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5 Tips to Appreciate Art and Enjoy Museums While You're High

July 10, 2023

One of my favorite activities, when I have a significant portion of the day to myself, is visiting a museum while under the influence of cannabis. This has been a regular practice for me over the years and has had a profound impact on my career path and life priorities, leading to a more positive and fulfilling existence.

My journey into the world of art began at the age of 21. Although I had a basic understanding of art that every person should possess, I never truly appreciated it nor had any desire to delve deeper into its study. However, one morning, a friend proposed that we visit an exhibition featuring the works of Amedeo Modigliani, which was being held at our city's largest fine art museum. For some reason, we decided to indulge in some cannabis beforehand. As college students, the prospect of enjoying some good weed was reason enough for us to partake.

First time in a museum, stoned!

We were successful in bypassing the one-hour queue to enter the museum and started our observation. The majority of the artwork consisted of portraits executed in Modigliani's distinct style. There were depictions of figures clothed, heads, and nudes.

One painting caught our attention, portraying Anna Akhmatova, a prominent figure in Russia's "Silver Age" of poetry, as rendered by Amedeo Modigliani. The delicate features of the subject made them appear almost androgynous to us. It was at that moment when I acquired an extraordinary ability to perceive everything in the world as if it had been painted by Modigliani himself, with his distinctive lines, brushstrokes, color palette, and textures.

More museums...

My craving for art intensified, leading me to visit museums numerous times over the following months, both while under the influence and in a sober state. I yearned to expand my knowledge and began immersing myself in art literature. This newfound passion drove me to pursue a second Bachelor's degree, this time in cultural studies. During my studies, I delved into various disciplines, including history, literature, art history, philosophy, and religious studies. The best part was that visiting art museums was encouraged and, to my delight, I could avail myself of student discounts wherever I went.

Despite working full-time as a news editor, I managed to juggle my responsibilities, which included writing essays, completing coursework, taking tests, and devouring countless books. It's still a mystery to me how I was able to balance it all while indulging in marijuana consumption and playing video games, but I somehow managed to do it all, and it brought me immense joy.

Why do I need to tell this story?

I am not alone in this sentiment. Numerous individuals acknowledge that a fortuitous encounter with cannabis has played a pivotal role in their newfound appreciation for something that has now become significant and meaningful to them. Whether it be fine art, art house movies, music, nature walks, gardening, culinary arts, or even paper cutting, many people credit cannabis for enhancing their ability to perceive colors and sounds, aiding concentration, and awakening their inner explorer, particularly when using sativa-dominant strains.

One Redittor wrote about his experience at The Museum of Modern Art:

"As soon as we get to the museum, I start to peak and as we go around looking at the artwork I am suddenly embraced by the pure bliss of all these mesmerizing colors and shapes. Every time I see a piece, I can almost feel the thoughts and emotions that the artist tried to emote. It's almost as if the paintings were talking to ME personally."

5 Tips to Appreciate Art and Enjoy Museums While You're High

I’d like to wrap up my story with 5 tips for my fellow stoners who decide to try visiting an art museum this weekend:

As I mentioned before, stick to sativa-dominant strains. Also high THC and lower CBD. You don’t want to be sleepy or just too stoned. Read more about THC and CBD, and the Entourage Effect here.
Choose a relatively small exhibit. Wandering around a giant museum without a plan or purpose is nice, but doesn’t bring you any closer to understanding art. Check list of all the museum in your state here.
Download an audio guide beforehand, if it’s available in your place of choice. Again, it will help you remember why you’re here.
Take notes and re-work them into a diary entry at home in order to preserve your memories. For inspiration, take a look at some museum trip reports available online.
Don’t get too stoned. Moderation is the key.