Marijuana and its relationship with Music and Creativity
Today, we’re diving into a topic that many of us are passionate about: music! And within the realm of music, we’ll explore the incredible creative boost that marijuana can offer. Without further ado, here are our personal thoughts on how marijuana, music, and creativity intertwine in fascinating ways. Get ready for a journey full of rhythm and creativity!
Marijuana and music
For some time now, we have been compiling in this blog news about numerous artists and celebrities who use marijuana to reach high levels of creativity. For example, the “Poker Face” singer confessed to host Anderson Cooper: “I can drink a lot of whiskey and smoke a lot of marijuana when I write. But I don’t do it very often, because it could affect my voice”. However, the singer clarified that with her confession she does not seek to encourage drug use among her audience or in young people, but prefers to be honest about her habits. “I simply can’t lie. I can’t be a liar in front of my fans,” she explained. This honesty reflects the complex and sometimes contentious relationship between creativity and substance use.
There is a giant list of musicians and all kinds of artists who have used Cannabis and other substances for inspiration. Which we see totally understandable in many cases and in others we could not even imagine it. To get an idea of how many famous musicians are inspired by Cannabis click here.
Musicians and Cannabis
The relationship between music and marijuana has been a constant in the history of popular culture. Many musicians have found in this plant a source of inspiration and creativity. Below, we present five musicians who have used marijuana to create their works, accompanied by anecdotes that illustrate how this plant influenced their creative process.
Bob Marley
Bob Marley is undoubtedly one of the musicians most associated with marijuana use. As a Rastafarian devotee, Marley saw marijuana as a spiritual sacrament and a tool for meditation and connection with Jah. On one occasion, during an interview, Marley explained that smoking marijuana helped him write music that connected with people’s souls.
An amusing anecdote tells that during the recording of the “Catch a Fire” album, Marley and his band, The Wailers, used to take breaks to smoke marijuana and relax. Reportedly, these sessions helped unleash their creativity, resulting in some of reggae’s most iconic songs.
The Beatles
The Beatles, especially during their psychedelic phase, were known to experiment with various substances, including marijuana. Paul McCartney has spoken openly about how cannabis influenced his music, helping him to think more freely and creatively. Once, McCartney recalled that the first time they smoked marijuana was with Bob Dylan, which changed his perspective on music.
An interesting anecdote is that during the recording of the “Rubber Soul” album, the Beatles used to smoke marijuana in the studio, which led to the creation of more experimental and complex songs. The song “Got to Get You Into My Life” is a veiled tribute to marijuana and its influence on the band.
Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix is another legendary musician known for his marijuana use. Hendrix used to talk about how marijuana helped him relax and open his mind to new musical ideas. During an interview, he mentioned that smoking marijuana allowed him to “see music in colors” and create innovative sounds that defined his unique style.
An amusing anecdote about Hendrix is that during the Woodstock Festival, he is said to have smoked marijuana before taking the stage and delivering one of the most memorable performances of his career. His version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” has become an icon of counterculture and musical experimentation.
Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson is perhaps one of the most open musicians about his marijuana use. Nelson has talked about how marijuana has helped him overcome health problems and stay creative throughout his career. On one occasion, Nelson joked that he had smoked marijuana at the White House during a presidential visit.
An amusing anecdote tells that during a flight, Nelson and his band lit up a joint on the private plane, filling the cabin with smoke. This laid-back attitude and his love of marijuana are reflected in his music and lifestyle.
Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg is known for both his music and his professed love of marijuana. Snoop has spoken about how cannabis is an integral part of his creative process, helping him to relax and focus on his music. In numerous interviews, Snoop has explained that smoking marijuana allows him to get into a state of mind where ideas flow more easily.
An amusing anecdote about Snoop Dogg is that he once claimed to have smoked marijuana in the White House. While it is unclear if this is completely true, the story has become an urban legend that illustrates his personality and love for marijuana.
Drugs and creativity in general?
But it should be noted that creativity is not always linked to the use of external drugs. In fact, it is often our own body that secretes internal substances that fuel creativity, just as it does to make us move from one mood to another. For example, endorphins and dopamine are some of the natural chemicals our body produces that can significantly influence our creative capacity.
A man like the painter M.C. Escher did not need to resort to any kind of drugs to achieve his best works. In his own words, “My dreams are already sometimes too overwhelming to use drugs”. This statement underlines that the source of his creativity was purely internal and did not depend on external substances. Escher found inspiration in the complexity of his own thoughts and visions, demonstrating that the human mind is capable of producing extraordinary ideas without the need for artificial stimuli.
The relationship between creativity and substances is complex and varies from person to person. While some artists may find a creative impulse in certain substances, others, like Escher, rely fully on their own natural abilities. The key is to understand and respect what works best for each individual, always with a conscious and responsible approach.
What has been demonstrated is that psychoactive plants were already being consumed by the first humans who lived in caves in prehistoric times. When they were given to manipulate objects in a rhythmic way hitting stones and other objects together is quite likely that they had consumed some plant with psychotropic properties that led them to hit in a trance for hours and hours those stones, emitting screams that surely would not differ much from howling, although they were the beginnings of music.
And in Experiencia Natural Grow Shop we think that inspiration is sometimes difficult to find and the support of our plant friend can be, sometimes, the ultimate tool for the search within oneself when it comes to finding the spark of creativity at the beginning of a project or a final adjustment that resists. But it is not always so, marijuana can also tupir all that creativity to not let the ideas to the surface, so the amount of marijuana needed to find the creativity sought, is the one you need to travel far enough, without sinking into the abyss of unfinished ideas. We do NOT recommend consuming marijuana, we are talking about the fact that many artists have consumed it to create their works, musical or other artistic disciplines.
Some natural, psychedelic and occasional support, it seems that it can be a definitive tool at the time of creating great works, so the history assures it. But of course, with a technique, added study and a good knowledge also of the effects that what you consume can provide you.
We hope you like this opinion content on the creativity, music and cannabis. Here you have another of our articles to continue reading, marijuana that helps to laugh.
Founder of Experiencia Natural, creative and entrepreneur, designer, master in grower and marketing. For a normalization of all plants and substances, giving priority to patients and users.
