The best way I would describe the effect of the marijuana and the hashish is that it would make me relaxed and creative. – Steve Jobs.
Creativity is something that involves generating new, innovative ideas and bringing them into reality. You might have seen artists smoking cannabis while painting, writing songs, making music, and doing other works.
Marijuana is proven helpful in treating anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mental illnesses. Because of its effectiveness and low risks, most patients prefer using it as an alternative treatment over prescription medications. A recent study concluded that in 13 marijuana legalized states had a 25% lower rate of opioid mortality than those that hadn’t.
Does marijuana really help people unlock creativity thinking? What does the science say? Let’s discuss in detail.
Role of Cannabis in The Thinking Process
To understand how cannabis influences the thinking process better, you need to understand the types of thought processes that play a significant role in creativity.
It involves searching for different solutions for a problem. It’s like a multiple-choice assessment. Remote Associate Tool is used for measuring it.
Just like brainstorming, divergent thinking involves exploring the maximum possible solutions to come up with outstanding ideas.
Researchers have found that cannabis consumption can help in producing creative thoughts from which artists can benefit.
THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) stimulates the release of dopamine in the striatum. Striatum is a part of the brain associated with creative activities such as writing.
Smoking marijuana can increase cerebral blood flow in the frontal lobe, which has positive effects on creativity. It helps in producing new ideas and come up with new solutions.
However, a study from Leiden University in the Netherlands found that high doses of THC can reduce creativity, making users less creative than non-users. Thus, when using cannabis for boosting creativity, the dosage is important.
Researchers in the Netherlands found that low doses (5.5mg THC) can help in fluency and flexibility, the two aspects of divergent thinking. However, high doses (22mg THC) resulted in lower scores in most categories.
Some important tips to get the most out of cannabis smoking for boosting creativity-
- Start with low doses as high THC doses may result in reducing creativity instead of boosting.
- Don’t smoke strains that induce sleep as smoking them, you won’t be able to focus on your work.
- Choose cannabis strains that are a mix of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol.
The best medical marijuana strains for boosting creativity levels-
- Amnesia Haze
- Blue Dream
- Jack Herer
- Kali Mist
- Space Queen
- Sour Diesel
- Purple Haze
- Berry White
The bottom line is—marijuana is a natural medicine, which is effective in treating a wide range of conditions including anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc. It contains chemical compounds called cannabinoids, which possess therapeutic properties. Medical researchers have found that cannabinoids can help in boosting creativity by boosting dopamine levels and increasing cerebral blood flow in the frontal lobe.
To receive the greatest effects, make sure you use low doses as high THC doses may result in reducing creativity levels. Also, the effects of cannabinoids may vary from person to person. So if you are looking for getting medical marijuana in New York then its best to go see a doctor. Always discuss your condition with a specialist doctor to get professional help regarding the best cannabis strains for you.
Does cannabis really help in producing creative thoughts? What’s your experience smoking marijuana. Share with us in the comment section below.