When you think about getting high, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Probably smoking pot or maybe enjoying a special brownie or two. The problem with these is that, if you live in a state where pot is illegal or work for a federal agency, getting caught means losing your job.
But as you watch enviously while some of your colleagues light up a cigarette to destress during work, you can’t help but wonder if there aren’t legal ways to get high and take the edge off. The good news is that there are many substances that fit this category and won’t leave you unemployed and penniless.
Read on to learn about some of our favorite legal ways to get high.
6 Legal Ways to Get High Without Leaving the Office
For everyone else, read on to learn about some sneaky ways to get high without worrying about getting caught. That said, please use these substances responsibly and don’t give your boss a reason to fire you!
1. Salvia
We’ll start with the most obvious option. Not only has salvia been around for nearly two decades, it’s been almost ten years since Miley Cyrus was caught on video taking a salvia hit from a bong for her 18th birthday.
That said, if we’re putting together a list of legal ways to get high, salvia needs to be on it. The drug comes from the salvia divinorum plant and contains the hallucinogen salvinorin A. Like many of the substances on this list, salvia has been around for a long time. The ancient Mexicans used it ritualistically as well as in traditional medicine. The most popular way to take it is to smoke it but it can also be brewed in a tea or even just by chewing the leaves.
2. Kratom
Mitragyna Speciosa, more commonly known as Kratom, comes to us from Southeast Asia. It’s similar to coffee plants and has long been used by residents of the area as an ingredient in herbal medicines.
Kratom seems almost too good to be true. Depending on how much of it you take, the same plant can work as either a stimulant or a depressant. Users have described their experiences to include vivid waking dreams, strong feelings of empathy and euphoria. The downside? The after effects include mild depression and hangover-like symptoms including headaches and nausea.
3. Nutmeg
We know what you’re thinking, you sprinkle nutmeg on your coffee every morning, and you’ve never started hallucinating. But, you can’t argue with history. Since the 12th-century nutmeg has been considered a drug with users snorting it, smoking it or even eating large quantities of it in order to enjoy that high.
Dating back as far as the 12th century, nutmeg has been used in waves as a drug, snorted, smoked, and eaten in large quantities to produce a hallucinogenic high. Grinding nutmeg produced myristicin, a chemical that has been used to treat depression but can also act as a psychoactive deliriant.
While the amount needed depends on the person, users report that they’ve had both good and bad reactions to nutmeg. On the one hand, they’ve enjoyed visual hallucinations and general excitement. The downsides? Headaches, convulsions, and dizziness.
4. Blue Lotus Flower
The Blue Lotus Flower is probably the closest alternative to weed on this list. Also known as the Egyptian Lilly or the Egyptian Lotus Flower, the nymphaea caerulea grows along the banks of the Nile. Much like pot, it can be smoked or vaped. But the best way to enjoy the Blue Lotus Flower is by brewing it like a tea. Look out for the Jolly Lotus variant which bears a remarkable similarity to pot.
5. Morning Glory Seeds
Morning glory, in its vibrant hues of blue, pink and purple, is a popular choice for gardens around the country. This means that you can pick up the seeds at your local grocery store or plant nursery for next to nothing especially compared to illegal substances.
So why morning glory? The seeds contain lysergic acid amide, a natural version of LSD, the hallucinogenic drug of choice from the 1960s and 70s.
And, as the 16th-century Spanish colonizers in Mexico discovered, the plant has extraordinary psychedelic properties. You can take these seeds orally, but they may not be the best choice for your lunch break if you’re hoping to get anything done in the afternoon.
In a large enough dose, you can expect a six-hour mind-altering psychedelic trip. The negative side effect, however, is that having too much can lead to nausea and vomiting.
6. Kava Kava
We’ve saved the best for last. The kava plant, which can be in the Pacific Islands, contains kavalactone. This is a mild anesthetic and muscle relaxant and is sold over-the-counter at places like Whole Foods and Walgreens because of those properties. It essentially works as a sedative and can be ingested in a variety of ways. Besides in pill form, you can also get liquid concentrated kava that can be added to your food or drinks.
So why is it the best? Unlike many of the other substances on this list, the effects of kava are physiological. It will not have any effect on your mental state whatsoever. Users find that they get all the benefits of marijuana like reduced tension or stress and feeling relaxed in social situations without feeling burnt out the next day.
Legal Highs Are a Great Way to Relax
These legal ways to get high are a great way to relax without the risks associated with taking illegal drugs. That said, always be careful when trying a new substance and try taking a small amount first to make sure you don’t have a negative reaction to it.
If you’re looking for more ideas for how you can get high without breaking the law, check out some of our favorite legal highs for more inspiration.