Cannabis & Forgetfulness: How to Improve Memory When Using Cannabis

While forgetting half the sh*t going on is considered an inevitable aspect of being baked all the time, I, a state-licensed stoner, am here to tell you that that’s not entirely the case. Cannabis is certainly known to impair short-term memory, but there are a few creative tricks I’ve learned to help mitigate and avoid this issue altogether. These tips are great for recreational users, but they can be even more important for medical users, who need to continually dose THC despite having some negative side effects such as memory impairment.

The de-stupify checklist:

1) Moderate your intake. I know this is not what anyone (including myself) wants to hear, but, the ability for the other tips in this checklist to work depends on you not being utterly wrecked to begin with. Also, by using only the amount needed to get sufficiently stoned (and no more) you avoid over-saturating cannabinoid receptors, which will improve your ability to get baked again in the near future. If you’re a heavy recreational user, this is a great way to improve your ECS (endocannabinoid system) tone.

2) Combine with CBD. According to some preliminary research, it seems that CBD can help to lessen some of the psychoactivity and other side effects of THC. CBD also has neuroprotective benefits and a calming quality for many people. (Curran, 2020).

3) Green tea. The anxiety that accompanies being super high can cause some forgetfulness as well. CBD is helpful for this, but so is green tea. This is because of a specific amino acid found in green tea called l-theanine. L-theanine exhibits unique actions in the central nervous system, where it works to quell anxiety. (Kimura, 2007). This is especially important if the memory impairment is exacerbated by feeling “overwhelmed” by THC. L-theanine is also available in supplement form, including rapid onset lozenges, for those who dislike green tea. 

4) Adaptogens. If you’re unfamiliar with adaptogens, buckle up. Adaptogens are powerful natural agents that lessen stress-response, while many also have antioxidant and neuroprotective qualities. Certain adaptogens, like lion’s mane mushroom, have demonstrated promising results in early research for improving memory and cognition for impaired memory in particular. (Mori, 2009). Rhodiola rosea is an adaptogenic root herb believed to help support memory and manage stress. (Li, 2017). Bacopa Monnieri is another herb that effectively improved the memory of medical students in a randomized placebo-controlled trial. (Kumar, 2016).

5) DHA and EPA. It’s worth considering supplementing DEA and EPA if you use cannabis regularly. These polyunsaturated fatty acids are the precursors to endocannabinoids and are used to support cognitive health when taken as a supplement. For these reasons, it’s believed that supplementing DHA and EPA can improve ECS tone, which is especially crucial for medical cannabis users and chronic recreational users. 

While this list is certainly not exhaustive, it should hopefully give you a few new ideas on how to be more functional while stoned. Also, let me know your favorite tips as well!

References

Curran, T., Devillez, H., YorkWilliams, S.L. et al. Acute effects of naturalistic THC vs. CBD use on recognition memory: a preliminary study. J Cannabis Res 2, 28 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-020-00034-0

Freitas HR, Isaac AR, Malcher-Lopes R, Diaz BL, Trevenzoli IH, De Melo Reis RA. Polyunsaturated fatty acids and endocannabinoids in health and disease. Nutr Neurosci. 2018 Dec;21(10):695-714. doi: 10.1080/1028415X.2017.1347373. Epub 2017 Jul 7. PMID: 28686542.

Kimura K, Ozeki M, Juneja LR, Ohira H. L-Theanine reduces psychological and physiological stress responses. Biol Psychol. 2007 Jan;74(1):39-45. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2006.06.006. Epub 2006 Aug 22. PMID: 16930802.

Kumar N, Abichandani LG, Thawani V, Gharpure KJ, Naidu MU, Venkat Ramana G. Efficacy of Standardized Extract of Bacopa monnieri (Bacognize®) on Cognitive Functions of Medical Students: A Six-Week, Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2016;2016:4103423. doi: 10.1155/2016/4103423. Epub 2016 Oct 10. PMID: 27803728; PMCID: PMC5075615.

Li Y, Pham V, Bui M, Song L, Wu C, Walia A, Uchio E, Smith-Liu F, Zi X. Rhodiola rosea L.: an herb with anti-stress, anti-aging, and immunostimulating properties for cancer chemoprevention. Curr Pharmacol Rep. 2017 Dec;3(6):384-395. doi: 10.1007/s40495-017-0106-1. Epub 2017 Sep 14. PMID: 30393593; PMCID: PMC6208354.

Mori, K., Inatomi, S., Ouchi, K. Azumi, Y and Tuchida T. 2009. "Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double blinded, placebo controlled clinical trial." Phytother Res. 23:367-372.