Springer, Psychopharmacology, 6(232), p. 1123-1134, 2014
DOI: 10.1007/s00213-014-3749-1
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Rationale Cannabis users often claim that cannabis has the potential to enhance their creativity. Research suggests that aspects of creative performance might be improved when intoxicated with cannabis; however, the evidence is not conclusive. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effects of cannabis on creativity. Methods We examined the effects of administering a low (5.5 mg delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol [THC]) or high (22 mg THC) dose of vaporized cannabis vs. placebo on creativity tasks tapping into divergent (Alternate Uses Task) and convergent (Remote Associates Task) thinking, in a pop-ulation of regular cannabis users. The study used a random-ized, double-blind, between-groups design. Results Participants in the high-dose group (n=18) displayed significantly worse performance on the divergent thinking task, compared to individuals in both the low-dose (n=18) and placebo (n=18) groups. Conclusions The findings suggest that cannabis with low potency does not have any impact on creativity, while highly potent cannabis actually impairs divergent thinking.