As cannabis continues to grow in popularity, many university students wonder about the link between marijuana and learning. Could this popular plant also be used as a studying supplement?
Do you want to know how the buds grown from different cannabis varieties, like seeds that develop large yields, can help you learn better? Keep reading to find out how smoking weed affects studying.
Table of Contents
The Benefits of Using Marijuana to Study
It’s no secret that cannabis offers numerous recreational and medical benefits. How does marijuana affect the learning process?
Here are some of the potential benefits of using weed to learn:
Increased Focus
If you have trouble focusing, consuming marijuana could help you pay more attention to the task at hand. Many users say that it increases their concentration and eliminates brain fog and distractive thoughts. Some studies show that those with ADHD may benefit the most.
Lowers Stress and Anxiety
Attending university can be stressful. Students deal with deadlines, pressure to perform, fears of failure, and a heavy workload. Many people use cannabis to take off the edge, and students are doing the same by pairing marijuana and learning.
Weed is reported to be a natural pain-reliever, anti-depressant, and stress-buster. It also helps you sleep better and calms various types of anxiety. As a result, marijuana offers students a way to alleviate their stresses and not become overwhelmed. Another option to get similar effects is vapingCBD, but of course the THC is basically gone.
Higher Productivity
Society has historically viewed cannabis users as lazy and goal-less. This assumption couldn’t be farther from the truth, as numerous studies show otherwise. According to the journal Neuron, dopamine enters our system before the associated reward occurs, encouraging us to act on it.
In other words, smoking weed could affect studying positively. The dopamine hit boosts your productivity rather than lowering it.
More Creativity
Musicians use it before entering the recording studio, and authors use it to fight writer’s block. How does weed affect your learning ability when it comes to creativity?
Many consumers state that cannabis helps them brainstorm and allows innovative ideas to surface. A few puffs could help you see things from an entirely different perspective.
The Drawbacks of Using Marijuana To Study
As with most things in life, there are some downsides to combining marijuana and learning. Are they deal-breakers, though?
Here are the potential drawbacks of using weed to study:
Cost
Most university students don’t have high-earning jobs, so spending money on cannabis can be costly. If you don’t have the cash, it’s not worth forking out hundreds of dollars a month on premium marijuana. You’d be better off investing in a good tutor or some nutritious food.
Only consider dabbling in your own research of how smoking weed affects studying if you have the funds. Luckily, using weed while studying is mostly recommended in small doses.
An alternative, of course, is to grow your own; it’ll keep those costs down even more.
Less Value in High Doses
If you want to make the most of marijuana while studying, stick to low doses. Excess consumption is likely to leave you too stoned to function, particularly if you’re a novice user.
Figuring out your ideal dosage requires some trial and error. Once you find the perfect mix, you won’t have to worry about zoning out.
Minimal Research
Whether or not smoking weed makes it harder to learn isn’t fully known yet. Scientists are still learning about the long-term effects of cannabis, but the current evidence looks promising. Individual consumer reports are also useful, as they give us real proof of marijuana’s benefits.
Some studies indicate that heavy long-term use could negatively affect your cognitive abilities, including short-term memory. The good news is that these effects have been shown to disappear within a few weeks after stopping cannabis consumption.
Adolescents should never use marijuana. Some evidence suggests that it could have a subtle yet lasting impact on their developing brains. Most experts say that the older you are, the better it is to start smoking weed.
How to Combine Cannabis and Studying
Speak to any cannabis enthusiast, and they’ll tell you almost every activity becomes more enjoyable after a couple of tokes. Although the same could be said for marijuana and learning, it requires some extra effort to get right.
Here are some things to consider before combining cannabis and studying:
Dosage
Everyone reacts differently to cannabis. If you’re new to the 420 world, consider microdosing to see how you respond.
Experiment with various THC and CBD combinations to determine what intensity you prefer when combining marijuana and learning. More experienced users should stick to a hit or two every hour.
Method
Before you start learning how to make a homemade bong, make sure it’s the best way to consume marijuana for you. Aside from smoking, there are multiple ways to take advantage of the effects of cannabis, including:
- Topically: Applied to the skin through lotions, bath salts, oils, and salves
- Orally: Ingested in the form of edibles, capsules, tinctures, and oils
- Sublingually: Placed under the tongue through dissolvable strips, lozenges, tinctures, and sublingual sprays
Type of Cannabis
The type of cannabis you consume plays a major role in how smoking weed affects studying. Choose a category that suits your specific needs for maximum results.
Sativa-dominant strains typically deliver more cerebral effects, including focus, creativity, energy, euphoria, and upliftment. Indica-leaning cultivars usually offer more physical sensations, including relaxation, calmness, and sedation.
The Lowdown on Smoking Weed and Studying
Dozens of studies have made positive conclusions about the benefits of cannabis. It’s shown to relieve anxiety, stress, depression, and pain. It also delivers powerful effects that may increase focus, concentration, and productivity.
Thinking about mixing marijuana and learning? Remember to start slow, figure out your ideal dosage, and choose a strain that suits your needs.
Jennifer Gallagher
