Written by Joshua Sosin

If you've never put on your favorite album or playlist while getting high, you're missing out. Cannabis has an amazing impact on the way we perceive music, and it can change the way you hear the songs you love, deepening your appreciation for them.

Why does smoking weed or enjoying edibles make music sound better, though? There are several big reasons, and we'll cover them below. We'll also give you some tips on the best tunes to listen to while using weed.

Table of Contents

• Why Does Weed Change Sound Perception?

  • Cannabis and Your Auditory System

  • Cannabis and Altered Perception of Time

  • Cannabis and Connecting With Music

  • Focusing and Tuning Out Background Noise

• The Connection Between Weed and Music: A Long History

  • Weed and Jazz

  • Weed and Rock

  • Weed and Hip-Hop

• Listening To Music High: Definitely Worth a Try

Why Does Weed Change How Music Sounds?

Cannabis changes the way you perceive the external world around you thanks to the powerful effects of cannabinoids like THC. These compounds interact with your endocannabinoid system, influencing your mood, perception of what's going on around you, and the way you use your five senses.

Cannabis and Your Auditory System

Research tells us that THC can change the way that you hear and process information. Because of this, the effects of weed may make you notice melodies, harmonies, and rhythms in your favorite tunes much more acutely than ever before. The experience of listening to music while high can make it seem like you're really hearing a song for the first time.

Cannabis and Perception of Time

In addition, THC and other compounds in cannabis can change the way that you perceive time, making it easier to focus on and hear music clearly. While high, you might find that you enjoy music more because it's easier to stay in the present moment and perceive sound in ultra-high clarity as it reaches your ears.

Many longtime cannabis users find that when they're high, the listening experience becomes much more relaxing and grounding, even if the music is faster or more intense. In addition, some stoners report that because cannabis can change the way they perceive time, slower, more emotional songs hit harder and produce feelings that are much deeper.

A Deeper Connection With the Music

Using cannabis can make you feel more emotionally sensitive and in tune with how you feel. This can possibly explain why you might notice that a song's lyrics and melody get you in your feelings more while high than they normally do.

As an example, one member of the Mood team recently let us know that while smoking a joint rolled with Gary Payton flower, they listened to Donovan Woods' heartbreaking track "Portland, Maine" and couldn't stop crying. The weed opened the door to experiencing a depth of connection with the music that was beautiful and cathartic.

It's Easier To Focus

Some strains of cannabis can make it easier to focus while listening to music, helping you tune out background music and really hear what you're playing on your speakers. For example, smoking a focus-boosting strain like Dante's Inferno can make listening to music more immersive and pleasurable by making it easier to zero in on the melodies and cancel out whatever else is going on around you.

De-Stressing and Unwinding

Many cannabis users love weed because, in short, it makes them feel extremely good. Flower, edibles, and other THC products can be incredibly soothing and relaxing, and when you're in a relaxed state, it's much easier to enjoy music.

Listening to music while stressed or distracted can be irritating and grating, but the opposite is true when you're fully relaxed. Music combined with weed can be a hard-hitting combination that makes for a truly soothing experience.

The Connection Between Weed and Music

Cannabis has been a big part of the creation of music for decades. There's a good chance that many of your favorite songs were recorded by high musicians, especially if you're a fan of jazz, rock, hip-hop, or reggae.

Weed and Jazz

Weed and music have a close relationship in the world of jazz because jazz artists were some of the first musicians to openly use weed for creative inspiration. The most legendary example of this is Louis Armstrong (whose voice you've definitely heard, even if you don't recognize the name).

Louis has been quoted giving weed credit for helping himself and other jazz musicians learn to improvise and connect deeply with their craft. For an introduction to Louis's work, check out his collaborations with Ella Fitzgerald, including the impeccable "Dream a Little Dream of Me."

Weed and Rock

In addition to jazz, weed has long been a part of the culture of rock music, especially in the psychedelic sub-genre. Bands like Pink Floyd, The Grateful Dead, and, of course, The Beatles, are all known for using weed for creative inspiration. These bands are some of the greatest of the 20th century, and they helped open the door for a broader spectrum of unique sounds and influences in rock.

To hear some quintessential rock recorded with help from cannabis, listen to Pink Floyd's one-of-a-kind Wish You Were Here.

Weed and Hip-Hop

Weed is also a major part of hip-hop culture. Rap icons like Snoop Dogg have long referenced their love for cannabis in their lyrics, especially the relaxing ritual of rolling up a blunt. Many of the genre's legendary beatmakers were stoners as well, including MF Doom, J Dilla, and more.

To get started with combining hip-hop and weed, we recommend a listen through Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly.

Listening To Music High: Definitely Worth a Try

Weed changes the way your brain processes music, helping you tune in and appreciate what you're hearing more than ever. That's why music sounds so good while high, and it's why we recommend doing some personal research on how weed and music affect you by putting on an album and lighting up.

If you're ready to start exploring other nuances of how weed changes your perception, we recommend checking out the selection of flower in the Mood Shop. There, you'll find high-quality Indica, Sativa, and hybrid strains for a heightened experience.

Use the code "FIRST20" to get 20% off of your first Mood order.