Does marijuana affect creativity? What does scientific research say about this?

Throughout history, marijuana has been and is often associated with artistic creativity and innovation. It was used by great writers, painters, musicians and even chefs. The idea that it becomes a catalyst for great ideas and unrestrained creation has penetrated mass culture and persists in it to such an extent that many scientists have studied the topic. Does marijuana affect creativity and if so, to what extent? 

Can creativity be measured scientifically?

No, but the factors that influence it can be thoroughly examined, and scientists now know enough about the human brain to allow them to try to check whether marijuana has an effect on changing thinking processes. 

What is creativity in the thinking process anyway?

Creativity relies on two important ways of thinking – divergent thinking and convergent thinking .

The first one is responsible for creating loose associations and searching for new, original ideas. The second one is related to integrating them and finding a common and best solution. Their combination is the ability to think creatively.

Some scientists note that the most important contributor to this is dopamine , which is an important neurotransmitter. THC clearly affects its level, which brings an increase or decrease in possibilities in specific ways of thinking.

In the case of divergent thinking, its level suggests an inverted "U" , which means that too little and too much dopamine will negatively affect creativity, which limits the ability to generate innovative ideas.

Optimal value brings success in innovative thinking . In the case of convergent thinking, the increase in dopamine can hinder your focus and analytical abilities, but it has advantages in thinking outside the box .

What is the conclusion from this? Marijuana in the right amount supports divergent thinking, but at the same time hinders convergent thinking.

Does marijuana stimulate creativity and limit it at the same time?

Various researchers approached the topic in several different ways and discovered that THC in the creative process can cause many different reactions depending on individual characteristics, the mental state of the subject, lifestyle, dose, regularity of use, and even social or environmental factors. However, there are clear differences in the increase or decrease in dopamine and its impact on creativity. 

• Short-term and long-term creativity growth . On the one hand, marijuana can increase creativity, with users reporting an increase in the number of ideas, more fluid thinking and the ability to make non-obvious connections. On the other hand, this is only a short-term reaction, and over time, when marijuana is taken regularly, it may have an impact on the deterioration of cognitive abilities, associations, concentration and problem-solving abilities.
  
• Single dose. Marijuana's effects on creativity may also be dose-dependent. Low doses may promote creative thinking, while higher doses may lead to disorganized thoughts and difficulty concentrating, which may negatively impact creativity.

Does marijuana affect creativity? Yes, but nothing is decided

The first large-scale studies on whether marijuana stimulates creativity were initiated in the 1970s, followed by others, and the research process continues to this day.

The conclusions can be summarized by saying that improving creativity using marijuana is a complex and individual process that is not yet fully understood. Scientists even argue about whether it is the increase and decrease in dopamine that influences thought processes.

It is clear that marijuana can have both positive and negative effects on creativity depending on many variables, but there is still a lack of conclusive evidence, which can only be brought by reliable research on a large group of people taking into account many variables. 

Sources:

Cannabis and creativity: highly potent cannabis impairs divergent thinking in regular cannabis users, Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2015 Mar;232(6):1123-34.;

The (b)link between creativity and dopamine: spontaneous eye blink rates predict and dissociate divergent and convergent thinking, Cognition, 2010 Jun;115(3):458-65;

Effect of marijuana on divergent and convergent production cognitive tests, Journal of abnormal psychology;

Neurophysiological and cognitive effects of smoked marijuana in frequent users, Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 2010 Sep;96(3):333-41.;

Cognitive and subjective dose-response effects of acute oral Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in infrequent cannabis users, Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2002 Oct;164(1):61-70.