Cannabis doesn’t necessarily have one straight answer regarding its effects on the brain and body.
Even the stereotypical impacts of cannabis aren’t cut and dry for all consumers.
For example, everybody associates the “munchies” with cannabis, but not everybody gets hungrier because they’ve indulged in their favorite sativa, indica, hybrid, or concentrate. Nor does everyone start uncontrollably giggling like they’re Cheech and Chong after a few tokes.
Yes, both the above responses to cannabis are common, but they’re not universal truths.
As more states legalize recreational adult-use cannabis, consumers are learning more about the nuances of the related products. Specifically, there’s a broad spectrum of cannabis types and effects, and not everybody responds the same to THC and other cannabinoids.
A topic that applies directly to the above preamble is cannabis and its impact on focus.
After all, in some instances, cannabis heightens your focus like nobody’s business. Conversely, it can entirely derail your train of thought and ruin your progress on a project. It all depends on what you’re doing, the type of cannabis you’re consuming, and how you respond to given strains.
A Genuine Discussion About Cannabis And Focus
Let’s say you’re trying to watch a movie. However, it’s not a mindless action flick, goofy comedy, or even a blockbuster rich with story beats that suck you in.
Say—instead—you’re watching a three-hour sprawling epic more akin to reading a novel and watching it more as a practice of learning and enrichment than out of sheer enjoyment.
Would smoking cannabis enhance your focus for this endeavor?
Many cannabis enthusiasts would argue the right strain might make it easy to invest and sink your teeth into the challenging material. Others would say cannabis would cause your mind to wander.
Both parties would be correct.
Apply the same notion to any activity that feels more like work than fun (or simply is work) but demands focus. It could be reading a complex piece of fiction or nonfiction, working off-hours on a project for your job, or studying for an exam.
In our experience, we’ve received vastly different responses from our client base regarding cannabis and focus.
For some people, the right strain of cannabis helps them silence everything around them and put their noses to the grindstone.
Other people couldn’t imagine doing any work of meaning—that requires intense focus—after engaging with cannabis in any shape or form.
That said, the same people who’ve found cannabis has helped them focus one day might find it did nothing for them the next. Despite the ambiguity of this topic—there are things you can do to optimize the chances that cannabis increases your focus.
Sativa Strains And Focus
Generally speaking, your best bet for enhancing focus with cannabis is selecting a sativa strain.
While indicas are associated with couch-lock and “vegging out,” sativas are typically considered “daytime” cannabis that jives with staying on the proverbial ball.
Healthline explains how a sativa stimulates the mind more than it does the body, keeping you alert and awake—immediately making it far easier to focus than a weightier, sleepier strain [1]
Here are the typical effects associated with sativa strains:
- Some sativa enthusiasts report that such strains soothe their distracted minds, helping them focus on a given task.
- Sativas have been reported to improve mood, helping remove burdensome thoughts that might otherwise disrupt focus.
- Often, cannabis enthusiasts find sativa strains give them a jolt of energy instead of sapping them and making them drowsy.
- Many sativa lovers find that such strains remove inhibitions and unlock creativity—ideal for work that demands outside-the-box thinking.
- Mind expansion is a typical response to sativa strains. This reaction might help you reflect on the material you’re focusing on and garner more insights from it.
Honing Your Focus With Cannabis
Cannabis isn’t a one-size-fits-all plant.
Everybody responds differently to strains, consumption methods, and so on.
Your pal might become a rocket scientist after a few pulls off one of our concentrates while you find yourself rendered unable to tie your shoes.
While we can’t make any medical or scientific claims, we believe every cannabis consumer can find their happy medium. There’s a strain and a dosage amount that can heighten your focus when need be—you simply must be patient in determining what that dosage and strain are.
Naturally, we suggest starting with low dosages and experimenting. Also, just because sativas are most associated with heightened focus doesn’t mean those strains are the only ones you should try. Perhaps a sativa-heavy hybrid with a bit of indica to take off the edge is what you need.
In fact, you might focus best when you’re sleepy, and a heavy indica silences the noise so much that it’s ideal for getting work done.
It’s all about trial and error—and mindful cannabis consumption. Record your results in a journal and track your responses to specific doses and strains to determine what’s best for your focus.
What’s Your Definition Of Focus?
Consuming cannabis to enhance your focus often depends on the type of things you wish to focus on and what your definition of focus is.
Say you’re writing a story or an article, and you’ve hit a dead end.
So, you indulge in one of our pre-rolls, sit back, and watch a movie or read your favorite novel.
Then, during that time, you read a few paragraphs or watch a few minutes only to connect some dots and discover the winning idea for your article or story. Interestingly, you stopped focusing on the movie you were watching or the novel you were reading—but you kept focused on what was most important in your life.
Our point is—cannabis often works in mysterious ways and can deliver what you seek in an offbeat fashion. Focus isn’t always a straight line.
Conclusion: Discover Your Optimal Cannabis-Induced Focus With Enlighten Dispensary
Determining your ideal cannabis dosage to enhance your focus is often a journey and will require repeat adjusting and adapting as your tolerance increases.
Enlighten’s team of expert budtenders and passionate cannabis connoisseurs can help guide this experience. We are always ready to answer your questions about our products with informative and—yes—enlightened answers.
Contact us today with your inquiries about our cannabis products, including what strains will best enhance your focus.