How set and setting affect cannabis and psychedelic experiences
Let’s go back in time for a moment: It’s the 1950’s and LSD research is exploding. Scientists are intrigued by this amazing compound and are conducting experiments to explore its effects on the brain and body.
But confusing findings are beginning to emerge. In some studies, participants experience an anxiety-ridden paranoia, while in others, participants experience a sense of radiant wholeness and peace. Some subjects say their thought processes are blocked, while others say their cognitive abilities are sharper. Some can’t wait to repeat the experience, and others swear they’ll never touch it again.
How can one compound elicit such a spectrum of responses?
Psychedelic scientists of the era attribute these stark differences to set and setting – your mindset and environment during the trip. However, the widespread prohibition of psychedelics in the 1960s brought this research to a halt.
Today, a new generation of researchers is studying this phenomenon and asking: To what extent do set and setting affect how a person experiences a drug? Can the effects of a substance be separated from the context in which it is taken?
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What are set and setting?
The term “set and setting” was introduced by Harvard psychologist Timothy Leary, who argued that psychedelics act like a magnifying glass on one’s consciousness.
Leary defined set or mindset as a person’s personality, level of preparation for the experience, anticipation, and intention in taking a psychedelic. Setting refers to the environment in which the psychedelic journey takes place.
This concept of set and setting suggests that non-pharmacological factors strongly influence drug action in many ways.
Exploring set and setting in psychedelics
Awareness of set and setting began to develop with LSD research in the 1950s and 1960s. Psychedelic researchers saw how seemingly small factors in studies were highly correlated with different outcomes. An adjustment as simple as changing a staff member’s demeanor toward a patient from warm and friendly to cold and impersonal increased the severity of the unpleasant effects of tripping on LSD.
Other changes also impacted participants’ experiences. Patients who were expected to complete testing experienced more adverse effects on their response to the drug. On the other hand, those who could choose their activities had more positive experiences. Also, familiar surroundings led to uplifting LSD trips; unfamiliar surroundings often caused discomfort and fear.
Pioneering LSD researchers and therapists began actively using this knowledge in the late 1950’s, improving the set and setting in studies through the use of relaxing music, candlelight, and flowers. They also thoroughly prepared patients for the experience and encouraged them to set intentions for their trips.
Today, researchers recognize that these intangible factors—including how a person feels when using a substance—can enhance or diminish a substance’s effects. There is a growing awareness that the right context can optimize a psychedelic experience and minimize harm.
But set and setting are not unique to psychedelics. There is evidence that set and setting can also influence how consumers perceive other substances such as alcohol, cocaine, Ritalin and cannabis.
Set, setting and cannabis
While the idea of set and setting originated in psychedelic science, many cannabis users and experts argue that it is also relevant to cannabis, although there is less research into the effects of set and setting on cannabis.
In a study of 97 baby boomer cannabis users, most participants used set and setting to exercise self-control and minimize risk. Some avoided smoking weed when feeling depressed, which improved their mindset; others refrained from using cannabis in public to avoid feelings of fear or paranoia of being judged or arrested by authorities, which improved the environment.
“If you enjoy cannabis while relaxing alone or laughing with friends, cannabinoids can have the effect of boosting the chemical pleasure molecules already circulating,” said Dr. Ben Caplan, Cannabis Clinician and Chief Medical Officer at IBD Clinic and eo Care. “On the other hand, if the body is flushed with fear, worry, or negativity, cannabis products can equally amplify the discomfort.”
Caplan noted that proper tuning and tuning is especially important for cannabis newbies. He also said that Set isn’t just psychological — it can also contribute to physical reality. A person’s mindset triggers a cascade of biochemical reactions in the body that result in physical and emotional responses to those around them. Smoking weed in an anxious, excited state of mind can not only make you feel restless, it can also lead to an increased heart rate and nervousness.
“Cannabis is a spice cabinet full of opportunities for positive experiences, but mixed into a soup of negativity or pessimism it can still make for a very sour experience,” Caplan said. “On the other hand, for someone with a positive attitude, the chemical experience of cannabis can make those positive feelings even more pleasurable and joyful.”
Finally, Caplan emphasized that a negative mindset can overwhelm the inherent beneficial properties of cannabis. “The substance of cannabis is quite pleasant at its roots, but it’s not strong enough to overcome strong negative moods.”
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The advantages of set and setting
Using the set and setting not only serves to increase your chances of having a feel-good experience: it can also lead to improved therapeutic outcomes. Whether you work with cannabis or psychedelics, awareness of set and setting can be key to unlocking powerful and positive experiences.
Psychedelic researchers have reported that a favorable context is most likely to contribute to favorable outcomes. A peak experience — a transformative experience defined by awe, wonder, or euphoria — while taking psychedelics has been associated with improvements in mental well-being two weeks after the experience.
Challenging psychedelic experiences can be beneficial, but only if the individual allows time to process personal insights and emotions after the experience—pointing to the role of mindset.
Music also appears to contribute to improved well-being. A 2018 study found that the music patients listened to during a psilocybin session positively affected their experience. Participants said that music is a source of guidance and grounding, taking the listener to different psychological landscapes that they might not otherwise have ventured into. Positive music experiences were significantly predictive of a reduction in depression one week after the session.
How to cultivate a positive set and setting with psychedelics
Winston Peki, Editor-in-Chief at Herbonaut, is a seasoned psychonaut who has traveled multiple times using psilocybin mushrooms and ayahuasca. He said that with psychedelics, using the right context is crucial because of the potency of the hallucinogenic experience.
“The more you try to control the experience, the more anxious you can get,” he said. “The best mindset for psychedelics is to surrender to the experience and not try to control anything.”
Peki also pointed out that achieving the right sensory environment will enhance a psychedelic journey. “When you listen to happy and uplifting music, your experiences and emotions are skewed to the uplifting side,” he said. “The same goes for pictures. The same goes for smells.”
Stumbling in a peaceful, quiet place can also help. Many psychonauts recommend venturing outdoors—but avoid public parks—or in a cozy room with plush furniture and uplifting colors.
“The more chaotic your environment, the more chaotic your experience becomes,” Peki said. “This is a big deal – because the psychedelic experience itself can be quite overwhelming, you should reduce unpredictable external stimuli.”
A mental preparation for the loss of control or possible ego death is also advisable. It can also be helpful to formulate clear intentions. “Contemplation also helps a lot in getting clear to yourself what the purpose of this psychedelic trip is, what your intention is, what you’re trying to process,” Peki said.
Emma Stone
Emma Stone is a New Zealand-based journalist specializing in cannabis, health and well-being. She has a Ph.D. in sociology and has worked as a researcher and lecturer, but prefers to be a writer. She would enjoy spending her days writing, reading, walking outdoors, eating, and swimming.
Check out Emma Stone’s articles
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