Does Cannabis Make You More Empathetic?

Cannabis and empathy? You may be asking, “What does empathy have to do with cannabis? I thought stoners should be apathetic. ”Well, the answer might surprise you.

Studies suggest that cannabis actually has a positive effect on our ability to process emotions. According to experts, cannabis opens up the potential to better understand others and become more aware of their feelings.

We are not saying you are a joint away from holiness, however. As experts point out, such cannabis-induced empathy is highly dependent on the type of strain, the intent of the user, and the amount of cannabis consumed. Take too much and in turn you can repress your emotions.

Notice that I have used the words “empathy” and “compassion” interchangeably for this article. Accordingly, it is important to note what empathy means and what its physiological nature is.

Our neural networks make us more receptive to the needs, experiences and desires of other people. It enables us to appreciate and feel one with other people’s emotions, understand their point of view, and understand how and why it is different from ours.

Empathy is an indispensable part of social interaction itself. It enables us to communicate ideas and understand each other’s ideas. We can all benefit from a more compassionate world.

Cannabis and empathy

Recent research contradicts the popular belief that empathy is an innate trait. Indeed, it is something that can be taught to others. But the process is quite complex due to the intricate physiological and psychological processes involved.

For example, cannabidiol or CBD, one of the essential components of cannabis, can potentially impair empathy due to the abundance of cannabinoid receptors in the brain’s emotional and decision-making centers. These areas include the medial prefrontal cortex and the amygdala.

In addition, THC, the other main constituent of cannabis, decreases the perception of social threats and the amygdala’s response to them. In this context, we can cite observations from a 2008 study that found that oral use of THC for recreation reduced amygdala signals that responded to angry faces. Note, however, that the observations were dose dependent and that the motor and visual cortex were not affected by the THC. The hypothesis is therefore that THC has a significant influence on central physiological mechanisms under emotions.

The role of cannabis in social interactions

There are both long-term and immediate effects of cannabis use on the processing of emotions. Cannabis changes the process and with it the emotional behavior. Such results are not limited to physiology or psychology as the drug affects both.

The most pronounced effect of cannabis use is in appetite and sleep patterns. What is less well known, however, is that it has a significant impact on emotions and executive functions. Cannabis has the power to change the structure of the brain in the regions that process emotions.

According to the results of a 2016 study, THC suppressed the perception of negative facial expressions such as anger and fear. However, little, if any, effect was observed in the perception of sad or happy facial expressions. The complexity of the matter, however, lies in the fact that scientists have observed the restoration of such a performance upon subsequent administration of CBD. This shows the complexity of the affective process. Chemical profiles, dosage, and intent to use are essential factors in the empathy functions of cannabis.

Your results may vary

Many leading cannabis researchers agree that we need to take a personal approach to studying empathy and cannabis use. For example, they believe that people with increased stress or trauma (present or past) may need higher doses of CBD or CBN to make them feel more emphatic. Cannabis allows people to overcome their defenses and ego, which makes it easier to connect. But the effect differs depending on the mind, body and spirit of the person.

Finding the emphatic sweet spot for cannabis is to pay more attention to the cannabinoid profile. With science figuring that out, cannabis can be an excellent way for people to empathize with others and act as a social glue.