Does Marijuana Enhance Your Study Sessions?

Although there is evidence that cannabis may improve brain health to some degree, some students may find that the plant helps them study. However, in order to use marijuana for research purposes, you need to have an online medical card, which gives you legal access to the drug in your state and protects you from facing legal issues. 

Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of studying with cannabis and which strains may improve your ability to concentrate.

How Cannabis May Boost Your Study Experience

When using cannabis for academic purposes, you might or might not experience these possible advantages.

• Higher Energy Levels

Energy spikes following cannabis use or consumption are common. You might even have enough energy to complete a marathon. It is said that indica-leaning strains like White Tahoe Cookies and Wedding Cake are more sedative, while sativa-dominant strains like Green Crack (also known as Green Crush or Mango Crack) and Super Silver Haze (SSH) are the most invigorating.

However, the cannabinoid and terpene content of a strain at the time of measurement is what determines its effects, not necessarily the label of sativa or indica. While a variety high in myrcene along with calming terpenes like linalool and humulene may be more sedative, a variety lower in myrcene and higher in limonene may be more stimulating.

• Increased Focus

Cannabidiol (CBD)-rich cannabis strains might improve your ability to concentrate, but this isn’t always the case. Although CBD is frequently used as a natural sleep aid, some users experience fatigue when using CBD products, especially when taking larger doses.

• More Creativity

According to the marijuana news and lifestyle website Fresh Toast, there has been a lot of word-of-mouth excitement about using marijuana while studying. According to a September 2020 article titled “Can Marijuana Help You Study?” that takes dosage and strain into account, cannabis may help with focus by stimulating ideas and fostering deeper discussions.

Potential Downsides and Risks

People may experience drawbacks rather than benefits based on the marijuana strain that they are using and how their body reacts to it.

• Fatigue

Some people find being high as an ultimate way to relax. So, if you are someone who feels sleepy after using cannabis, then you should not consider using cannabis for study sessions. Some people may even fall asleep after using a relaxing strain like Cannatonic or Hindu Kush, but some strains, like Indica, are traditionally thought to be calming.

• Short-Term Memory Loss

“The Effects of Marijuana on Your Memory” is a service piece that includes some cautionary facts about cannabis published by Harvard Health Publishing of Harvard Medical School. “Marijuana can generate short-term issues with working memory, thinking, executive function, and physical actions that require conscious thought.” This is Harvard Medical School’s researched opinion.

According to Harvard Medical researchers, cannabis can disrupt the thought process and memory, which can affect your success in study hall while on THC. THC, the primary psychoactive compound emitted by the cannabis plant, is thought to impair short-term memory by binding to cannabinoid receptors in brain regions such as the cerebral cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus that are essential for remembering instantaneous thoughts and impressions.

However, using strains with higher levels of CBD and more moderate THC content can lessen the detrimental effects of THC on short-term memory. Pinene and other terpenes may also be beneficial.

• Agitation and Fidgeting

High-THC strains can make it hard to sit still and finish a task because they can make some people anxious or even paranoid. Additionally, some people experience a racing heart, particularly after ingesting edibles high in THC, which can cause fidgeting and agitation.

Choosing the Best Cannabis Strain for Studying

The general guideline is to consume as much CBD and as little THC as possible when using therapeutic cannabis products to enhance educational outcomes.

Network of nonprofit media Short-term memory is negatively impacted by THC-dominant cannabis products, according to a 2019 study published in The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health.

On the other hand, 134 cannabis users were tested for short-term memory performance seven days apart in a study titled “Impact of Cannabidiol on the Acute Memory” published by the National Library of Medicine and conducted by the University College London Psychopharmacology Unit. The users were tested once while under the acute influence of marijuana and once when they were not intoxicated.

Each participant had samples of cannabis and saliva taken, which were then tested for CBD levels. Although THC levels were also elevated, the researchers reported in 2010 that “participants smoking cannabis high in cannabidiol (CBD) showed no memory impairment.”

More recently, consuming 600 mg of CBD edibles increased cerebral blood flow (CBF) to the hippocampus and other brain areas important for short-term memory processing, according to a study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology in August 2020. Participants were asked to complete prose recall exercises and count forward or backward by random amounts in order to test and validate memory function.

When a medical marijuana patient chooses to engage in academic or self-directed pursuits while receiving medical cannabis treatments, it is wise and timeless to seek medical advice from a physician to identify the best medical cannabis products for your particular endocannabinoid system.

The Bottom Line

Some people may learn more effectively with cannabis, while others may perform better without the intoxicating substance. THC levels have a significant impact on whether cannabis will aid or hinder learning, with higher THC levels probably having the opposite effect.

Utilize a medical marijuana card to discover all of the possible advantages of cannabis for the brain. To assist you in applying for an MMJ card in your state, NY Medical Card’s licensed 420 Doctors in Rochester, NY are available for an online consultation.