Underscoring an anecdotal observation common among cannabis consumers, a group of researchers in Canada have released a new study indicating that marijuana can make music more enjoyable, concluding that “the impact of cannabis on the auditory experience may be overall enhanced” compared to sober listening. Authors, from Toronto Metropolitan University, wrote in a preprint that the research “highlights the profound yet idiosyncratic effects of cannabis on auditory experiences among experienced recreational cannabis users.”
Of survey respondents, 50 percent reported better hearing sensitivity after using cannabis compared to when sober, while 18 percent reported worse hearing sensitivity and 32 percent reported no difference at all. A separate question found that 60 percent of participants said they felt cannabis affected their hearing generally. Listening to music was also the most popularly selected activity that people said they did while high, at 45 percent, compared to videos (38 percent), podcasts (9 percent), silence (4 percent), radio segments (2 percent) or other activities (2 percent).
While participants “commonly” reported giving greater attention to auditory stimuli while high, some said that marijuana “occasionally caused difficulties in allocation attention, particularly in aurally over stimulating environments.” Participants also reported “feelings of absorption or immersion in the music that was intensified while high,” the study says.
