Cannabis and Meditation: A Hidden Gem or a Terrible Idea?
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Time: 7 min
Is cannabis and meditation a great idea or a bad one? People have been using cannabis and meditation for hundreds of years. They help change the way people think and make them healthier. But people still disagree about whether or not to combine them.
Both of these practices are of interest to more people in Europe. They want to know if cannabis is good or bad for meditation. This article talks about the neurological, psychological, and practical aspects of combining these two practices. It will help you figure out if this method could help you with your mindfulness journey.
Table of Content
The Science Behind Cannabis and Meditation What Happens to Your Brain When You Meditate How Marijuana Affects How the Brain Works What Studies Say About the Pros and Cons Possible Effects That Go Together Possible Problems and Concerns Things to Keep in Mind for Mindful Integration Who Should and Should Not Use Guidelines for Mindful Cannabis Use Creating a Balanced Approach Conclusion FAQ
TL;DR: Cannabis can help or hurt meditation, depending on things like how much you take, your body type, and your intention. It is not always good or bad for everyone.
The Science Behind Cannabis and Meditation
Knowing how cannabis affects the brain can help you figure out how it might affect meditation. Cannabis and meditation both affect the same neural pathways, but they do so in different ways.
What Happens to Your Brain When You Meditate
The main way that meditation works is by training the brain's attention networks. The connections in the prefrontal cortex get stronger with regular practice. This is the part of the brain that controls executive function and the ability to pay attention.
It also slows down activity in the default mode network (DMN). This is connected to daydreaming and self-reflection. These changes are in line with what meditation can do for you.
Some of the benefits are better focus, less stress, and better control of your feelings. It usually takes a lot of practice over time to get the hang of it. This slowly builds up neural pathways that make it easier to be mindful.
How Marijuana Affects How the Brain Works
Cannabis has more than 100 cannabinoids, but THC and CBD are the ones that have been studied the most. These chemicals have an effect on the endocannabinoid system. This system regulates numerous physiological functions, including memory, mood, and pain perception.
THC, the main psychoactive substance, binds directly to receptors for cannabinoids. It can make the default mode network less active for a short time. This is like what meditation does.
CBD, which doesn't get you high, changes how THC works with receptors. It looks like it helps with anxiety. Some people say that meditating on weed makes their meditation better. They say it helps them reach the calm state of mind that meditation slowly builds up. This is due to the fact that both practices have the same effect on the DMN.
What Studies Say About the Pros and Cons
The evidence concerning cannabis and meditation is indeterminate. It shows both possible benefits and problems that need to be looked into.
Possible Effects That Go Together
Research demonstrates multiple mechanisms through which cannabis may augment meditation practice:
Aspect |
Potential Benefit |
Research Insight |
Consideration |
Present-moment awareness |
Cannabis may heighten sensory perception |
Helps with body scan techniques |
Effects of THC on mindfulness vary |
Default mode network |
Low doses might lower DMN activity |
Could reduce mind-wandering |
May affect natural meditation skills |
Stress relief |
Both practices lower cortisol levels |
Endocannabinoid system regulates stress |
THC can increase anxiety for some |
Pain management |
Helps practitioners with chronic pain |
Both have pain-modulating effects |
Pain during meditation can be instructive |
Openness |
Might increase psychological flexibility |
Shows increased "openness to experience" |
May not lead to lasting changes |
Possible Problems and Concerns
There may be some good things about working together, but there are also some big problems:
- Skill development: Meditation helps you become more aware over time, but smoking cannabis flowers only changes your state for a short time.
- Clarity vs. altered consciousness: Traditional meditation stresses being fully aware, while cannabis changes how you see things on purpose.
- Attachment and craving: Buddhism and many other meditation traditions warn against getting attached to pleasurable states, which can be a problem when cannabis makes meditation stronger.
There is still not a lot of research on how these things work together. Most of the proof is either anecdotal or comes from different studies on each practice. This gap shows that people need to be able to tell the difference.
Things to Keep in Mind for Mindful Integration
There are a lot of practical things you can do that will make a big difference in the experience if you want to combine these practices.
Who Should and Should Not Use
You might want to think about using cannabis to help you meditate for:
- People who don't want to start meditating
- People who deal with certain kinds of physical pain
- People who want to get over meditation plateaus
These groups, on the other hand, should be careful not to mix:
- People who are likely to get anxious from cannabis
- People who have been addicted to drugs before
- People taking medications that might interact with cannabis
- Those in recovery communities where staying sober is important
- Practitioners in traditions that specifically discourage intoxicants
Guidelines for Mindful Cannabis Use
For those wondering if cannabis is bad for meditation, consider these principles for combining cannabis and spirituality:
- Set clear intentions before practice
- Consider dosage carefully—subtle effects often serve meditation better
- Allow time between consumption and practice
- Alternate between cannabis-assisted and unassisted sessions
- Observe differences in awareness quality between states
- Maintain a curious, non-judgmental attitude
The principle of mindful cannabis use extends beyond meditation sessions to your overall relationship with the plant. This means being honest about how cannabis changes meditation experience and avoiding habitual use.
Creating a Balanced Approach
Different models exist for those interested in how cannabis affects focus during meditation:
- Pragmatic integration: Using cannabis occasionally while developing unassisted practice
- Ceremonial context: Limiting combined use to specific settings
- Training wheel approach: Using cannabis initially, then gradually transitioning to unassisted practice
Remember that does cannabis help focus depends on many factors. Some meditation techniques may be more compatible with cannabis than others:
- Body scan meditations leverage cannabis' enhanced awareness
- Visual practices may benefit from increased perception
- Compassion-based meditations might be enhanced by emotional openness
Less compatible practices include:
- Concentration-heavy techniques requiring sustained attention
- Vipassana or insight meditation requiring clear discernment
- Practices emphasizing energy work or subtle awareness
Conclusion
Cannabis and meditation represent two different approaches to altering consciousness—one through external means, the other through internal training. Their intersection creates complex questions about authenticity, skill development, and the nature of awareness itself.
The evidence suggests neither a blanket endorsement nor rejection is warranted. Instead, the effects of combining weed and meditation pros and cons appear highly individualized, context-dependent, and related to intention and approach. What constitutes skillful use varies significantly between practitioners.
For those exploring this combination, maintaining awareness, honesty, and balance remains essential. The most sustainable approach may be viewing cannabis not as a meditation enhancement but as an occasional tool for specific purposes within a broader, primarily unassisted practice.
“The plant doesn’t bring peace. It reminds you where peace has always lived.”
FAQ
Does cannabis help or hurt meditation practice?
For each person, it's different. Cannabis may help some people relax and pay more attention to their senses. But it could make it hard for some people to pay attention and be present. The amount, your body, the kind of cannabis, and your state of mind all play a role. Most meditation teachers say that you should build a strong practice on your own.
What kinds of cannabis are good for meditating?
For meditation, products with a lot of CBD and a little THC are best. They help you calm down without making you too high. People who use THC can get a little boost from products with a balanced ratio of CBD to THC (1:1) in low doses. Strains with a lot of myrcene help you relax, while strains with a lot of limonene help you stay awake.
How can I tell if mixing cannabis and meditation is good for me?
Try to see if the skills and insights you gain from sessions with cannabis can be used in your practice without cannabis. Check how dependent you are by seeing if you can meditate well without cannabis. Keep an eye on whether the quality and frequency of your meditation get better overall. Write down what you think about meditating with and without cannabis. Be aware of how well you know things, how well you can focus, and what you learn. If you start to need cannabis instead of just using it once in a while, you should rethink your strategy.
Author: Edijs Eleksis
Growing up in a country where cannabis was stigmatized and even shamed, Edijs faced many roadblocks to get to enjoy the benefits of this plant. However, as more countries worldwide are opening up to the idea of cannabis-available society, Edijs is inspired to take on a mission: spreading awareness about cannabis and its industry in Europe through engaging, educational blog content. Because only with more information, humans as a collective, can make decisions that are better for all of us!
