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home / 世界杯决赛2022

the science behind why music sounds so much better when the listener is high

a study from 1970 showed the ability of cannabis to perceivably span time.

by tom gaffey

jul 27 2022
read time 3 minute read
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quality cannabis and a great record could be considered the perfect pairing by many weed and music enthusiasts. after all, marijuana has had a long history and close relationship with music.
from clouds of intoxicating smoke rising from crowds at music to the lyrics in many classic songs, cannabis is present. and while there is no denying this close relationship, a person may be apt to wonder exactly why music sounds so much better when high.
scientists have long been interested in how cannabis affects the way people perceive sound. unfortunately, studies on marijuana and music, and how it affects sound perception in general, remain scarce because of the illegal status of marijuana in the u.s.
still, there is some information and insight to draw from to help understand why cannabis can make a song sound so much better with it than without it.

one study from 1970 showed the ability of cannabis to perceivably span time, “the smoked marijuana altered pulse rate, time estimation and eeg.” an electroencephalogram is a test to detect abnormalities in brain waves or in electrical activity.

the perception of 15 seconds of time, according to the aforementioned study, was “expanded” to 16.7 seconds.
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this could possibly explain why those under the influence of weed have an ability to notice minute details, and to pay particular attention to a piece of music. after all, they have more time to do so, theoretically speaking anyway.
in fact, marijuana taps into the mind in all sorts of ways, many of which seem to positively influence how people perceive things, including music.

“marijuana also accesses a special neurotransmitter system, the endocannabinoid system, which regulates appetite, pain, mood and memory. the way the plant activates this system explains a lot of the unique effects it has on music listening,” according to mic .

some of these influences, such as changes in the endocannabinoid system, may be imperceptible at the time, but can change the way people feel when experiencing sounds.
some of marijuana’s mind-altering properties, however, can be consciously apparent while listening to music. the altered state of perception a person experiences when high on cannabis can change the way senses are perceived, including how that person hears his or her favourite songs.
in particular, individuals often report having “heightened senses” while high. the reason for this, is that thc is interacting with receptors in the brain responsible for many of these senses.

as noted by marijuana doctors , “areas of the brain that are involved with your senses, such as the olfactory bulb, which manages your sense of smell, bind with thc receptors and create heightened perceptions of your surroundings.”

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cannabis and music also have a strong influence on dopamine levels, which lead to emotion and gratification in humans. cannabis with high levels of cbd and thc is reported to have an increased release of dopamine. these strains, paired with enjoyment from music, may result in a heightened experience.

according to cbc news , “with music and cannabis simultaneously triggering the mesolimbic dopamine system, the brain is chemically reinforcing two extremely gratifying behaviours — and coupling them over time.”

this simultaneous heightened experience might explain why some of a person’s favourite songs can feel extra special, almost euphoric, after consuming weed.
there is still much to learn and understand about marijuana and how it affects the way people hear and perceive music and sounds in general. still, maybe evidence is secondary to what it feels like hearing a record with some weed after a long day.

the freshtoast.com , a u.s. lifestyle site that contributes lifestyle content and, with their partnership with 600,000 physicians via skipta, medical marijuana information to the growthop.

subscribe to  weekend dispensary , a new weekly newsletter from the growthop.

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