How Steve Jobs Benefitted From Marijuana

Not everybody knows that the founder of Apple, Steve Jobs, was a regular user of cannabis. Earlier in his life, the American also had a profound experience on the psychedelic drug LSD, which he remembered as one of the most important events in his life. Jobs claimed that taking the potent psychoactive substance served to open his mind and offer him new perspectives on life.

But back to marijuana: Jobs also smoked cannabis and hashish with his friends, and sometimes ate edibles. We have this information thanks to newly-released documents from the Department of Defense Act, which were made available via the Freedom of Information Act following a request from a journalist. Jobs' use of cannabis was stated to be between once a week and once a month in these documents.

Interestingly, there are signs that the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), can help to boost creativity by formulating new neural patterns in the brain. However, overuse of this substance may have the opposite effect, with there also being evidence that THC can be neurotoxic.

It's also important to remember that the cannabis Jobs was smoking back in the 1970s was much, much different to the recreational products available today. Then, there was a much lower amount of THC, and a slightly higher concentration of cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound. This made a more measured trip, and seemingly, given what we know about THC and CBD, a healthier one for the brain.

Indeed, it seems that nowadays, if you're looking for a Jobs-like surge in creativity, your best bet may be to low-dose cannabis. Fascinatingly, a 2015 study that researched the effects of cannabis on creativity showed that divergent thinking – the ability to come up with multiple solutions for a certain problem – increased following a 5.5mg dose of THC but reduced with a dose of 22mg. This means that THC is a biphasic drug, and the varying effects can make finding the right dosage a challenge. Microdosing can also help with improving focus.

The benefits of CBD

You don't need to get hold of a sketchy dealer if you want to purchase CBD. Providing that hemp is made to use CBD products, there are no federal restrictions on buying, possessing and consuming them. Many start-ups are embracing the potential of CBD, by purchasing CBD wholesale.

1) CBD is a mood-enhancer

CBD and THC interact with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which regulates myriad of health variables including mood. Agonists of the CB1 receptor in this system are mood-enhancers. CBD stops reuptake of a chemical called anandamide, an antidepressant that binds to the CB1 receptor. Stopping reuptake increases the amount of active anandamide in the ECS, which translates to an improvement in mood.

2) CBD can make you more focussed

Maintaining focus at work or on your own projects can be very difficult in a world with so many distractions. Anxiety can also affect your concentration and reduce clarity of thought. However, CBD makes subtle chemical alterations in the brain to soothe anxiety, and also has positive effects on cognition as an ECS regulator.

3) CBD helps preserve your memory

We often think that our memory is something that fades over time for no other reason than old age, but neuroscience has shown that not to be the case and that physical changes occur, too. In reality, a small region of the brain situated in the temporal lobe, known as the hippocampus, is tasked with memory formation. Neurotoxins can cause hippocampal atrophy, and it is this decline in brain mass that leads to memory loss. Thankfully, CBD has the opposite effect on the hippocampus, stimulating regrowth through neurogenesis.

4) CBD naturally reduces and balances inflammation

The immune system is fundamental to our health, but it can easily become the root of our health problems, too. Without any inflammation at all, we'd be susceptible to many more viruses than normal, but an inflammation overload leads to tissue and organ damage, causing conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.

But inflammation can be regulated by CB2 receptor agonists. Anandamide is a CB2 receptor agonist, and CBD benefits here via the same mechanism that it helps to improve mood.

The cannabis plant is extraordinarily versatile, and there are clear uses for its psychoactive properties as Jobs discovered, and for its non-intoxicating therapeutic effects. Smoking isn't as popular nowadays, but many like to vape with Koi CBD e-liquid.