Frontiers in Psychology
May 15, 2025
Jake F Hooper, Emily L Gyongyosi, Kent E Hutchison et al.
5 citations
Aesthetic qualities of psychedelic experiences are linked to better psychological outcomes, including greater emotional breakthroughs, psychological insight, behavioral change, and mystical experiences, while also being associated with less fear and paranoia. In a survey of 96 people who used classic psychedelics in the past year, aesthetic experience predicted improvements in depression, anxiety, and quality of life independently of age, gender, or mystical experience. The findings suggest that the aesthetic environment in psychedelic-assisted therapy may actively contribute to therapeutic benefits rather than being merely perceptual enhancements.
Cannabis and cannabinoid research
February 1, 2024
Laurel P Gibson, Raeghan L Mueller, Evan A Winiger et al.
Regular cannabis users who self-administered commercially available edible products experienced increased intoxication and elation, decreased tension, and no change in paranoia two hours after use. Those who consumed a CBD-dominant product reported less intoxication than those who used a THC-only or THC+CBD product. Participants who used a THC+CBD product consumed less THC and had lower plasma THC levels than those using a THC-only product, yet reported similar positive and psychotomimetic effects. Psychotomimetic effects were very low across all conditions. The findings suggest that edible products containing CBD may allow experienced users to achieve desired effects with lower THC exposure, potentially reducing harm.
Addiction biology
January 1, 2022
Laurel P Gibson, Hollis C Karoly, Jarrod M Ellingson et al.
Cannabis flower with both THC and CBD produces similar positive effects but less paranoia and anxiety than THC-dominant cannabis. In a naturalistic at-home study, 159 regular cannabis users were randomly assigned to one of three chemovars: THC-dominant (24% THC, 1% CBD), THC+CBD (9% THC, 10% CBD), or CBD-dominant (1% THC, 23% CBD). Plasma samples showed those using the CBD-dominant or THC+CBD chemovars had significantly less THC and more CBD than those using the THC-dominant chemovar. The THC+CBD chemovar yielded similar positive subjective effects but significantly less paranoia and anxiety compared to the THC-dominant chemovar, suggesting potential harm reduction from CBD.