Mary Jane has been a muse to a whole slew of creative geniuses – from Paul McCartney admitting “Got to Get You Into My Life” was written about weed rather than a woman, to Seth Rogen saying he smokes during script writing, to Steve Jobs claiming that hashish made him feel more “relaxed and creative” in the ’70s. While Cannabis has had a reputation for being a creative juicer amongst musicians, artists and inventors since basically the beginning of time, modern professionals in a variety of roles and industries are now using weed to get through the everyday workday.
Move on over, software platforms and high-tech devices – ganja is the latest gadget to hit the workplace. This mainstream movement of working with weed can be attributed to changes in both how we work and how Cannabis is perceived. The physical office went digital and this shift to remote work also shifted our mindsets about work/life balance, giving us more flexibility and freedom throughout our workdays. Paired with the fact that nearly half of Americans now live in a state where Cannabis is legal in some capacity, more people than ever are exploring its relationship to their careers.
Whether you’re trying to bust through a case of writer’s block, come up with an attention-grabbing marketing campaign, or find an out-of-the-box solution to an old problem, getting a little stoned has been known to help get the ideas flowing. But, can Cannabis actually boost your creativity? Well, research shows that employees who take frequent breaks are consistently more productive than those who don’t. This is because the human brain works in bursts of high activity before switching to low activity to rest and recoup for a while. This is when it’s the best time to take a break and toke up … but it’s important to be strategic about which strain you’re choosing.
The unique terpenoids, terpenes and cannabinoids in Cannabis genetics impact how they will taste, smell and make us feel. Strains with bright, uplifting aromas such as lemon or mint have energizing effects that can help refresh the brain in between tasks on your to-do list. On the flip side, smoking a strain that is heavy and gassy on the nose will likely have you dozing off during your next meeting.
We sat down with the “Beerded Krakin,” co-founder of Krakin Seeds and partner at the legendary Washington brand PNW Roots, to get more insight into how particular Cannabis genetics can be used throughout the workday to give your brain a boost. “I smoke morning, noon and night,” he tells us. “On the farm, we work for about two or three hours, then will take a smoke break. That’s definitely part of my regimen.”
When asked if there are any particular genetic profiles or traits of certain Cannabis strains that lend themselves to creativity, he had this to say:
“You don’t want anything too heavy, so something on the fruit side, say with a tangerine, lemon or blueberry flavor profile. That has always helped me with my creative juices, whether it’s work or play. Our Tangelo Sno (Tangerine Power x Sno Cap) is my go-to strain in the morning. It’s got this great haziness and strong citrus flavor, which really wakes me up and is perfect for getting the workday going.”
There’s another hazy hitter in the Beerded Krakin’s creative lineup that their team has been smoking a lot of lately: Ghost Train Haze.
“It really keeps everyone awake and not burned out at all,” he explains. “So I would say that’s my number one pick right now for getting the creative juices flowing versus a more couchlock effect. I would definitely go for anything on the Haze route if I was looking for motivation or creativity.”
