Is Marijuana a Psychedelic?

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Is Marijuana a Psychedelic?

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Is Marijuana a Psychedelic?

High doses of weed can cause hallucinations, but is marijuana a psychedelic? Here's everything you need to know.

Gwella Mushrooms | Apr 09, 2023

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Marijuana Background

Marijuana, also known as cannabis, has been used for various purposes, including recreational and medicinal use. It is a plant that contains several active compounds, including cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, that interact with the human body's endocannabinoid system.

The primary psychoactive compound in cannabis is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which produces the feeling of being "high" when consumed. However, there has been some debate as to whether marijuana should be classified as a psychedelic drug.

In this article, we will explore the question..

Is marijuana a psychedelic?

To answer this question, it is essential first to understand what a psychedelic drug is. Psychedelics are a class of psychoactive substances that produce alterations in perception, mood, and thought.

These substances typically have a long history of use in spiritual and religious contexts, as they are believed to induce profound experiences of the self, the universe, and the divine. Some of the most well-known psychedelic drugs include LSD, psilocybin (found in magic mushrooms), and DMT (found in ayahuasca).

The term psychedelic was first coined in the 1950s by British psychiatrist Humphry Osmond, who was studying the effects of LSD. Osmond combined the Greek words psyche (mind) and delos (manifest), meaning "mind-manifesting."

Psychedelics are distinct from other classes of psychoactive drugs, such as stimulants and depressants, in that they do not necessarily produce feelings of euphoria or sedation. Instead, they alter perception and cognition in unique ways, often inducing mystical or spiritual experiences.

So, where does marijuana fit into this definition of psychedelics?

To answer this question, we need to consider the effects of THC on the human mind and body. THC is known to produce a range of psychoactive effects, including feelings of euphoria, relaxation, altered perception, and altered time perception.

Users may experience heightened sensory perception, altered states of consciousness, and changes in mood and thought. These effects are often described as "mind-altering" or "psychedelic," as they can be similar to those induced by classic psychedelics.

However, there are some important differences between the effects of THC and those of classic psychedelics. For one, the effects of THC are generally considered to be less intense and less profound than those of classic psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin.

While THC can alter perception and cognition, it does not typically induce the same kind of mystical or spiritual experiences as classic psychedelics. Additionally, the effects of THC are typically more short-lived than those of classic psychedelics, which can last for several hours or even days.

High doses of marijuana can certainly make you hallucinate. Some users may experience a sense of detachment from reality, distorted visual and auditory perception, and other psychedelic-like effects. However, again, these effects are generally less intense than those of classic psychedelics such as LSD or psilocybin.

Another key difference between marijuana and classic psychedelics is the mechanism of action. While classic psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin primarily affect the serotonin system in the brain, THC primarily affects the endocannabinoid system.

The endocannabinoid system is involved in a wide range of physiological processes, including pain sensation, mood regulation, and immune function. THC binds to cannabinoid receptors in the brain and body, producing its characteristic psychoactive effects.

Despite these differences, some researchers argue that marijuana should be classified as a psychedelic.

In a 2017 paper published in the journal Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences, researchers suggested that marijuana's effects on perception, cognition, and consciousness were similar enough to those of classic psychedelics to warrant its inclusion in the category.

They noted that marijuana had been used in spiritual and religious contexts for centuries, and that some users reported profound experiences of the self and the universe while under its influence.

Other researchers have disagreed with this classification, arguing that marijuana's effects are distinct from those of classic psychedelics and should not be included in the category.

In a 2018 paper published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, researchers argued that the effects of marijuana were primarily sedative and euphoric, rather than mind-altering or mystical. They noted that while some users reported spiritual experiences while using marijuana, these experiences were not necessarily unique to the drug and could be induced by a wide range of experiences, including music, nature, and meditation.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the question of whether marijuana should be classified as a psychedelic drug remains a topic of debate among researchers and enthusiasts. While the effects of THC on perception, cognition, and consciousness may be similar in some ways to those of classic psychedelics, there are also important differences in intensity, duration, and mechanism of action.

Additionally, the spiritual and religious uses of marijuana in some cultures may be distinct from the uses of classic psychedelics in other cultures.

It is also worth noting that the classification of drugs into different categories is not always clear-cut or definitive. The effects of psychoactive substances can vary widely depending on factors such as dose, method of ingestion, set and setting, and individual differences in biology and psychology.

As such, any attempt to classify a drug as a particular type of psychoactive substance must be taken with a grain of salt.

In conclusion, while the effects of marijuana on perception, cognition, and consciousness may share some similarities with those of classic psychedelics, there are also important differences that suggest it may not be entirely accurate to classify marijuana as a psychedelic drug.

The effects of THC are generally less intense and less profound than those of classic psychedelics, and the mechanism of action is different. However, the spiritual and religious uses of marijuana in some cultures may suggest a deeper connection to the psychedelic experience.

While high doses of marijuana can produce psychoactive effects, it is not accurate to say that it can induce a full-blown psychedelic trip in the same way that classic psychedelics can.

Ultimately, the question of whether marijuana is a psychedelic will likely continue to be debated and discussed by researchers, enthusiasts, and users alike.