The dreaded writer’s block. If you know a writer or if you’re one yourself, you’re likely familiar with the struggle of not being able to come up with creative material.
Enter: cannabis. For the longest time, recreational marijuana has been associated with all sorts of artists—musicians, singers, painters, and yes, writers—and their level of creativity. It’s practically the stuff of legends: with just a puff or two, they can get their creative juices flowing and produce absolute masterpieces.
The question now is, how much of this is true? Should you call your favorite pot delivery service right now so you can start writing the next bestseller or Pulitzer Prize winner? Below are some of the things you need to know about weed, creativity, and how it can get you over your writer’s block.
One of the reasons that weed is associated with creativity is because cannabinoids can directly affect the brain. In particular, cannabinoids help increase the blood flow to the frontal region of the brain. Then, once enough tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) interacts with the cannabinoid receptors in this area, you may experience heightened divergent thinking. This type of brain performance is the one involved in creativity and free-thinking. Meanwhile, other cannabinoids like cannabidiol or CBD may cause an increase in convergent thinking; this is useful for innovating problem-solving.
What you have to remember is that different cannabinoids have different effects on people. There are those who may feel that they’re able to think better thanks to the relaxing effects of THC, while some might feel more inclined to just lay down and sleep.
That said, the data suggests that weed produces a more noticeable creativity boost for typically non-creative people. Aside from actual creative output, those who consider themselves non-creative may also experience increased fluency that allows them to better express themselves and their ideas.
Of course, cannabinoids also have effects on creative people’s brains. However, the gains are not that significant because they’re already more imaginative. If anything, the use of cannabis makes creative people more energized so they can put their creativity into practice.
There’s also the matter of how much weed you’re consuming in your desire to boost your creativity levels. It’s tempting to take a higher dose of THC but in this case, more isn’t better in most cases. Considering how THC works, going even just a little overboard will make you sleepy and decidedly unmotivated to work on any of your creative projects. In fact, you might be couch-locked for a while.
The ideal dose to boost creativity also depends on your cannabinoid tolerance. Again, different people have different physiologies, so what works for a fellow creative might not work for you. If you don’t know your tolerance yet, it will be a game of trial and error to find the right dose; if you do, stick to what you know you can handle.
It’s also important to note that cannabinoids aren’t the only chemicals found in cannabis. There are also terpenes and flavonoids, which affect the smell and taste of the weed. These substances, in turn, can also affect the way weed works for you. Some of the terpenes that can help give your creativity a boost are caryophyllene, limonene, and myrcene. If you can find a THC strain with these terpene and flavor profiles, they’re your best bets to overcome writer’s block.
Finally, edible and smokable weed are the best products to boost your creativity. Their delivery method means that your bloodstream can deliver the cannabinoids to your brain faster; the absorption is also more efficient. There’s also a slight advantage when you consume edibles, since their effects can last for longer.
Based on the above-mentioned information, weed can indeed boost creativity. There may be some nuances and caveats, but the evidence is there. So, the question is, should you take weed to boost your creativity and get over your writer’s block?
The answer is, it depends. Perhaps you’re not really suffering from writer’s block and a lack of creativity, but rather just feeling a little lazy or lethargic. It’s also important to note that cannabis can’t make you more creative in the literal sense. Rather, it helps your brain chug along smoother and faster so you can think up great ideas.
Finally, it’s best to manage your expectations. You won’t magically feel more creative and invigorated the moment you munch on some edibles or smoke a joint. It will take a few minutes for the effects to kick in and even then, you might not get the results you want. Ultimately, weed can be helpful in overcoming your writer’s block but you also have to put in the work.
Good luck!
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