Gaming while high is great fun, especially if you choose the right game! Different people respond in different ways to weed, and might prefer one type of game over another. In this article, we’re looking at how weed can affect game performance and which types of games might be most suitable for stoned playing.
choose the right game – https://www.zamnesia.com/blog-the-top-10-video-games-to-play-while-high-n1211
Keep reading to understand how cannabis can benefit and inhibit gaming, and see what the community has to say about it!
The Science Behind Weed and Cognition
Cannabis—particularly THC—interacts with the body mainly via CB1 and CB2 receptors. THC is the compound in weed that causes the high it’s most well known for, and the one we’ll be discussing in this article.
Through various mechanisms of action, including mimicking a naturally occurring compound called anandamide, THC is able to change the way we feel and perceive, influencing our cognition. This has numerous effects that impact the way we interact with the world—and here we’re looking at the way this influences our ability to game.
Cannabis can change our ability to focus, our capacity to process information, reaction time, and problem-solving capabilities. If you know anything about gaming, you’ll recognise how this could have a relevant impact.
Cannabis also affects creativity, which can give people novel and sometimes helpful ideas in both real life and the virtual world. Beyond gaming, this impact on divergent thinking has been studied in the context of art and problem-solving, which suggests that gaming might not be the only area in which this relationship could provide benefits.
Another interesting aspect is how cannabis interacts with our brain’s reward system. Gaming already taps into dopamine release, the neurotransmitter linked to pleasure and satisfaction. Cannabis amplifies this response, making gaming feel more rewarding and immersive for some players.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Using Cannabis While Gaming
Like with most things, there are pros and cons to consuming weed while playing video games. Let’s take a look.
Potential Benefits of Using Weed While Gaming
Whether cannabis benefits or inhibits a person’s gaming ability mostly comes down to that particular person’s reaction to cannabis. However, for many people, consuming cannabis before or during gaming can have a number of benefits:
- Enhanced creativity: Some gamers find that cannabis enhances their ability to think outside the box, making it ideal for creative or exploratory games like Minecraft or Portal. It is said by many gamers that cannabis helps them see solutions to complex puzzles that would otherwise remain illusive. Creativity in gaming might not only relate to puzzles but also extend to strategic planning or even crafting in sandbox environments. Gamers often cite moments of high inspiration while engaging in intricate builds or unusual problem-solving approaches.
- Relaxation: Weed’s relaxing effects can make gaming feel more immersive, especially in casual or narrative-driven single-player games. This can not only help people get into a game, but also help those who use games to relax and temporarily escape from the stresses of life. Immersion combined with relaxation allows players to sink deeper into the narrative, making emotional connections with characters or stories more profound.
- Improved focus (in certain contexts): Anecdotally, some players claim low doses of cannabis help them focus on repetitive or low-pressure tasks, such as grinding levels or farming resources in RPGs. Rather than being boring, these tasks can take on a meditative quality. Games that require patience, like fishing simulators or survival crafting titles, may benefit from this effect, helping players remain absorbed and engaged for longer periods.
- Fun: Cannabis can make experiences more enjoyable, and this is very much the case with gaming. Whether it’s single-player or co-op, worlds become more immersive and missions more exciting (or scary)!
Drawbacks and Challenges
Cannabis isn’t always a positive when gaming. If you use too much, or a game is overwhelming or very complex, it can also be inhibiting. Consider these drawbacks:
- Impaired reaction time and coordination: Cannabis can slow reflexes and reduce hand-eye coordination, particularly at higher doses. These effects can hinder performance in fast-paced games like Call of Duty or Fortnite. In these scenarios, even milliseconds matter, and slowed reactions can lead to missed opportunities or losses.
- Memory impairment: Short-term memory issues caused by THC may make it harder to track objectives or strategies in complex games. Gamers might find themselves losing track of quests, forgetting enemy positions, or struggling with puzzle sequences that require remembering key steps.
Short-term memory issues – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3931635/
- Potential dependency: Frequent use can lead to dependency, reducing overall enjoyment and performance in gaming. Over time, players may associate gaming solely with cannabis use, leading to a decline in gaming satisfaction when playing sober.
lead to dependency – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8655458/
Context-Dependent Effects
Whether cannabis is a boon or a drawback when it comes to gaming really boils down to context. Different elements will be more or less relevant for different people, but the following three factors will, to some degree, affect everyone:
- Type of game: The genre and intensity of the game you play will have a significant influence on whether cannabis is helpful or a hindrance. Competitive, fast-paced games (think multiplayer shooters) might be quite overwhelming for the stoned mind. Of course, there are many who enjoy it, but also many who do not. More slow-paced, often single-player games can, on the other hand, be extremely immersive and more enjoyable when high.
- Individual tolerance: Every player’s experience and tolerance varies. Seasoned cannabis users with higher tolerances may experience fewer adverse effects than casual users. But equally, the positive effects will dwindle too. The less used to the effects of cannabis you are, the more it will make an immersive world jump into life.
- Strain selection: Different strains have different effects, so (if you can) choose your strains wisely! Very broadly speaking, sativas are more likely to get your brain working fast and help you to focus, while indicas will help you relax and settle into a deeper, if slower, state of mind. Hybrid strains can offer a balanced mix, making them a versatile choice depending on the game type and desired experience.
Community Insights and Opinions
Look online and you’ll find all sorts of opinions about gaming while high. Here are a few choice examples:
- “It makes me aim like absolute dogsh*t, but I’m far more calm and have better decision making cause I play slower. But man, I feel like I can’t hit the broad side of a barn when I’m high af” (jrose26, Reddit).
- “I be exploring the map” (TopEngineer_440, Reddit).
- “Played overwatch last night baked outta my mind. 4 games in a row had like 85% hook rate with road hog. Games like cod/overwatch/cs I’m amazing at baked but when I play LoL I’m horrible.” (Xj99, Reddit).
- “No, but I makes you feel like you are ????” (deleted, Reddit).
Smoking Weed and Gaming: It’s Down to You
Whether cannabis makes you a better or worse gamer comes down to you, the game, and the strain. In general, weed can help some gamers become more immersed and use divergent thinking, but it can also make reaction time slower and inhibit you when playing very intense, fast-paced games. Still, it might make them more fun!
Ultimately, you can just experiment with different doses, strains, and games, as there’s not much to lose—and you’ll probably enjoy yourself if nothing else. Find a big open world and go get lost!
