{"id":3923,"date":"2022-01-27T18:37:35","date_gmt":"2022-01-27T18:37:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/wp-home\/?p=191828"},"modified":"2022-01-27T18:37:35","modified_gmt":"2022-01-27T18:37:35","slug":"how-set-and-setting-affect-cannabis-and-psychedelic-experiences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/?p=3923","title":{"rendered":"How set and setting affect cannabis and psychedelic experiences"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>  <title>How set and setting affect cannabis and psychedelic experiences | Leafly<\/title>     <!-- This is Index Exchange, a script\/\/3rd-party integration that interjects GAM. It needs to be 'ahead' of GTM in the DOM, which comes from Cephalopod. GTM loads GAM. This script needs to setup it's interjection stuff before GAM loads. --> <!-- End Index Exchange --> <!-- Quotes = strings--><!-- No quotes = boolean-->\t   <!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v17.5 (Yoast SEO v17.5) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->                  <!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. --> <\/p>\n<p> <!-- BEGIN Sailthru Horizon Meta Information --><\/p>\n<p><!-- END Sailthru Horizon Meta Information -->  <!-- Google Publisher Tag --> <!-- End Google Publisher Tag --> <!-- Google Tag Manager --> <!-- End Google Tag Manager --> <!-- Chartbeat --> <!-- End Chartbeat --><br \/>\n <!-- Google Tag Manager (noscript) -->   <\/p>\n<div id=\"copy_clipboard_success\" class=\"fixed top-0 left-0 right-0\">\n<div class=\"bg-white p-lg container mt-xl flex justify-between elevation-low rounded\"> <span class=\"flex items-center\">     <span class=\"ml-md\">Link copied to your clipboard<\/span> <\/span> <button id=\"copy_clipboard_close_btn\">    <\/button> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <!-- End Google Tag Manager (noscript) -->   <title>Leafly<\/title>     <title>Leafly \u00ae<\/title>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              <title>Loading\u2026<\/title>                <\/p>\n<div class=\"bg-white fixed flex hidden inset-0 items-start md:h-auto md:items-center overflow-auto\" id=\"age-gate-container\">\n<div class=\"bg-white md:h-auto mx-auto p-lg text-sm w-full\" id=\"age-gate\">\n<p><label for=\"select-country\">Where are you from?<\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"age-gate__info\">\n<p><button class=\"button\" data-testid=\"age-gate-no-button\" id=\"tou-cancel\">no<\/button><button class=\"button ml-md\" data-testid=\"age-gate-yes-button\" id=\"tou-continue\">yes<\/button><\/p>\n<p><label class=\"checkbox__label my-xl\"><span class=\"text-xs\" id=\"remember-user-label\">Remember me for 30 days. <br \/>I confirm that this is not a shared device.<\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<p class=\"error error--underage hidden\">Darn! You&#8217;re not old enough to use Leafly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"hidden age-gate__loading\">Redirecting you to<span class=\"redirect-domain\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-xs mt-auto\">By accessing this site, you accept<br \/>\nthe <a class=\"py-xl\" data-testid=\"tou-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/info\/terms-of-use\">Terms of Use<\/a><br \/>\nand <a class=\"py-xl\" data-testid=\"pp-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/info\/privacy-policy\">Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container my-xl\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col md:col-9\" id=\"article-content\">\n<p>Let\u2019s step back in time for a moment: It\u2019s the 1950s, and LSD research is exploding. Scientists are fascinated by this mind-tripping compound and conducting experiments to explore its effects on the brain and body.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>But perplexing findings begin to emerge. In some studies, participants experience anxiety-soaked paranoia, while in others, participants feel a sense of radiant wholeness and peace. Some subjects say their thought processes are blocked, while others say their cognitive faculties are sharper. Some can\u2019t wait to repeat the experience, and others swear they\u2019ll never touch it again.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>How can one compound trigger such a spectrum of responses?<\/p>\n<p>Psychedelic scientists of this era put these stark differences down to set and setting\u2014your mindset and environment during the trip. However, the widespread prohibition of psychedelics in the \u201860s saw this research grind to a halt.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Nowadays, a new generation of researchers is investigating this phenomenon and teasing out the question: To what extent do set and setting influence how a person experiences a drug? Can the effects of a substance be separated from the context in which it\u2019s taken?<\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/health\/what-are-psychedelics\" class=\"wp-block-leafly-blocks-leafly-single-inline-block leafly-inline-related-story\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"border border-deep-green-alt border-l-0 border-r-0 my-xl p-md font-bold\">\n<p>Related<\/p>\n<p>What are psychedelics?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a> <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-what-are-set-and-setting\">What are set and setting?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n<p>The term \u201cset and setting\u201d was introduced by Harvard psychologist Timothy Leary, who argued that psychedelic drugs worked like a magnifying glass on one\u2019s consciousness.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Leary defined set, or mindset, as an individual\u2019s personality, level of preparation for the experience, expectation, and intention when taking a psychedelic. Setting refers to the environment in which the psychedelic journey takes place.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>This concept of <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/full\/10.1177\/2050324516683325\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">set and setting<\/a> suggests that non-pharmacological factors strongly influence the effects of drugs in many ways.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-research-on-set-and-setting-in-psychedelics\">Research on set and setting in psychedelics<\/h2>\n<p>Awareness about set and setting began to emerge with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.academia.edu\/33412183\/Set_Setting_Psychedelics_and_placebo_response\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LSD research<\/a> in the \u201850s and \u201860s. Psychedelic researchers saw how seemingly small factors in studies strongly correlated to different outcomes. An adjustment as simple as changing a staff member\u2019s behavior toward a patient from warm and friendly to cold and impersonal increased the severity of unpleasant effects while tripping on LSD.<\/p>\n<p>Other changes also affected the participants\u2019 experiences. Patients who were expected to complete tests suffered more negative effects in their response to the drug. On the other hand, those who could choose their activities had more positive experiences. Additionally, familiar settings tended to lead to uplifting LSD journeys; unfamiliar settings often caused unease and anxiety.<\/p>\n<p>Pioneering LSD researchers and therapists began to actively <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.org\/news-letters\/v23n1\/v23n1_p6-9.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">utilize this knowledge<\/a> in the late \u201850s, enhancing set and setting in studies by using relaxing music, candlelight, and flowers. They also thoroughly prepared patients for the experience and encouraged them to set intentions for their trips.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Nowadays, researchers recognize that these intangible factors\u2014including how an individual feels about using a substance\u2014can enrich or detract from a substance\u2019s effects. There\u2019s a growing awareness that the right context can optimize a psychedelic experience and minimize harm.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>But set and setting aren\u2019t only applicable to psychedelics. There\u2019s evidence that set and setting may influence how consumers experience <a href=\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jama\/article-abstract\/397300\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">other substances<\/a> too, such as alcohol, cocaine, Ritalin, and cannabis.<\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/learn\/psychedelics\/types-of-psychedelics\/lsd-acid\" class=\"wp-block-leafly-blocks-leafly-single-inline-block leafly-inline-related-story\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"border border-deep-green-alt border-l-0 border-r-0 my-xl p-md font-bold\">\n<p>Related<\/p>\n<p>LSD (Acid)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a> <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-set-setting-and-cannabis\">Set, setting, and cannabis<\/h2>\n<p>While the idea of set and setting originated in psychedelic science, many cannabis consumers and experts argue that it\u2019s relevant to cannabis too, although there\u2019s less research on the effects of set and setting on cannabis.<\/p>\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4499492\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">one study<\/a> of 97 baby boomer cannabis consumers, most participants harnessed set and setting to practice self-control and minimize risks. Some avoided smoking weed when they felt depressed, improving mindset; others refrained from using cannabis in public to sidestep feelings of anxiety or paranoia about being judged or apprehended by authorities, improving setting.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you\u2019re enjoying cannabis while relaxing alone or amid the joy of laughter with friends, cannabinoids can have the effect of amplifying the chemical pleasure molecules already circulating around,\u201d said Dr. Ben Caplan, cannabis clinician and Chief Medical Officer at <a href=\"http:\/\/cedclinic.com\/drcaplan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CED Clinic<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eo.care\/about\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">eo care<\/a>. \u201cOn the other hand, if the body is flush with anxiety, worry, or negativity, cannabis products can equally amplify the unpleasant.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Caplan noted that for cannabis newbies, it\u2019s particularly essential to get set and setting right. He also said that set isn\u2019t just psychological\u2014it can contribute to physical reality too. An individual\u2019s mindset triggers a cascade of biochemical responses in the body, leading to physical and emotional reactions to their surroundings. Smoking weed in an anxious, agitated state of mind may not only leave you feeling uneasy, it can also lead to an increased heart rate and the jitters.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCannabis is a spice cabinet full of opportunity for positive experiences, but mixed into a soup of negativity or pessimism, can still yield a very sour experience,\u201d said Caplan. \u201cOn the other hand, for one with a positive mindset, the chemical experience of cannabis can magnify those positive feelings to be even more pleasant and joyful.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, Caplan emphasized that a negative mindset can overpower the inherent beneficial properties of cannabis. \u201cThe substance of cannabis is, at its roots, quite pleasant, but it is not so powerful that it can overcome a strongly negative frame of mind.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/learn\/psychedelics\/ego-loss\" class=\"wp-block-leafly-blocks-leafly-single-inline-block leafly-inline-related-story\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"border border-deep-green-alt border-l-0 border-r-0 my-xl p-md font-bold\">\n<p>Related<\/p>\n<p>Losing your self with psychedelics: How ego death can improve mental health<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a> <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-the-benefits-of-set-and-setting\">The benefits of set and setting<\/h2>\n<p id=\"h-harnessing-set-and-setting-isn-t-just-about-increasing-your-chances-for-a-feel-good-experience-it-may-also-lead-to-enhanced-therapeutic-outcomes-regardless-of-whether-you-work-with-cannabis-or-psychedelics-awareness-of-set-and-setting-may-represent-a-key-to-unlocking-powerful-and-positive-experiences\">Harnessing set and setting isn\u2019t just about increasing your chances for a feel-good experience: It may also lead to enhanced therapeutic outcomes. Regardless of whether you work with cannabis or psychedelics, awareness of set and setting may represent a key to unlocking powerful and positive experiences.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Psychedelic researchers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/profile\/Leor-Roseman\/publication\/323211736_Psychedelics_and_the_essential_importance_of_context\/links\/5a8c33ed458515b8af97f491\/Psychedelics-and-the-essential-importance-of-context.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">have reported<\/a> that a favorable context most likely contributes to favorable results. A peak experience\u2014a transformative experience defined by awe, wonder, or euphoria\u2014while on psychedelics has been linked to improvements in psychological well-being two weeks after the experience.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Challenging psychedelic experiences can be beneficial, but only if the individual allows time to process personal insights and emotions following the experience\u2014signposting the role of mindset.<\/p>\n<p>Music also appears to contribute to improved well-being. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5893695\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2018 study<\/a> found that the music patients listened to during a psilocybin session positively influenced their experience. Participants said that music offered a source of guidance and grounding, carrying the listener into diverse psychological landscapes where they may have otherwise been scared to venture. Positive music experiences were significantly predictive of reductions in depression one week after the session.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-how-to-cultivate-a-positive-set-and-setting-with-psychedelics\">How to cultivate a positive set and setting with psychedelics<\/h2>\n<p>Winston Peki, chief editor at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.herbonaut.com\/about\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Herbonaut<\/a>, is a seasoned psychonaut who\u2019s journeyed with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/learn\/psychedelics\/types-of-psychedelics\/mushrooms-psilocybin\">psilocybin mushrooms<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/learn\/psychedelics\/types-of-psychedelics\/ayahuasca\">ayahuasca<\/a> multiple times. He said harnessing the right context is vital with psychedelics because of the potency of the hallucinogenic experience.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe more you try to control the experience, the more fearful you can get,\u201d he said. \u201cThe best mindset for psychedelics is to surrender to the experience and not try to control anything.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Peki also pointed out that achieving the right sensory environment will enhance a psychedelic journey. \u201cIf you listen to cheerful and uplifting music, it will color your experience and emotions towards the uplifting side,\u201d he said. \u201cSame with visuals. Same with smells.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Tripping in a peaceful, quiet place can also help. Many psychonauts recommend tripping somewhere outdoors\u2014but avoid public parks\u2014or in a cozy room with soft furnishings and uplifting colors.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe more chaotic your setting, the more chaotic your experience will be,\u201d said Peki. \u201cThis is a big one\u2014because the psychedelic experience itself can already be quite overwhelming, you want to reduce unpredictable external stimuli.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Mental preparation for the loss of control, or potential <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/learn\/psychedelics\/ego-loss\">ego death<\/a>, is also advisable. Setting clear intentions can also be helpful. \u201cContemplation also helps a lot, getting clear for yourself what the purpose of this psychedelic trip is, what your intention is, what you would like to process,\u201d said Peki.<\/p>\n<div id=\"author-box\" class=\"p-lg my-xxl bg-white rounded border border-light-grey elevation-low\">\n<div class=\"mb-lg\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/how-set-and-setting-affect-cannabis-and-psychedelic-experiences.jpg\" alt=\"Emma Stone's Bio Image\" class=\"lazyload inline-block mr-md rounded-full border border-light-grey\"> <\/p>\n<p>Emma Stone<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"text-sm\">Emma Stone is a journalist based in New Zealand specializing in cannabis, health, and well-being. She has a Ph.D. in sociology and has worked as a researcher and lecturer, but loves being a writer most of all. She would happily spend her days writing, reading, wandering outdoors, eating and swimming.<\/p>\n<p> <a class=\"text-sm font-bold underline text-green\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/author\/emma-stone\">View Emma Stone&#8217;s articles<\/a> <\/div>\n<div class=\"leafly-sailthru-signup p-lg my-xl bg-white rounded elevation-low border border-light-grey\">\n<p class=\"text-xs pt-lg\">By submitting this form, you will be subscribed to news and promotional emails from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\">Leafly<\/a> and you agree to Leafly&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/company\/tos\">Terms of Service<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/company\/privacy-policy\">Privacy Policy<\/a>. You can unsubscribe from Leafly email messages anytime.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- Chartbeat --> <!-- End Chartbeat -->  <!--\nPerformance optimized by W3 Total Cache. Learn more: https:\/\/www.boldgrid.com\/w3-total-cache\/ Served from: _ @ 2022-01-28 02:40:24 by W3 Total Cache\n--><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How set and setting affect cannabis and psychedelic experiences | Leafly Link copied to your clipboard Leafly Leafly \u00ae Loading\u2026 Where are you from? noyes Remember me for 30 days. I confirm that this is not a shared device. Darn! You&#8217;re not old enough to use Leafly. Redirecting you to By accessing this site, you accept the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Let\u2019s step back in time for a moment: It\u2019s the 1950s, and LSD research is exploding. Scientists are fascinated by this mind-tripping compound and conducting experiments to explore its effects on the brain and body.&nbsp; But perplexing&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3924,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3923","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-marijuana_information"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/how-set-and-setting-affect-cannabis-and-psychedelic-experiences.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3923","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3923"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3923\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3924"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3923"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3923"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3923"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}