I’ve been learning about a lesser known psychedelic healing subtance – cannabis. Yes, you heard that right. Cannabis is a psychedelic! It can be a powerful tool for processing and releasing stored trauma and stress, leading to profound emotional and physical healing. The fact that cannabis is legal now in many places makes it even more accessible!

Before we get into how psychedelic cannabis works, let's explore how trauma manifests in the body.

The Body Remembers

Trauma's impact goes far beyond the mind. As Bessel van der Kolk emphasizes, traumatic experiences aren't just lodged in our memories; they also lodge themselves physically. When we experience trauma, our bodies may respond with pain, tension, or other symptoms – a coping mechanism for overwhelming stress. This phenomenon, known as "somatic memory," traps the emotional energy associated with the trauma within our bodies.

In a similar vein, Peter Levine, a pioneer in trauma therapy, explains that unresolved trauma can become "stuck" in the body, leading to various physical and psychological issues. His work highlights how these traumas disrupt the normal functioning of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which regulates our stress response. When we can't discharge the energy from trauma, it can manifest as chronic conditions like anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

Gabor Maté builds on both of these ideas. His theory of trauma emphasizes that trauma is not merely the events that occur to individuals but rather the internal wounds that result from those experiences. He distinguishes between "big-T" trauma, such as severe abuse, and "small-t" trauma, which encompasses everyday stressors and unmet emotional needs. This broader definition allows for a more inclusive understanding of how trauma affects individuals, suggesting that everyone carries some form of unresolved pain.

Maté argues that trauma contributes to various physical and mental health issues, including addiction and chronic illnesses. He posits that unresolved trauma leads to disconnection from oneself and others, fostering feelings of shame and alienation. This disconnection can manifest as a range of psychological and physical ailments, highlighting the deep mind-body connection inherent in his approach.

I’m a bit fan of Maté. He advocates for a trauma-informed perspective to healing that prioritizes understanding over judgment. He also believes that psychedelic therapies can play a significant role in this healing process by facilitating deeper self-awareness and emotional release. Psychedelics may help individuals reconnect with their authentic selves, allowing them to process and integrate traumatic experiences in a safe environment. By fostering agency and presence, these substances can support transformative healing journeys, ultimately leading to personal growth and improved wellbeing. Maté's work calls for a societal shift towards compassion and understanding, emphasizing the importance of addressing trauma at both individual and collective levels.

Ok, so how does cannabis help us deal with trauma?

While cannabis assisted healing is still an individual perspective, it has some benefits that other psychedelics might not.

Cannabis interacts with the body's endocannabinoid system, a network that plays a crucial role in regulating mood, pain perception, and stress response. By engaging with this system, cannabis can help us connect more deeply with our bodily sensations and emotions, paving the way for releasing stored tension.

Here's how:

Enhancing Somatic Awareness: Cannabis acts as a facilitator, amplifying bodily sensations and emotional experiences. This heightened awareness allows us to explore our physical states more fully. When combined with practices like breathwork or meditation, cannabis creates an environment conducive to deep healing. As we become more attuned to our bodies, we may experience involuntary movements – shaking or crying – that help discharge pent-up energy associated with trauma.
Modulating the Autonomic Nervous System: The ANS has two branches: the "fight or flight" sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the "rest and digest" parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). Cannabis influences both. While THC may activate some SNS responses, it also promotes PNS engagement, resulting in relaxation and emotional regulation. This balance allows us to oscillate between heightened awareness and deep relaxation, creating a safe space for emotional processing.
Facilitating Emotional Release: One of cannabis' significant benefits is its ability to reduce anxiety and fear responses. This allows us to confront painful memories without feeling overwhelmed. As Peter Levine suggests, when we allow ourselves to fully feel our emotions rather than suppress them, we create opportunities for healing.
Promoting Fear Extinction: Research indicates that cannabis compounds can promote "fear extinction," helping us move past the emotional charge of traumatic memories. Studies with animals and humans suggest cannabinoids can help diminish the emotional weight of these experiences. This allows us to engage fully with the present, no longer haunted by the past.
Promoting Resilience: Cannabis can help develop resilience to chronic stress & trauma.

Ok, but that’s not the same as magic mushrooms, right? Cannabis isn’t a psychedelic.

We don’t ususally hear of cannabis as a psychedelic, let alone a classic psychedelic like psilocybin. However, there is quite a bit of data now showing that cannabis can be, with the right set and setting and blend of strains, a powerful psychedelic. Cannabis is an entheogen, capable of producing divine or mystical experiences. It's also an endelic, inducing interoception and somatic effects. And it's a plant-based empathogen, increasing connection, empathy, and openness. This experience offers a unique blend of effects that can be transformative for personal growth and healing.

The chart below shows that the experiences we usually associate with psychedelics like DMT and psilocybin can be achieved with cannabis. From the experience of oneness to visual hallucinations, psychedelic cannabis has it! We aren’t sure exactly how this works, but it seems like it could be a complex dance of cannabinoids that end up acting on the 5HT2A receptors in the brain, which are the same receptors thought to bring on the classic psychedelic experience of substances like LSD and psilocybin.

Now, psychedelic cannabis experiences differ significantly from traditional psychedelics. Unlike other psychedelics, which often induce a sense of losing control, cannabis allows users to consciously navigate & control their experiences. This heightened sense of agency, a big part of Maté's path of healing, can also facilitate post-session integration, making the therapeutic process more effective.

Here's a glimpse into the reported effects of psychedelic cannabis:

Accessibility: Users report that even intense experiences with cannabis feel less overwhelming, allowing for better engagement and exploration.
Control and Choice: Cannabis invites participants to explore deeper states at their own pace, enabling them to pause or adjust their experience as needed—something not typically possible with other psychedelics like DMT or psilocybin.
Duration and Flexibility: Cannabis sessions can be tailored for varying durations, typically lasting between one to three hours. This flexibility allows for therapeutic peaks comparable to those experienced with MDMA or psilocybin but with greater user control.
Post-Session Effects: After cannabis sessions, users commonly report improved sleep quality compared to other psychedelics, which can disrupt sleep patterns.
Increased Body Awareness: Users often experience heightened awareness of their physical bodies, leading to a form of synesthesia known as visual proprioception, where visual perception is integrated with bodily awareness.
Muscle Relaxation and Energy Movement: Deep muscle relaxation can trigger energetic discharges and facilitate trauma resolution. This process activates and clears meridian and chakra channels, promoting profound nervous system regulation.
Memory Exploration: Cannabis enhances the ability to navigate through memories, increasing awareness of mental habits, judgments, and anxieties. This can help resolve unhealthy thought processes.
Emotional Awareness: Users gain deeper insights into their emotional states, leading to emotional releases and healing.
Inner Visual Experiences: Cannabis can evoke vivid, dreamlike inner visuals, allowing for enhanced imagination and creativity.
Creative Problem-Solving: Users often report heightened creativity and improved problem-solving abilities, along with a stronger connection to their intuition.
Transpersonal Experiences: Some individuals may encounter transpersonal phenomena, such as visitations from spiritual entities or aspects of the self (e.g., ancestors or guides), facilitating profound spiritual experiences resembling unity consciousness.
Presence and Grounding: Unlike some psychedelics that induce dissociation, cannabis promotes a deep sense of presence and body awareness.

The combination of these characteristics and effects makes psychedelic cannabis a unique tool for personal exploration and healing. It offers many of the well-known benefits of classic psychedelics while providing greater control, embodiment, and positive post-session effects. This makes it a promising option for those seeking therapeutic experiences.

Speaking of which…

The Psychedelic Somatic Institute and the Center for Medicinal Mindfulness are leading the way in utilizing cannabis with somatics to heal and grow. Many who engage in cannabis-assisted somatic healing report experiencing a newfound sense of agency and control – a crucial aspect for those who have experienced trauma. This method not only promotes emotional release but also empowers us to reclaim our narratives, leading to lasting positive changes in mental and emotional wellbeing.

Here is a case excerpt from PSI:

As you can see, when using cannabis alongside somatic practices that focus on releasing stored tension – such as body movement or guided visualization – individuals can experience profound insights that contribute to holistic healing.

The Center for Medicinal Mindfulness also provides virtual cannabis healing circles. The unique properties of psychedelic cannabis allow for safe facilitation from a distance, which is another win for accessiblity!

The Power of Psychedelic Cannabis

The unique properties of psychedelic cannabis offer several advantages for those seeking therapeutic experiences:

Gentler Experience: Compared to other psychedelics, cannabis often provides a more manageable experience, but with all of the recognizable visuals and mystical experiences.
Greater Agency: Cannabis allows users to maintain a higher degree of control over their experience, which can be beneficial for individuals who have experienced trauma or loss of agency.
Online Facilitation: Virtual facilitation of cannabis assited healing is safe and effective, making these experiences accessible to a wider audience.
Holistic Approach: Combining cannabis with somatic practices can lead to a more integrated and comprehensive healing experience.

My final thoughts…

No matter how gentle psychedelic cannabis is, creating a safe and supportive environment is still important. Like any psychedelic, set and setting are just as important, if not more so, than the substance.

If you're seeking a gentler psychedelic that doesn't require a full-day commitment, offers more control, and is legal in many jurisdictions, psychedelic cannabis might be worth a look! Whether you're new to cannabis or a seasoned user, this plant medicine might be able to aid your healing journey. And, when we add in somatic awareness alongside cannabis use, it can be a profound pathway for self-discovery and transformation.

Sources:

https://drgabormate.com/the-wisdom-of-trauma/
https://www.somaticexperiencing.com/se-research
https://www.psychedelicsomatic.org/resources
https://www.endocannabinoidmedicine.com/features/serotonin-where-psychedelics-and-cannabinoids-meet-for-depression-and-ptsd/#:~:text=Activating%20the%205%2DHT2A%20receptor,via%20the%20release%20of%20endocannabinoids.&text=Tetrahydrocannabinol%20(THC)%20and%20cannabidiol%20(,cannabinoids%20from%20the%20cannabis%20plant.
McQueen, D. (2021). Psychedelic Cannabis. Simon and Schuster.
van der Kolk, B. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Penguin Books.

Elizabeth Shuler • Coach

Psychedelic Cannabis: Healing the Body