Why Cannabis and Creativity Are the Perfect Travel Companions

You can probably picture it already: a recording studio full of musicians, all passing around the same pipe or joint. It might be a stereotype, but it’s based in reality — cannabis and creativity have long been linked, with artists of all stripes singing the plant’s praises. Keep reading to learn how consuming cannabis may promote creativity.

Cannabis and creativity isn’t just magic — it’s science

From deeply researched studies to everyday anecdotal evidence, there’s a strong correlation between cannabis and creativity. Lighting up (or enjoying a cannabis vape or edible) is often a direct flight to new heights of both inspiration and execution.

Cannabis may make you happier with your creative ideas

In a 2023 study, researchers asked over 300 participants to come up with creative ideas and evaluate other participants’ ideas. Participants who consumed cannabis liked other participants’ ideas more, and participants who were sober liked them less. Although the researchers didn’t have enough evidence to say that cannabis boosts creativity, they did confidently observe that cannabis makes people happier with creative output.

In short, pairing cannabis with creativity may lead to greater satisfaction with your work even if it may not actually make you more creative. If your inner critic is loud, cannabis may help quiet it.

Cannabis may increase dopamine availability

The primary conclusion of a four-author 2016 study was that creativity is strongly reliant on the neurotransmitter dopamine. That same year, another study found that consuming THC may increase dopamine levels in the short term. Taken together, these results suggest that cannabis’s potential ability to increase dopamine levels may explain why cannabis is associated with greater creativity.

Cannabis may lessen your creative inhibitions

In 2023, Drexel University published a review of recent cannabis research into the effects of two cannabinoids (naturally occurring compounds in cannabis) on one’s stress levels. This review concluded that consuming any amount of cannabidiol (CBD) — which, on its own, is non-intoxicating — may lessen stress and thereby reduce inhibition. It also found that low doses of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is intoxicating, may lessen stress too.

These results explain why low-THC products, and those with a CBD-dominant CBD-to-THC ratio, are often found to bolster creativity. Products with a 1:1 ratio of THC to CBD may also be worth considering if cannabis often increases your stress — these products may have the opposite effect.

There’s anecdotal evidence too

Though not exactly scientific evidence, the list of famous creative people who swear by cannabis for their process is more than long enough to suggest a strong correlation between cannabis and creativity. Musicians may come to mind first, which makes sense given the vast legacy of, among others, Willie Nelson and Snoop Dogg.

Beyond music, Broad City — one of the most fundamentally NYC TV shows of recent times — is enmeshed in cannabis, as are Pineapple Express and numerous other cannabis comedy films and sitcoms. Look to a creative field, and you’ll probably find people who consume cannabis.

What dose of THC best supports creativity?

Low doses of THC may best melt away stress and thereby promote creativity, whereas for some people, high doses of THC deliver the opposite effect. What makes for a high dose depends on your previous experience with cannabis and your current cannabis tolerance. After all, no two people experience cannabis in quite the same way, including at the same dose.

What edibles may help increase creativity?

Certain cannabis edibles from Camino, Foy, Harney Brothers Cannabis, and 1906 may help you tap into your innermost inspiration.

Camino Pineapple Habanero Gummies

• Cannabinoid content: 5 mg THC per gummy
• Size: 20 servings per package (100 mg THC per package)
• Indica, sativa, or hybrid: Sativa
• Price: $28.00

With spicy tropical flavors, Camino’s Pineapple Habanero Gummies taste as bright as they may make you feel. Fans of these gummies say they transform slow moments into deep stretches of inspiration, and their 5 mg THC per piece is an ideal dose for creativity — not too low, not too high. They’re also among NYC’s many gluten-free and dairy-free edibles, so they’re a fully accessible travel option for new and experienced consumers alike.

Foy Daytime Chews

• Cannabinoid content: 5 mg THC / 5 mg CBD / 5 mg CBG per gummy
• Size: 20 servings per package (100 mg THC / 100 mg CBD / 100 mg CBG per package)
• Indica, sativa, or hybrid: Sativa
• Price: $28.00

Foy’s Daytime Chews may promote both creativity and a low-key, manageable experience. Given these gummies’ cannabinoid ratio of 1:1 THC:CBD:CBG, THC’s most intense edges may feel more muted while its most-liked effects remain fully present. Fans of these mango-flavored vegan gummies often feel more inspired after enjoying them, and the adaptogens in these edibles may help you feel revitalized. Perk up, get in the zone, and chase your muse.

Harney Brothers Cannabis Maple Nitro Coffee

• Cannabinoid content: 5 mg THC / 10 mg CBD per can
• Indica, sativa, or hybrid: Sativa
• Price: $6.00

Sip your way to inspiration with Harney Brothers Cannabis’ Maple Nitro Coffee. Alongside the usual effects associated with coffee, this THC drink may offer a low-key pick-me-up given its 2:1 CBD-to-THC ratio. When you’ve got your sketchpad out and the morning sun beaming through your window, it’s a perfect time to pop your can open, take a sip, and travel to your most inspired destinations.

1906 Go Beans or Drops

• Cannabinoid content: 5 mg THC / 5 mg CBD per piece
• Indica, sativa, or hybrid: Sativa hybrid
• Price: $29.00

Whether you choose 1906’s chocolate-covered espresso beans or its swallowable drops (capsules), its Go line may promote energy, focus, and a sharp mind. It’s an especially good pick for creative sessions since it’s formulated to start delivering effects within 20 minutes, as compared to standard edibles’ onset time of 30 minutes to two hours. With the Go line, a little jet-setting may go a long way.

Is sativa or indica better for creativity?

Although NYC cannabis consumers often shop based on sativa, indica, and hybrid distinctions, these classifications don’t tell you as much as you might think. In fact, whether sativa or indica is better for creativity has no perfect answer — it’s different for everyone.

Looking at a product’s cannabinoid content and terpene profile will give you the best sense of whether your experience may lean inspiring, and chatting with a budtender will get recommendations tailored to exactly your wants and needs. Ultimately, though, it’s about carefully trying several cannabis products and finding what clicks specifically for you.

What is the best sativa strain for creativity?

Despite indica, sativa, and hybrid designations not corresponding with potentially inspiring effects as neatly as often described, many people still associate sativa strains with creativity. For what it’s worth, the following sativa cultivars are indeed widely found to promote inspiration:

• Durban Poison: A rare pure sativa strain, the Durban Poison cultivar is a popular pick for potentially focus-friendly, uplifting, inspiring effects.
• Sour Diesel: Arguably NYC’s most historic cultivar, Sour Diesel is a fan-favorite for the kind of productive energy that’s great for getting a creative project over the finish line.
• Green Crack: Associated with a giggly, focused, euphoric mood, the Green Crack cultivar may pair beautifully with more whimsical forms of expression.

What terpenes boost creativity?

Some sources say that cannabis cultivars in which the terpenes limonene and pinene dominate are more connected to creativity. That said, cultivars in which other terpenes dominate may still unleash your innermost inspiration.

Determining which terpenes best power your creativity is similar to doing the same for sativa versus indica (and hybrid) cultivars. Get budtender recommendations, intentionally consume cannabis, and keep a cannabis journal, then reflect on your experiences to identify which terpenes recur across the products that best heighten your creativity.

5 ideas for pairing cannabis and creativity

Break out creativity-associated cannabis products when you’re:

• Working on a big project: “Project” can mean more than just a creative endeavor. Cleaning your apartment, reorganizing your closet — cannabis may help you find unexpected paths toward getting it done.
• Playing with pets or kids: A wand toy might thrill your cat, but for you, moving it around is probably a bit repetitive. With cannabis enhancing your creativity and unlocking your youthful imagination, you may find new dimensions to playtime with pets or kids, making it more fun for everyone involved.
• Being social: Many cannabis products known to support creativity also tend to have social-friendly effects. Whether you’re heading to brunch, a big party, or a creative event like a smoke and paint, cannabis may get your wheels off the ground and your head in the clouds.
• Looking at lots of free time: Hours that feel empty may become moments of deep inspiration. Your mind may feel more unbounded, and with that, your creative expression may be less burdened too.
• Exercising: Yes, really. Cannabis and exercise have long been viewed as a powerful pair, and exercise may loosen up your mind in ways that promote creativity.

6 quick tips for consuming cannabis for creativity

When striving to power your creativity with cannabis, make sure to:

• Start low and go slow: Consume just a small amount of THC at first, then wait for your product’s onset time to pass, then only consume more if you want stronger effects. Your guiding principle should be finding what works for you — build your own itinerary instead of following someone else’s.
• Consider set and setting: Your mental state and surroundings will shape your experience too. Consume cannabis somewhere that feels familiar and comfortable, ideally when you’re feeling level-headed and all-around good.
• Put on some music: It’s common for music to further enhance creativity, so put on your favorite cannabis playlist to potentially travel down truly unexpected routes.
• Be intentional: Choose products known to promote inspiration. Pace yourself as you consume, take notes on your experience while it’s happening, and reflect afterward. For future sessions, adjust your consumption as needed for a better experience.
• Try different cultivars and products: If you don’t feel quite as creative as you were hoping, try other products — a cannabis pre-roll in place of an edible, a different creativity-friendly cultivar. You’ll find the right travel companion in no time.
• Get a budtender’s help: At The Travel Agency — NYC’s premier licensed cannabis dispensary in Manhattan and Brooklyn — our knowledgeable, friendly budtenders listen carefully as you share your previous experience and current goals. We then recommend products accordingly, and if you’re seeking more options in the future, we’re always here to help you get where you’re going.

Open your mind with The Travel Agency

Shop NYC’s highest-quality cannabis products associated with creativity at The Travel Agency’s locations in Union Square, Downtown Brooklyn, Midtown East (Fifth Avenue), and SoHo. We’ve got departures all day long and well into the night, with same-day cannabis delivery when you can’t break from your session. Stay home or venture out — either way, profound routes to your ideal destination await.