Does Cannabis (Marijuana) Use Increase Creativity? | Dr. Andrew Huberman

Dr. Andrew Huberman explains whether cannabis (marijuana) use increases creativity.

Dr. Andrew Huberman is a tenured professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford University School of Medicine and host of the Huberman Lab podcast.

#HubermanLab #Cannabis #Creativity

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The Huberman Lab podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

[peteypablo]

Weed is a "godsend" for me. Tried learning to play piano during the pandemic. Made some progress but was getting alot of tensions and pain (back, wrist) and got stuck. Tried smoking a little before practising just to see and sure enough tension melted away, I cold focus way more, movements more fluid, sounds became more alive and starting playing just a bunch of different patterns that I never played with before. Was able to PLAY more as opposed to more rigid practising and such. Since I starting smoking a little before playing my progress has gone through the roof. No more pain, Im starting to write songs and improvise and just enjoy it more. Can focus for over an hour easy each time as opposed to before where my mind would wonder a lot more. Anyways, to each their own. For me, a little sativa (don't want to be lazy or tired so no Indica) before playing and I'm in the zone. Plus, its legal here in Canada :)

[ATX]

Marijuana made me more creative hands down. I've never been very creative without it. Marijuana is indeed very useful for creativity.

[shadw]

My favorite thing about quitting weed is how vivid the dreams are

[zach]

One thing I felt like wasn't taken into consideration enough was the amount of cannabis the user is consuming on a regular basis. 🙃 He, rightly so, spoke often comparing individuals who experience fear and anxiety from using cannabis and those who experience relaxation and anxiety relief from using it. My caviot is that the mode of use and how often it is used makes a big difference in my experience. Narrowly speaking, there are two kinds of cannabis users, the "wake and bakers" and the "weekend tokers." I've personally been on both ends of this spectrum, and my anecdote is that too much cannabis turns cannabis into something you are simultaneously afraid of being without, and eventually afraid of using, while on the other end of this, using it in "sparing moderation" does in my experience increase my creative ability. Again, the whole chicken-egg argument is something up to debate, but my point I wanted to get across was that responsible habits make a big difference in experience. 👍

[kylemrgn]

Im starting to think and learn that cannabis always seems to encourage being more accepting of what is, which is a double-edged sword and can become dangrous. It is helpful if you are going through trauma and NEED to be accepting of what is to get through, but it becomes dangerous when you dont need it anymore and continue to smoke, then you become accepting of "what is" meaning you never try to get better. I think self awareness is the most important thing here

[bargepoled]

In my experience of having consumed cannabis in varied forms and strengths over the last 26 years is that I'm always more creative in the days after I quit. I've smoked daily for long periods of time, sometimes years but as I've got older I have consumed it less because after a while I find it boring and I am less creative and energetic. I gave up about 8 months ago and the last 8 months have been the most creative of my life. I can get so much more done when I'm not under the influence.

[GornubiusFlux]

There are crucial points left out of these conflicts: 1. What were the sample size for these studies for/against? 2. What tests were used? 3 (MOST IMPORTANT). How freely available was the data used for these studies, as well as the scripts/analysis plans used to determine results?

[Finn-ntjc]

I make music and I have to say cannabis does increase my creativity by a lot…. Even though I’m the type of person that does get anxiety from smoking it if it’s too much but even in that anxious state it enhances my creativity by a lot like if I’m making music it would transform that anxiety into pure creativity if that makes any sense …. I guess it’s just a very subjective thing and everybody reacts very differently…

[mixailkaiopioutouare]

I am not a regular cannabis smoker and when I did for like 10 times in 2 months or something like that I noticed that u take more time to process things under its influence.When I am sober I can think much faster many things and probably that's why I don't have the whole picture of them(so less creative) but when I did smoke it made my brain slower on processing maybe that's why I had to imagine more and be more creative. Hope this helps the study area or anything

[opheliawild]

I'd love to see a neurologist who specializes in studying things specifically like this chime in. In many people's experience, Cannabis provides access to creative connections we just don't make sober. I'm a writer and have experienced this first-hand many times. The ideas I come up with for my stories while I'm high are far better than the more limited ones I come up with while sober. There's something Cannabis does (while high) that just removes barriers. So it basically just allows us to travel our own minds deeper and probe to find connections we wouldn't have consciously made before. But if it's not already in our brains, it isn't going to be accessible. That said, we can watch and read things and "input" material into our brains while high or not to help bolster our own database to further our creativity. It also likely depends person to person. Not everyone who gets high is "open" to new experiences or perspectives. I know a lot of people who get high who are not open at all and are rigid thinkers even while high.

[burtcocain]

I definitely feel more creative when I'm high. So if I get high at 4pm, I'm all creative and happy and energetic. Between 8am and 4pm though, I feel like shit. Lethargic, tired, low-energy etc. and certainly not creative.

If I'm not in the habit of smoking, I'm more energetic, more happy and creative enough. If I then get high, I'm super creative. Then I come up against the law of diminishing returns and when I'm high I'm probably a little more creative but also more inert.

[bishopp]

It may not increase creativity in everyone but it ABSOLUTELY without a doubt increases mine. It's really is incredible. Not all weed increases my creativity, but certain strains have a marked effect. (I'm still working out which ones work best). My biggest problem though is how fast I forget. I need to carry a little notebook around with me or something. I know that not every "great idea" I have when I'm high is an actual great idea but if it's 1 out of 10 then I could have, on average, 5 genuinely great ideas every time I smoke pot! The stuff I'm working with now that seems to be really effective is called "Apples and Bananas" in case anyone was wondering.

[FighterFitness]

I remember talking to a very successful musician (really successful, getting awards, being on MTV, etc.) He told me that he wrote the best song texts when he was smoking weed. Being in the business for decades and still being successful it worked for

[Omkar]

trauma creates a want to fix it. so you go on a journey to new lands to fix it. but its hard to fix trauma, the body often times keeps the score. its hard for me, as im a software engineer, who isn't able to perform efficiently.

[moscowcowboy_]

It shuts off the RAS, reticular activating system, which normally screens out unnecessary, non-life threatening data from our environment. So the feeling of being aware of more stuff might give you the impression that you are feeling more creative.

What are the three functions of the reticular activating system?
The Reticular Activating System is responsible for our wakefulness, our ability to focus, our fight-flight response, and how we ultimately perceive the world.

[maxfield]

see my anxiety skyrockets on it, as i get reeeeally existential anxiety (heightens my sensitivity to the absurdity of existence and the unknown), but i do get pretty creative on it. so i usually drink a little with it which quells the anxiety and then i really enjoy the way my mind works.

[williamcarrmusic]

So weed gives the symptom of creativity (openness). So its creative in the moment!

[deplatt]

yes, it increases creativity, but as you need more and more, that positive aspect goes away and it becomes harder and harder to become creative, and eventually you become far less creative than you would be had you not smoked to begin with

[TheMutantProductions]

I can say from my own experience as someone who is writing a novel, that cannabis absolutely does enhance my creativity and not only opens my mind to new ideas, but those ideas also come to me as well; often seemingly out of nowhere.

It doesn’t make me more relaxed and often it can make me far more of an anxious and cynical person and despite Huberman’s conclusion, this can enhance my creativity by making my writing take on a sharper and more scathing edge – which definitely tints the style, but I can’t deny that it makes my writing take on a fervour and sense of life to it, that otherwise wouldn’t be there.

[peter]

I'd like to inquire about something important. As someone involved in game development, my passion lies in crafting imaginative worlds filled with non-existent creatures. I'm intrigued by the concept of providing players with immersive journeys that allow them to truly engage with these fictional realms. My approach is akin to an author meticulously penning a novel. Now, onto my query: During the moments just before I fall asleep, I experience something remarkably peculiar. A multitude of vivid images flash before my eyes, corresponding to whatever concept I'm focusing on. For instance, if I'm contemplating a city among the clouds, the intricate details of the buildings, the texture of the walls, and even the vibrant hues all become remarkably clear. These dynamic images move, and there's a sense of substantiality to everything. My question is, what underlies this experience? What processes occur within my brain? It doesn't appear to be a mere transfer of memories from short-term to long-term storage. Could you shed light on what's happening? What am I unlocking in this state? Just to clarify, I'm not alluding to substance use, as I don't engage in such activities.