is cannabis a psychedelic? A new study reopens the debate

If we know that cannabis is psychoactive and psychotropic, that it affects the mind and perception of consumers, can it be psychedelic? All drugs are psychoactive, but not all psychoactive drugs are psychedelic. In the midst of the psychedelic renaissance, With substances like psilocybin and MDMA increasingly used in therapeutic applications, could cannabis carry the same weight in psychedelic therapy?

The researchers behind a recent literature review have addressed the question of whether cannabis is a psychedelic substance or not, although the answer is not necessarily clear-cut. Specifically, they found that cannabis does indeed have psychedelic effects, particularly when it comes to high doses of THC. However, unlike other psychedelics, cannabis doesn't always have psychedelic effects.

Cannabis and psychedelic classification

The « The psychedelic effects of cannabis: A review of the literature« published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, notes that contemporary literature has generally not considered cannabis to be a psychedelic substance, even though there are numerous examples of cannabis being used with classic psychedelics to achieve altered states of consciousness.

The researchers emphasize the relevance of the subject today, given that cannabis - alone or in combination with conventional psychedelics - could prove useful in a therapeutic setting. More specifically, cannabis could provide a more legal route of access for those unable to use emerging psychedelic therapies.

There are a number of definitions of the term «psychedelic» as it relates to drugs, but it is generally considered to have the primary effect of triggering mental states that don't exist in everyday life, or a trip, and is often accompanied by an expansion of consciousness. Although cannabis can alter cognition, thinking and mood, it does not always bring about the same changes that users might expect. with drugs such as LSD, psilocybin and others.

Literature on psychedelic experiences with cannabis

To investigate this classification further, the researchers examined previous literature on cannabis and psychedelics to gather evidence on whether cannabis actually possesses psychedelic properties. Specifically, the researchers looked at literature evaluating cannabis« ability to produce perceptual changes, repulsive sensations and the »mystical experiences" often associated with classic psychedelics.

The research largely consisted of studies in which participants described the perceptual changes induced by cannabis as coming a little closer to the effects we've come to expect from classic psychedelics. Some of these effects include dissociative states, auditory and visual hallucinations...

A survey of cannabis users determined the extent to which they had experienced minor perceptual effects (88% of participants), such as more intense colors, or major perceptual effects, such as distortions and hallucinations (50%).

Some research also indicates that cannabis has the ability to modify the effects of other psychedelic substances.

The future of exploring the psychedelic potential of cannabis

«The available evidence suggests that cannabis with high THC content can induce psychedelic effects, but that these effects may not have been observed in recent controlled research studies due to the doses, configuration and parameters commonly used,» say the researchers.

They hypothesize that cannabis may have inconsistent psychedelic effects due to the way in which THC and CBD influence 5-HT2A receptors, serotonin receptors found throughout the central nervous system. At high doses, THC activates these receptors, while CBD seems to have the opposite effect.

The researchers also note that the amount of THC needed to evoke mystical experiences in users «may be much higher than those commonly used in casual contexts», recommending further research to determine what dose might correspond to this threshold, as existing research has been unable to determine this.

The authors recommend also randomized controlled trials in psychedelic-friendly settings to determine whether THC-dominant cannabis can be used to produce effects and experiences associated with psychedelics, despite the body of evidence supporting this claim.