Elevated Impressions: Self-Reported Lasting Effects of Cannabis-Induced Psychedelic Experiences (CIPEs)
(2025) PSPR14 20252Department of Psychology
- Abstract
- Cannabis is among the most widely used psychoactive substances worldwide and has a long history of ceremonial use as plant medicine across cultures. Recent research indicates that cannabis can, under som circumstances, induce psychedelic states similar to those mediating the therapeutic effects of classical psychedelics. This raises questions about the lasting psychological impact and psychotherapeutic potential of cannabis‑induced psychedelic experiences (CIPEs). We conducted an online retrospective survey of experienced cannabis users, asking about their most significant CIPE and its psychological consequences. Participants frequently described CIPEs as meaningful and beneficial, and the intensity of the acute experience—measured with... (More)
- Cannabis is among the most widely used psychoactive substances worldwide and has a long history of ceremonial use as plant medicine across cultures. Recent research indicates that cannabis can, under som circumstances, induce psychedelic states similar to those mediating the therapeutic effects of classical psychedelics. This raises questions about the lasting psychological impact and psychotherapeutic potential of cannabis‑induced psychedelic experiences (CIPEs). We conducted an online retrospective survey of experienced cannabis users, asking about their most significant CIPE and its psychological consequences. Participants frequently described CIPEs as meaningful and beneficial, and the intensity of the acute experience—measured with validated psychedelic instruments—was strongly correlated with positive outcomes (r = .62). Almost one fourth of participants ranked their CIPE as one of the 10 most meaningful experiences in their lives. Despite methodological limitations and biases inherent in retrospective reports, the findings suggest that CIPEs under certain conditions may have psychotherapeutic effects, underscoring the need for further experimental research. (Less)
- Abstract (Swedish)
- Cannabis är en av de mest använda psykoaktiva substanserna i världen och har en
lång historia av ceremoniellt bruk som växtmedicin i olika kulturer. På senare år har
forskning visat att cannabis kan framkalla psykedeliska tillstånd liknande sådana som
medierar den terapeutiska effekterna hos klassiska psykedeliska substanser såsom
psilocybin, LSD och ayahuasca. Detta väcker frågor om de långsiktiga psykologiska
effekterna och den psykoterapeutiska potentialen av cannabis-inducerade
psykedeliska upplevelser (CIPEs, engelsk förkortning). Vi genomförde en
retrospektiv enkätundersökning med erfarna cannabisanvändare där deltagarna fick
beskriva sin mest betydelsefulla CIPE och dess psykologiska konsekvenser.
Upplevelserna bedömdes... (More) - Cannabis är en av de mest använda psykoaktiva substanserna i världen och har en
lång historia av ceremoniellt bruk som växtmedicin i olika kulturer. På senare år har
forskning visat att cannabis kan framkalla psykedeliska tillstånd liknande sådana som
medierar den terapeutiska effekterna hos klassiska psykedeliska substanser såsom
psilocybin, LSD och ayahuasca. Detta väcker frågor om de långsiktiga psykologiska
effekterna och den psykoterapeutiska potentialen av cannabis-inducerade
psykedeliska upplevelser (CIPEs, engelsk förkortning). Vi genomförde en
retrospektiv enkätundersökning med erfarna cannabisanvändare där deltagarna fick
beskriva sin mest betydelsefulla CIPE och dess psykologiska konsekvenser.
Upplevelserna bedömdes ofta som meningsfulla och psykologiskt gynnsamma, och
intensiteten i den akuta upplevelsen—mätt med validerade psykedeliska instrument—
korrelerade starkt med positiva utfall (r = .62). Nästan en fjärdedel av deltagarna
beskrev upplevelsen som en av de 10 mest meningsfulla i deras liv. Trots
metodologiska begränsningar och bias kopplade till retrospektiva självrapporter
indikerar resultaten att CIPE under vissa förhållanden eventuellt kan ha
psykoterapeutiska effekter, vilket understryker behovet av mer experimentell
forskning. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9216477
- author
- Jensen Sondén, Oskar LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- PSPR14 20252
- year
- 2025
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- cannabis, psychedelics, cannabis-induced psychedelic experiences, well-being, psykedelika, cannabis-inducerade psykedeliska upplevelser, välbefinnande
- language
- English
- id
- 9216477
- date added to LUP
- 2026-01-15 15:53:19
- date last changed
- 2026-01-15 15:53:19
@misc{9216477,
abstract = {{Cannabis is among the most widely used psychoactive substances worldwide and has a long history of ceremonial use as plant medicine across cultures. Recent research indicates that cannabis can, under som circumstances, induce psychedelic states similar to those mediating the therapeutic effects of classical psychedelics. This raises questions about the lasting psychological impact and psychotherapeutic potential of cannabis‑induced psychedelic experiences (CIPEs). We conducted an online retrospective survey of experienced cannabis users, asking about their most significant CIPE and its psychological consequences. Participants frequently described CIPEs as meaningful and beneficial, and the intensity of the acute experience—measured with validated psychedelic instruments—was strongly correlated with positive outcomes (r = .62). Almost one fourth of participants ranked their CIPE as one of the 10 most meaningful experiences in their lives. Despite methodological limitations and biases inherent in retrospective reports, the findings suggest that CIPEs under certain conditions may have psychotherapeutic effects, underscoring the need for further experimental research.}},
author = {{Jensen Sondén, Oskar}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Elevated Impressions: Self-Reported Lasting Effects of Cannabis-Induced Psychedelic Experiences (CIPEs)}},
year = {{2025}},
}