Higher art

Does cannabis really make you more creative?

—Tab U. La Raza

Yes. Um, unless it doesn’t. I mean, for every Steve Jobs (“The best way I would describe the effect of the marijuana and the hashish is that it would make me relaxed and creative”) or Lady Gaga (“I smoke a lot of pot when I write music”), there’s a Salvador Dali (“I don’t do drugs. I AM DRUGS”).

Some people feel more creative after smoking a joint, that’s for sure. In general, cannabis removes mental barriers—such as self-consciousness—to being creative and can create a state of “microfocus,” allowing someone to hone in on a particular task for however long it takes. It may not be that cannabis makes someone more creative, but that cannabis brings creativity to the forefront.

Think about the crazy-ass snacks that stoners create when they are in the grip of the serious munchies. It’s not that making a sandwich out of toaster waffles, bacon, honey, semisweet chocolate chips and peanut butter is outlandish, it’s that cannabis allowed you to make that sandwich with no fear.

Back in the day, all the alcoholic writers used to say, “Write drunk. Edit sober.” Change “drunk” to “high” and it still makes sense.

What are some fun ways to enjoy cannabis and art?

—Van Gozeer

Hit all the museums! For serious. Get high and go. I’m sure your town has at least one museum. Whether it be modern art or the automobile museum or whatever. Read all of the tiny notecards. Examine every inch of a sculpture. Drink coffee. Have fun. If your town has one of those Second Saturday or First Friday deals, you know, where all the art galleries in a neighborhood stay open so folks can wander around and look at stuff, hit it up.

Hell, you can get stoned and draw. You don’t have to be any good, just have fun. Get high and watch Bob Ross. Smoke a jay and play with clay. Practice rolling unusually shaped joints. Have a jam session at your house. Get high and go to a comedy show. Learn to do papier-mâché. The possibilities are endless.

Weed and art go together like weed and art. Get high and do something. Bring snacks.

I want to grow weed. how do I get started learning the art of cannabis cultivation?

—Greg Ormendel

Grow some plants. That the best way. You can read books—Jorge Cervantes and Ed Rosenthal both have good ones—but really the best way is to set up a garden. Start small and be sure to add extra time to your day-to-day schedule to take care of your new family. Cannabis is easy to grow, but it requires a daily commitment. Blue Dream is easy to grow. So is Odyssey or Hash Plant. Once you have a few good grows under your belt, expand your garden. Have fun.