Throughout history, cannabis and music have shared a natural synergy. Musicians have celebrated cannabis in their lyrics across genres and generations, from Louis Armstrong’s jazz era to Sublime’s 90s reggae rock and today’s hip-hop with artists like Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa. While many assume that music is simply part of stoner culture, the connection runs much deeper. People who use cannabis often have a heightened appreciation for music, but why is that?
The Science Behind Cannabis, Music, and the Brain
To understand this connection, we need to look at how both cannabis and music influence the brain. Michael Thaut, a professor of music and neurology at the University of Toronto, has dedicated his career to studying how we perceive rhythm and sound neurologically. His research shows that listening to music activates the central nervous system, from the spinal cord up to the brain’s cortex. The fascinating part? Cannabinoid receptors are highly concentrated in the central nervous system, especially CB1 receptors, which play a key role in mood and sensation.
Both music and cannabis stimulate the mesolimbic dopamine system, the brain’s reward pathway, releasing dopamine to reinforce pleasurable experiences. This pathway is why we enjoy music when we’re sober—and why cannabis can amplify that enjoyment, creating a more intense, immersive experience.
Cannabis and Brain Activity: Unlocking New Layers of Sound
Research using EEG studies, which track brain activity, found increased activity in the parietal area and right hemisphere of the brain after cannabis consumption. The parietal area helps us process information, while the right hemisphere fuels creativity, imagination, and intuition. With heightened activity in these regions, cannabis can make music feel richer, as listeners become more absorbed in the creative process and more attuned to the sounds.
How Cannabis Alters Perception—and Enhances Music
Cannabis also shifts our perception of reality, which directly influences how we hear and interpret music. Jörg Fachner, a professor specializing in music, health, and the brain, found that cannabis alters the perception of time, sound intensity, and frequency. According to Fachner, music is a “time process,” and cannabis, by slowing down one’s perception of time, brings users into the present moment, allowing them to experience each beat and note as they come. Fachner calls this effect a “time lens,” giving listeners the sensation of hearing music “between the notes”—adding depth to the experience.
In a 1972 study, audiologists measured how cannabis affects sensitivity to different sounds and intensities. Results showed that cannabis users could more clearly perceive sounds around 6000 Hz, often making them more pleasant. Cannabis users also displayed a heightened ability to differentiate words from background noise, giving music—and lyrics—a distinct clarity.
In an interview with Vice, Fachner said cannabis “works like a psycho-acoustic enhancer,” intensifying our focus and broadening our musical perception. Cannabis doesn’t change the sound of the music itself, but rather our perception of it. Zach Walsh, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia, added that cannabis increases presence, allowing listeners to fully immerse in the music.
Why Music Feels So Good When You’re High
Given how both cannabis and music impact the brain and perception, it’s no wonder they make an ideal pairing. Cannabis helps listeners expand their minds and senses, enhancing perception, pleasure, and overall appreciation for music. It’s a combination that brings out the richness of sound and rhythm, allowing us to experience music in new and profound ways. For those who enjoy cannabis, music becomes not just something to hear—but something to feel.
