Studying High: Can Weed Actually Help You Study?

Ever caught yourself putting off something important, or losing interest in a book a few sentences in? For some cannabis users, smoking weed to study looks like a way to get focused. The honest answer is that it depends on you, the dose and the strain: a small dose can help some people get motivated or think more creatively, but high-THC weed can wreck short-term memory and focus, and it's a bad idea right before an exam.

Some people see it as a performance boost, others as a roadblock. Below we break down the pros and cons of weed for studying, settle the debate as best we can and give you a clear picture of how to make it work if you're going to try.

Is weed good for studying?

This question kicks off a tricky debate about the upsides and downsides of using cannabis to boost academic performance. Before you go there, take an honest look at your relationship with weed outside of school.

If you've got a healthy relationship with cannabis, why not see whether it helps you focus while you study? Results can vary a lot depending on the dose and the strain, though. Weigh the pros and cons of studying high carefully to figure out whether it's the right call for you.

Pros of studying high

Focus and motivation

THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, can trigger dopamine release in the brain, which may boost your motivation to study.

Creativity

Solving complex problems often takes divergent thinking. Some studies suggest that low doses of cannabis may enhance that kind of creative thinking.

Structure

Using cannabis can help you build structure into your study sessions, with short breaks to recharge.

Flexibility

There's a huge range of cannabis strains, each with its own chemical profile. Experimenting with different ones can help you find the strain that best fits how you study, whether that's energizing, relaxing or neutral.

Keep in mind, though, that cannabis hits everyone differently, and some people get side effects that make studying harder, like losing focus, paranoia or drowsiness.

Think carefully about how weed affects you and what's at stake before deciding whether studying high is right for you.

Cons of studying high

Losing motivation

For some people cannabis boosts motivation, but for others it does the opposite, especially at higher doses. Some users find they want to study less, even after smoking strains that are supposed to be energizing.

Negative side effects

High-THC weed can bring on a whole set of side effects that get in the way of studying. These include a racing heart, paranoia, anxiety, memory problems and a warped sense of time. They can stick around until the high wears off.

It's distracting

Even if you don't get any bad side effects, weed can pull your attention away from your notes. Some strains may sharpen your focus, while others send you off to music videos or scrolling social media instead.

Tips for using cannabis to study

Try microdosing

Taking small amounts of cannabis, known as microdosing, can help you stay focused and get going on your studying without getting overwhelmed. A microdose lets you skip the heavy psychoactive effects while still getting whatever focus and motivation the plant offers you.

Pick a strain high in alpha-pinene

To counter the short-term memory loss linked to THC, consider strains with high levels of the terpene alpha-pinene. Research suggests this terpene may help memory by inhibiting an enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine, a key neurotransmitter for memory.

Stay hydrated and eat right

Drink water and have a balanced meal before you study under the effects of cannabis. Dehydration can raise your chances of a bad high, and eating well can help keep your brain sharp and head off munchies that could derail your session.

Choose the right way to consume

Think about how you like to consume cannabis and pick the method that fits your needs. Inhaling (smoking, vaping) and sublingual use usually kick in fast and give you more control over the dose than edibles.

Consider low-THC, high-CBD strains

To avoid unwanted side effects like paranoia or losing motivation, go for strains with lower THC or, better yet, higher CBD. CBD can take the edge off some of THC's unwanted effects and give you a more balanced, clear-headed high for studying.

Should you smoke weed before studying?

This one is highly personal and depends on several things, including your tolerance and why you're using cannabis in the first place. There are different takes on it, since some strains can cloud your thinking and make you sleepy, which isn't ideal for studying.

Some people argue, though, that in certain fields, like philosophy, cannabis can help with contemplation and reflection. Of course, that varies from person to person and subject to subject. When in doubt, skip the weed before you study.

Are there benefits to smoking weed after studying?

Using cannabis after studying, on the other hand, can help you unwind and, for some people, even help them process what they just learned. Plenty of users say weed helps them relax and let the material sink in.

Weed and studying: should you get high before an exam?

Generally speaking, using cannabis before an exam is a bad idea. Weed can hurt your ability to concentrate and your short-term memory, which could tank your performance on the test. Bottom line: skip it before any exam that matters.