Do Mangos Get You Higher?

There are many myths about cannabis out there, and it can be difficult to uncover the truth about the drug and its effects. When you hear someone say that “mangoes get you higher,” your first instinct might be to dismiss it as an urban legend or a rumour.

Not so fast — there may very well be some truth to this claim. Many marijuana users report that eating mangoes before or after smoking makes their high more intense. It also makes the high last longer. People say that the best way to take advantage of this effect is to eat one or more mangoes at least forty-five minutes before smoking. However, eating mangoes after smoking still works. That makes mangoes an excellent choice when you find yourself having the munchies.

So why do mangoes have this effect? Before understanding the connection between weed and mangoes, we need to understand terpenes. Terpenes are the oils responsible for marijuana’s unique aroma. Terpenes are also thought to modify the effects of cannabinoids, the active ingredients in marijuana.

Terpenes are found in many other things beside cannabis, one of which is mangoes. That’s right, mangoes have some of the same ingredients as marijuana. The terpene that gives mangoes their smell is called myrcene. This study from the Swiss Federal Research Station for Agroecology and Agriculture found that myrcene was the most common terpene in cannabis out of the sixteen strains observed. The link between mangoes and marijuana is starting to make more sense.

Myrcene makes cell membranes more permeable (meaning that substances can pass through the membranes more easily). So, when you eat a mango, the myrcene in the fruit makes the cells in your brain absorb the chemicals from marijuana more easily. When your brain absorbs more chemicals like THC, you will experience a stronger and longer lasting high. People also report that eating mangoes helps them experience the effects of weed more quickly.

If you want to try this for yourself, be sure to consider your personal metabolism. If you have a very fast metabolism, you may have to eat more than one mango to feel any effect. You should also select the ripest mangoes possible.

Another benefit to eating mangoes during your smoke session is that mangoes are just plain healthy. It’s no surprise that turning to fresh fruit when you have the munchies will be healthier than opening a bag of chips.

There’s more good news. THC isn’t the only chemical in marijuana that is affected by myrcene. Myrcene can also help the brain absorb CBD, the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s medical benefits. That means that patients who use medical marijuana may be able to eat mangoes to prolong the relief that they get from the CBD in marijuana.

Keep in mind that there have not been credible scientific studies about this (for fairly obvious reasons). The best way to know if mangoes can get you higher is to try one yourself the next time you smoke up.