Many people find it possible to increase self-awareness, overcome negative emotions, become more creative, and even lower blood pressure through meditation. Because of the numerous mental health benefits that can be experienced from meditation, more people every year are starting to integrate this practice into their daily lives.
There are many different ways to meditate. There’s mindfulness meditation, loving-kindness meditation, transcendental meditation… and then there’s cannabis meditation.
As cannabis becomes legal or decriminalized in more places around the world each year, many people are finding it to be helpful to use cannabis before or during meditation, reporting that it helps them relax and slows their breathing.
There’s some debate about incorporating cannabis into meditation. Some argue cannabis acts as a form of spiritual “cheating“—a fast track to a sense of contentment and balance, and that the sensation it brings is temporary, not transcendent. Others argue it actually hinders meditation, making the mind less focused.
But on the flip side, many other cannabis users say it either helped them begin meditating when they first started, or can actually help them experience more from meditation.
One writer wrote in Psychology Today, “Cannabis has… been an instrumental component of deepening my meditative practices. Implementing various perspectives I receive when high not only broadens my view of the human condition but also tends to blow out any cobwebs in my mind.”
Ultimately, the decision of whether to incorporate cannabis into your meditation routine comes down to what feels best for your mind and body.
For anyone who wants to give it a shot, or is just curious to learn about this new trend in wellness, we broke down the basics of cannabis meditation, and where you can find guided cannabis meditations online.
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Meditating with cannabis: A brief how-to
It is not very difficult to incorporate into your meditation routine.
Wear clothing that is loose and comfortable. Some people prefer to sit when they are doing cannabis meditations. Others choose to lie down.
Before you start to meditate, it is a good idea to wait a moment for the effects of the cannabis you’ve smoked or consumed to take effect. Once the effects kick in, close your eyes and start taking notice of sensations in your body.
You should also focus on taking deep and slow breaths.
Some cannabis meditations will take several minutes to complete. Others might take up to an hour.
If you have never done a cannabis meditation before, it is a good idea to follow a guided meditation the first few times. Those who have more experience with the practice might want to create their own meditations. A quick Google or YouTube search of “guided cannabis meditation” will yield hundreds of results.
Also, keep in mind that it can take time to figure out how to incorporate cannabis into your daily meditation routine. Patience comes into play here. Remember: there is no right or wrong way to meditate with cannabis.
You might need to experiment with various types of meditation and with different cannabis strains. Every time that you meditate, take notice of your experience and capitalize on what parts are the most helpful next time.
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Top strains for meditation
If you want to have the best possible experience during your cannabis meditations, you will need to choose a cannabis strain that gives you a sense of focus, contentment, and calm. You might need to do some experimentation to find the best strain for your meditation journey.
Most people who want to remain focused and alert during their meditation prefer to use Sativa strains and Sativa-dominant hybrids for meditation. This is because Sativas tend to be energizing and can help people to focus. And if you meditate in the morning and you are groggy, it’s a good idea to work with a Sativa strain in order to boost your energy.
You will probably feel more relaxed if you choose to use Indicas. It’s usually best to use Indicas for meditating in the evening, or in the morning after you’ve had a cup of tea or coffee.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that it’s necessary to smoke a cannabis strain that has a high THC content. For many users, it’s not necessary to feel “high” to get the most out of a cannabis meditation.
Besides THC, the cannabis plant is loaded with helpful compounds such as cannabinoids that are reported to help many users to feel more relaxed.
Finally, it’s not necessary to use a lot of cannabis before meditating. Again, many people who meditate with cannabis aren’t trying to get “high” so much as feel a sense of contentment and peace. For your first few cannabis meditations, it is a good idea to start by using extremely small doses and work your way up once you feel more confident in your routine.
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Is there science behind it?
Short answer: not a lot, but there’s some.
When you smoke cannabis, it interacts with your body’s endocannabinoid system. Though the topic is underresearched, what little we do know is that this interaction can increase your sensory perceptions and help many people to relax. This effect can help people experience more enriching meditations.
But it is important to understand that cannabis affects everybody differently. It is reported to help some people focus. Others find that it adds to their spiritual health journey. But for others, it may decrease focus and even cause paranoia.
If you find cannabis is negatively impacting your spiritual journey, it’s OK to recognize that about yourself and stop using cannabis in your meditations. Cannabis affects people in many different ways, and what works for one person is certainly not guaranteed to work for another.
Guided meditations that pair well with cannabis
It is not difficult to find meditations on the internet that work with cannabis, but it can be challenging to find the right ones for your unique needs. Here are some popular cannabis meditations we found in our research.
420 Guided Meditation
This YouTube video was created by Light of She. It lasts twenty-five minutes and is ideal for new and experienced cannabis users.
Start this meditation when you are sober. The meditation will guide you through the smoking process.
Meditation for overthinking
This video has racked up more than twenty million views. It is a great meditation- to enjoy after a smoke or an edible, especially for those who want to turn down the noises in their heads.
Meditation for falling asleep
If you are interested in doing a cannabis meditation that will help you to fall asleep, consider checking out this YouTube video that was created by Jason Stephenson.
This is a great meditation for those who are interested in restoring their mind-body balance.
If you are interested in going deeper into your meditation practice and are a cannabis enthusiast, it might be worth trying cannabis meditation. Many users report cannabis enhances their meditation practice, and there are guided cannabis meditations available for free online to help you start.
At the end of the day, meditation is a deeply personal experience. Your meditation practice is your own, and so is your spiritual journey.
If you are interested in going deeper into your meditation practice and are a cannabis enthusiast, it might be worth trying cannabis meditation. Many users report cannabis enhances their meditation practice, and there are guided cannabis meditations available for free online to help you start.
Start with a low dose, work your way up as feels right, and don’t forget to lower your dose or quit if cannabis use begins depleting the quality of your experience.