Finding ways to provide peace for yourself and staying calm throughout the day has become a very important part of nurturing our mental health. Meditation is helpful to not just the mind, but the body and spirit too, and with it being widely attainable on digital platforms as well it is easier than ever to find a meditation program that could work for you. The main goal of meditation is to become present in the moment and find clarity in your thoughts, so why not add a little weed and really get you in the proper mindset? Here are some benefits of weed and meditation so you can decide whether this is a route you’d like to take in seeking your higher self!

Benefits of weed and meditation

Something important to remember is that when mixing weed and meditation, you should start off slow and smoke in low doses. When meditating, your mind state can become sensitive, often leaving you feeling lighter than normal and in turn you’ll feel much higher. The trick with weed and meditation is to smoke a little of your favorite flower strain so you feel the effects but not enough to put you on your butt and make you fall asleep (unless doing a nighttime meditation). Try a relaxing yet energizing strain, like Strawberry Diesel or Do-Si-Dos and you’ll be able to get focused and clear headed in no time!

Release Stress

From firsthand experience, everyone knows that weed is a natural stress reducer. Take a nice puff of a joint and start to feel the stress melt away, so why not take a quick bong rip right before a meditation session? This can jumpstart your mind to release the roadblocks of heightening your awareness, so you’ll have an easier time with meditation exercises. One of the hardest things to accomplish in meditation is staying focused and keeping a clear head, but Mary Jane can definitely assist with some of those challenges.

Improve sleep

One of the opposite benefits of weed and meditation is smoking and meditating right before bed. Instead of smoking an energizing strain, smoking a slightly indica-dominant strain like Northern Light or Hindu Kush can loosen the tension in your body and help your mind wind down after a long day. The proper way to smoke and meditate before sleep is again, take a little hit and get into your zone, but limit yourself from getting ridiculously high and falling asleep immediately. Meditation can often feel like you are in a light sleep, so try not to enhance that with smoking too much.

Helps with chronic pain

Cannabis is of course known for treating chronic pain and other ailments. Oftentimes it is difficult to get into a proper meditative state if there is physical pain present, so smoking before meditating is just another step to ensure you are clear headed and able to only think about the meditation exercises. If you suffer from chronic pain and it limits you from doing certain activities, smoking before meditating also brings a more positive mindset to the forefront and will help you to make the most of your meditation sessions!

Helps with emotional pain

When someone experiences a breakup, one of the first things used to cope with those painful feelings is drugs or alcohol. While it is understandable of the need for numbing the pain, it is important to reiterate that cannabis should not be used as a crutch but more of a tool to help ease any type of pain you have – in moderation. If you are going through it and need to wake and bake to get through your day, following up with a short meditation session will absolutely help you get on a better track emotionally and mentally.

Weed balances the mind

Scientifically, a person gets high from the cannabinoid receptors reacting with a person’s CB1 receptors, which directly affects the brain’s chemistry. Essentially, turning on cannabis receptors changes both neurotransmitters that contribute to stimulation and relaxation. Basically, THC in cannabis can help to balance the mind and allow you to release the tension built up that you probably have learned to live with. Neurotransmitters like glutamate and GABA are what triggers activity cells in the brain and when working with cannabis, your brain can be altered in a way that provides a sense of utopia and allows a more anxious person to relax and release the stress. With too much weed, though, neurotransmitters can become overstimulated which can produce anxiety and overthinking. So again, only smoke a little before meditating that is really all you need!

Tips for using weed for meditation

Now that you have a good idea of how cannabis can help with meditation, here are a few tips on how to maximize your experience in benefitting from weed and meditation.

  • Focus on the terpenes in the strain you pair with each meditation session. If you want to take meditation seriously, consider smoking a specific strain that is most recommended for your purpose to get the most out of your meditation experience. Ask about terpenes like linalool for relaxation, limonene to improve focus, or beta-caryophyllene to help reduce pain.
  • Smoke a high CBD to THC cannabis strain. Sometimes it is hard to tell how high you will be when smoking certain strains. It is highly recommended that a hybrid of THC to CBD strains are used so you can control how you feel. Remember, if you ever smoke too much THC, CBD will always lessen its effects. So smoking a CBD-dominant strain will always be the best idea for the specific purpose of meditation and not becoming higher than you need to be!

The benefits of weed and meditation are endless. Especially in modern day times where you can buy a cheap bong, get your weed delivered to the house and fire up a meditation podcast. Whether you aim to have a better state of mind or ease your stress and anxiety, meditation offers a ton of benefits alone and only gets better when incorporating some good old ganja. Remember, less is more and try to be as present as possible while limiting distractions. Meditation offers a new perspective on life, increases self awareness and reduces negative emotions. Take a few puffs of your new favorite meditation strain and enjoy your journey to your higher self!