Cannabis use has long been associated with enhanced music experiences, yet scientific research on its effects on auditory perception remains limited. This mixed-methods retrospective study investigated how recreational cannabis users experience audition and music, while high. A total of 104 participants completed an online questionnaire, 15 of which were selected to participate in an optional semi-structured interview. Quantitative analyses revealed that participants reported significantly greater hearing sensitivity (p < 0.001) and levels of state absorption (p < 0.001) while high compared to sober. Higher trait absorption in music was associated with greater state absorption while high. Qualitative thematic analysis identified four main themes: (1) Altered Cognitive Processes and Reinterpretations, (2) Auditory Perceptual Effects from New Sensations to Sensory Overload, (3) Emotional Openness, Sensitivity, and Regulation, and (4) Embodiment, Immersion, and Out-of-Body Dissociation. This study provides a framework to understand the complex interactions between cannabis, hearing, and musical experience.
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Darakjian et al. (2024) studied this question.
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