Two Sides of the Same Leaf
Escaping Vs. Exploring With Cannabis
Cannabis is a plant with a rich and deeply complex history, it has been celebrated for centuries serving as medicine, recreation, and a source for spiritual insight. Its effects are diverse, offering each individual a uniquely personal experience. Yet, at its recreational core, the way we interact with cannabis often boils down to a fundamental choice: Do we use it to escape our minds, or to dive deeper into them?
This simple question carries profound implications for self-awareness, mental health, and personal growth. Let’s explore these two paths and consider how our relationship with cannabis reflects the relationship we have with ourselves.
The Escapist
For some, Cannabis offers relief from life’s relentless pressures, softening the sharp edges of stress, quieting intrusive thoughts, and providing temporary refuge where reality feels less harsh. Yet, for the escapist, it becomes a means not to confront their thoughts, but to avoid them entirely. In small doses, this kind of escape can be a healthy coping mechanism. After all, life can be hard AF. We live in a world that often demands more than we can give, where mental health is stigmatized, and quiet moments of mental peace can be hard to come by. A soothing puff of Cannabis can create a much-needed pause button, offering a temporary retreat from the weight of it all.
However, there is a VERY fine line between temporary relief and habitual avoidance. When Cannabis becomes the only tool used for emotional pain, it can trap a person in a cycle of avoidance. Instead of confronting the root causes of discomfort, escapists can lose themselves in the fog, leaving their problems forever unresolved. It’s like putting a bandage on a wound that requires intense surgery; while it may cover up the pain for a while, and take the problem out of view, the underlying issue forever persists under the bandage.
The Explorer
On the other side of the leaf, there are those who approach Cannabis with a sense of curiosity and introspection. For Explorers, Cannabis isn’t an escape- It’s a invitation to venture inward. Cannabis, when used mindfully, can heighten self-awareness and open doors to parts of the mind we may otherwise keep locked away. It can amplify emotions, sharpen creative thinking, and provide new perspectives on old patterns. While Escapists can also experience these effects, they see the door, but never actually walk through it. What that means is they do not dive deep enough to do the inner work to break old patterns, implement new perspectives, and find solutions to problems in their life. Explorers use Cannabis as a tool FOR self-discovery and introspection, diving into the depths of their thoughts to better understand who they are and why.
This kind of exploration requires courage. When you allow Cannabis to bring your inner world into sharper focus, you may encounter truths that are uncomfortable or even painful. But these moments of discomfort are opportunities for deep healing and growth. By facing them head-on, you can begin to unpack limiting beliefs, heal old wounds, identify and fix self-sabotaging, and gain a deeper connection with yourself and the world around you.
For Explorers, Cannabis becomes less of a recreational habit and more of a mindful moment of awareness. Its an intentional practice of peeling back the layers and embracing the messy beauty of being human.
Choosing your Path
Neither path is inherently right or wrong. There’s no universal “right” way to interact with Cannabis. However, the impact of Cannabis on your well-being depends on the intention behind its use. It is very easy to spot an skilled Escapist (Stoner) If you find yourself leaning towards escapism, ask yourself: “What am I running from? What emotions am I trying to avoid?” Identifying these patterns is the first step towards breaking free from them. Consider pairing your Cannabis use with journaling, meditation, or mindfulness practices to slowly turn avoidance into acceptance.
If you lean toward exploration, it’s essential to approach this journey with care. Cannabis can be a powerful catalyst, but don’t neglect the need for work and self-reflection outside of its use as well. Use your insights to guide intentional actions in your daily life, whether that means setting healthier boundaries, pursuing your passions, or practicing forgiveness.
Cannabis as a Mirror
Ultimately, Cannabis is less about the plant and more about the person using it. It’s a mirror, reflecting back our thoughts, desires, and fears. Whether you’re escaping or exploring, Cannabis reveals truths about who you are in that moment. The key is to be honest with yourself. Why are you lighting up? Is it because you need a break from the noise of the world, is it because you are avoiding pain you need to heal, or because you’re ready to dive deep into your own depths? There are many choices on paths to take with Cannabis, but only one leads to growth and transformation.
How to use Cannabis to Meditate and Heal the Mind
***Prayer is when you talk, Meditation is when you listen***
Cannabis can be a powerful tool for enhancing meditation and supporting mental healing when used mindfully and with intention. Using cannabis for meditation is a deeply personal journey. Approach it with curiosity and care, let it guide you toward a calmer, clearer mind.
A simple guide on how to use Cannabis with Meditation.
1.) Set an Intention: Before using cannabis, decide what you want to achieve. Are you seeking clarity, relaxation, or emotional release. Having a clear purpose guides your experience.
2.) Choose the right strain: Different strains can have unique effects. Sativas often promote focus and creativity, while indicas are more calming and grounding. Hybrids can offer a balance of both. It can take some experimenting to find what works best for you, and your meditation.
3.) Create a Comfortable Space: Find a quiet, safe environment where you wont be disturbed. Use dim lighting, calming music, or nature to set the mood.
4.) Start with a Low Dose: Especially if you are new to cannabis! Use a small amount to avoid overwhelming sensations. A few puffs of a joint, a small edible, or a low-dose tincture are good starting points. If you are experienced with cannabis, still stay low. The aim is to float, not take off like a rocket ship.
5.) Engage Mindfully: As you consume cannabis, do so mindfully. Notice the texture, taste and smell. Treat this as the beginning of your meditation, grounding yourself in the present moment.
6.) Focus on Your Breath: Once the effects start to set in, shift your attention to slow, deep breathing. Consciously pay attention to your breathing by counting 1 (breath in) and 2 (breath out). Or visualize inhaling peace, and exhaling tension.
7.) Body Scan: Once your breath is consistent and relaxed use the heightened sense of awareness from cannabis to tune into your body. Perform a body scan, noting areas of tension and consciously relaxing them. Scan over your body from the top of your head, all the way down to the tips of your toes. Do this several times. As your body fully relaxes you will begin to notice that you don’t actually notice it anymore.
8.) Ask: At this point in the meditation you are fully connected to your inner world. Explore it.
9.) Bring your awareness back to your body, and then your breath.
10.) Journal your Insights: After your session, write down any thoughts, feelings or insights that came up from your question. Cannabis can often reveal subconscious emotions or perspectives that help in mental healing.
11.) Hydrate and Rest: Drinking water and giving yourself time to gently return to normal activities after meditation can help ground you and integrate the experience.
12.) Practice Regularly: Healing and mindfulness grow with consistency. Incorporate Cannabis Meditation as a regular practice to deepen its benefits over time.
Why using Cannabis to Escape Reality is Harmful to Mental Health
Using Cannabis as a tool to temporarily disconnect from reality can provide short-term relief from stress, anxiety, or emotional pain, but relying on it as an escape mechanism can be detrimental to mental health.
Here’s Why:
1.) Avoidance of Problems: When cannabis is used to avoid dealing with life’s challenges or difficult emotions, it can prevent personal growth and the development of healthy coping mechanisms. Problems remain unresolved, often growing larger over time.
2.) Dependence on External Relief: Consistently turning to cannabis to escape creates a reliance on a external substance for emotional regulation. This can lead to an inability to cope with stress or discomfort without it.
3.) Emotional Numbing: Escaping reality with cannabis can dull emotions, both positive and negative. Over time, this emotional suppression can make it harder to connect with yourself and others, leading to feelings of isolation and disconnection.
4.) Exacerbation of Mental Health Issues: While cannabis can temporarily alleviate symptoms of anxiety or depression, excessive use to escape can often worsen these conditions. It can turn to amplify feelings of paranoia, anxiety, and contribute to depressive episodes. Emotions can only be suppressed for so long before they refuse to be anymore.
5.) Stunted Self-Awareness: Using cannabis to avoid reality can block self-awareness and personal insight, essential components of mental and emotional growth. You may end up missing opportunities to learn from challenges or uncover deeper aspects of yourself. Ironically you will believe you are very “self-aware” from the heightened sense of awareness cannabis offers, but in reality you become more and more checked out from yourself.
6.) Risk of Addiction: No cannabis is NOT addictive. But using it as a crutch to escape is. Over time this leads to a psychological dependence. This can create a cycle of needing more cannabis to achieve the same effect, further distancing you from dealing with reality.
7.) Neglecting Responsibilities: Escaping into cannabis use can lead to neglecting important aspects of life, such as relationships, work, or personal goals. This can result in long-term consequences that amplify stress and decrease life satisfaction.
8.) Hinders Healing: True healing requires facing and processing pain, discomfort, and reality. Using cannabis to escape bypasses the necessary work, leaving underlying wounds unhealed.
While using Cannabis mindfully makes it a great tool for relaxation, stress or pain relief, using it as a way to avoid reality often creates more harm than good.
If I have just woken you up to this reality, take this as a call to create a healthier relationship with Cannabis. Begin to use it as a healthy coping mechanism with meditation, journaling or mindful movement. And the next time you light up do so with intention. Ask yourself: “Am I escaping, or exploring” Let that be a choice rooted in awareness. Because in the end, this journey wasn’t ever about the plant~ It’s about you.
