Cannabis can have a range of positive impacts on your mood and personality, but you may wonder, “Does cannabis make people more creative?”
Major celebrities ranging from Lady Gaga to Steve Jobs have pointed to the benefits of marijuana in their creativity, but is this effect real, or is it just a placebo? Here’s what the latest research says.
The Effect of Cannabis on Creative Tasks, According to Research
Harvard Business School conducted two psychological studies in 2022 to straighten out this long-held question about the effects of marijuana. Researchers recruited participants who were already using cannabis a few times a week. They asked them to complete one of two creative tasks in their natural settings and under their natural doses and types of cannabis.
The first task was to think of as many creative uses for a brick as they could. The second task was to come up with new ideas to help a local music band increase revenue, a task that more closely examined the potential creative benefits of cannabis in the workplace.
The study found that participants who were high on cannabis were happier and in a better mood than those who were not high, leading them to evaluate their ideas as being more creative. However, neutral judges could not tell the difference in creativity between high and sober participants.
Why Might Cannabis Boost Perceived Creativity?
Does cannabis make people more creative? The study from Harvard Business School suggests that cannabis may make people feel more creative but not actually give them more creative ideas. Still, this doesn’t mean that researchers completely debunked the theory.
Cannabis could offer the mood enhancement effects people need to be more open to creative thinking. Musicians and artists sometimes use cannabis to get their creative juices flowing. Whether it actually does or not is beside the point, as it at least motivates them to start thinking outside the box.
“Creative types” may be more drawn to cannabis than non-creative people, also shaping this theory. A 2017 study found that cannabis users tend to have more cognitive flexibility and be open to new experiences. They may also be more extroverted than non-users. Cannabis is often more socially acceptable in creative industries, such as art and music, as well.
What Does Cannabis Actually Do for Your Mood and Thinking?
So, if the answer to “Does cannabis make people more creative?” is “no,” then what does it actually do to your cognition? More research is necessary to narrow down the exact effects of cannabis on creative thinking, problem-solving, and other cognitive processes.
Some findings were significant in the 2017 study above. While cannabis users didn’t perform better in divergent thinking, they did exhibit better convergent thinking or the practice of narrowing down creative ideas. This benefit can also be useful in the creative process.
Many people experience euphoric effects while using cannabis, meaning they feel more relaxed and at ease. While these effects can give users the freedom to feel more creative, they can also inhibit productivity, which could cancel out the benefits of creative thinking.
Still, cannabis dosage effects are different for everyone. If you want to be more creative, whether for work or for hobbies, you may want to give cannabis a try.
Browse Our High-Quality Cannabis Products Today
Does cannabis make people more creative? While it may help people perceive their ideas as being more creative, research suggests that cannabis does not directly benefit creativity. Still, many musicians, artists, and other creators swear by cannabis use as an essential part of their creative processes.
If you’re in Ontario, Oregon, Cannabis & Glass has a wide selection of cannabis products for you. Browse our inventory today.
