A new government-funded study is putting quantifiable evidence behind the idea that marijuana use enhances the experience of listening to music. But the new research also suggests that the combination can bolster the therapeutic benefits of cannabis
The study, published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research and conducted by researchers at Dalhousie University and other schools in Canada, examined self-reported data from 122 marijuana consumers who completed an exhaustive, 176-question survey
The findings support one of most anecdotally well-established effects of marijuana use: That is, “most participants viewed the combination of cannabis and music favorably, reporting enhanced relaxation, improved mood, and increased feelings of connection,” the paper says
Marijuana use was further linked to “altered responses to imposed music in various settings and a heightened likelihood of using music during routine activities,” the research, which was partially funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, determined
“Participants reported that combining music and cannabis typically helps reduce fear and anger while enhancing feelings of happiness, liveliness, relaxation, and nostalgia.”
Specifically, the study found 93 percent of participants view combining cannabis and music favorably and 74 percent said they use marijuana more than half of the time they’re listening to music
As far as the emotional impact of combining cannabis and music goes, a majority of respondents said it makes them happier (71 percent), more lively (71 percent), more relaxed (70 percent), less fearful (61 percent), less angry (54 percent) and more nostalgic (57 percent)
Compared to a control group that took the same survey, marijuana consumers were more likely to incorporate music into daily activities such as bathing, exercising and getting ready for bed
“Cannabis appeared to amplify music’s emotional impact, particularly in mood regulation, evocation of nostalgia, and integration of music into everyday routine,” the researchers said. “Music may act as a meaningful emotional adjunct during cannabis use.”
A somewhat more novel discovery from the survey results concerned the therapeutic efficacy of the cannabis-music combination
Participants “frequently reported the use of cannabis as a substitute for pharmaceutical treatments for pain, anxiety, and sleep disorders, with music further amplifying these therapeutic effects,” the study—which looked at use patterns, musical engagement activities, emotional responses and more—found
Among those who use cannabis, significant portions said it serves as a substitute for pharmaceuticals, including sleeping pills (28 percent), anti-anxiety medication (18 percent), antidepressants (16 percent), opioids (12 percent) and non-opioid pain medicine (6 percent)
The study authors said “no significant differences were observed in overall music reward experiences with or without cannabis,” however, “highlighting the nuanced and context-dependent nature of these interactions.”
“These findings provide novel insights into the potential for cannabis and music to act as complementary tools for emotional well-being, underscoring the need for further research to elucidate the mechanisms underlying their combined effects. This study provides a foundation for future investigations into the therapeutic integration of music as a supportive adjunct to cannabinoid-based interventions targeting emotional and psychological health.”
Olivier Valentin, an assistant professor of audiology at Dalhousie University and one of the authors of the study, told Marijuana Moment that “despite countless anecdotal reports, and despite cannabis now being legal and widely used across Canada, science still knows remarkably little about how it shapes the way we hear and appreciate music.”
“People often assume cannabis changes music perception itself,” he said. “Our findings suggest something more nuanced: participants didn’t report major changes in how they perceived the music, but they did report that it became more emotionally meaningful. Cannabis seemed to amplify the emotional experience of music rather than the sound itself.”
Given the strong interest in putting science behind the shared consumer experience, Canadian researchers at Toronto Metropolitan University published a study in 2024 that “highlights the profound yet idiosyncratic effects of cannabis on auditory experiences among experienced recreational cannabis users.”
Whereas that study involved asking participants to reflect on their past experiences being high and listening to music, the team set out on a follow-up project last year that gave them an opportunity to ask consumers about their enjoyment and absorption of music while directly under the influence of marijuana
Speaking to the underlying relationship between music and cannabis, a U.S. government-supported study published this year found that more than a third of popular hip hop and rap music videos referenced marijuana in 2024. Artists like Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre have helped drive that trend by promoting a “chilled” lifestyle, the researchers said
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