused state faster than you might get there sober. Apps like Waking Up or Headspace have guided sessions that work perfectly for this. Even five minutes of closing your eyes and focusing on your breathing while high can feel surprisingly profound.

Art comes alive when you’re high. Colors seem more vibrant, details you’d normally walk past suddenly demand your attention, and abstract pieces start making emotional sense. Natural history museums are also incredible – standing in front of a dinosaur skeleton while baked is a whole experience. Just keep your consumption discreet and legal. Public consumption is prohibited in every legal state, so plan accordingly.

Grab a bag of googly eyes from any dollar store and start sticking them on everything in your house. Toilet lids, food containers, appliances, books, the cat’s water bowl – the list goes on. This works best if you have roommates who will discover your handiwork over the following weeks. It’s juvenile, it’s ridiculous, and it’s exactly as funny as it sounds.

This might surprise you, but working out while high (at safe, moderate intensity) can actually be enjoyable. Cannabis helps time slip by during repetitive exercise and can help you focus on form and breathing during yoga. Jogging, stretching, swimming, and cycling are all great options. People who smoke before working out have reported enjoying their sessions more and even exercising longer.

Pro tip: Start light. A 20-minute yoga flow or a walk around the block is a great entry point. Save the heavy lifting for when you’re sober.

Aside from the amazing food, theme parks are a sensory overload that pairs perfectly with cannabis. Bright lights, wild rides, funnel cake – it’s a lot, and that’s the point. Keep an eye out for the action-shot cameras on roller coasters and have your most ridiculous pose ready. Just remember to consume before you arrive (not on-site) and stay hydrated.

Mute whatever’s on television and provide your own dialogue. Get together with friends and become the characters, or just yell improvised commentary at the screen. Reality TV, nature documentaries, and soap operas are all prime targets. It’s low effort, high reward, and guaranteed to produce at least one moment of pure comedy gold.

Cannabis can unlock a flow state where words come easier and your inner filter disappears. Grab a notebook or open a notes app and just write whatever comes to mind. It doesn’t have to be good – in fact, the weirder, the better. You might capture an idea you’d never have sober, or you might write absolute nonsense that’s hilarious to read the next day. Either way, it’s a win.

There’s a reason “getting high and talking about life” is a cliche – it works. Cannabis can help you find the words for feelings you’ve been avoiding and approach difficult subjects from a new angle. Whether you’re philosophizing with friends or having a heart-to-heart with your partner, stoned conversations can go places that sober ones rarely reach.

Smoking weed and YouTube sessions go together like, well, weed and YouTube. Start with one video and let the algorithm take you somewhere you never expected. Nature documentaries, how-it’s-made videos, space content, and deep-dive essays are all incredible while high. Curiosity Stream is also worth checking out if you love documentaries and want something beyond YouTube’s algorithm.

For cannabis-specific content, Herb has a list of marijuana YouTube channels worth following.

Simple, social games work best when you’re high. UNO, Cards Against Humanity, or trivia games keep things moving without requiring too much focus. If you’re into it, even classic weed games (like “bong pong” or “hold your smoke”) can turn a regular session into a competitive event. Dungeons & Dragons is also secretly one of the best stoned activities – your imagination is already running wild, so why not channel it into an epic quest?

Find a busy park bench, a coffee shop patio, or a mall food court and just observe. While high, you have an almost heightened awareness of body language, fashion choices, and the little dramas playing out between strangers. Create backstories for the people you see. It’s free entertainment and weirdly fascinating.

One of the most underrated things you can do while high is start a low-stakes hobby. Origami. Knitting. Birdwatching. Learning three chords on a guitar. The goal isn’t mastery – it’s enjoyment. Cannabis lowers your inhibitions around trying new things and reduces the fear of being bad at something. So pick up that thing you’ve been meaning to try and give it a shot without any pressure.

Book a massage, do a face mask, give yourself a manicure, or just wrap yourself in your softest blanket with a cup of tea. Cannabis enhances your sense of touch, which means self-care rituals feel way more luxurious when you’re elevated. A high combined with a professional massage is genuinely one of the most relaxing experiences on the planet.

No matter which activity you choose, a few things will make the experience better:

• Pick your strain wisely. Sativas tend to be more energizing and social, while indicas lean toward relaxation and body highs. Hybrids split the difference. Check out Herb’s strain guides to find the right match for your activity.
• Start low and go slow. Especially with edibles. You can always consume more, but you can’t un-consume.
• Set up before you smoke. Pick your movie, lay out your art supplies, or map your hike before you get high. Decision-making gets harder once you’re lifted.
• Stay hydrated. Cottonmouth is real. Keep water nearby.
• Have snacks ready. The munchies are coming whether you like it or not. Check out Herb’s list of healthy stoner munchies if you want to feel good about what you eat. Or just embrace the chaos and get some nachos.

Not everything is a good idea when you’re elevated. Here’s what to skip:

• Driving. Cannabis DUI is illegal everywhere. Period.
• Making major decisions. That tattoo, that text to your ex, that online shopping spree – all bad ideas while high.
• Overcrowded or overwhelming environments (if you’re prone to anxiety). Know your limits.
• Mixing with alcohol. “Crossfading” can intensify both substances and lead to nausea or a bad time.
• Operating heavy machinery or using sharp tools. This should be obvious, but it bears repeating.

Tried any of these activities, or have your own go-to things to do when you’re high? Let us know on social media.