[troutman]

Why does music sound good when you're high?

https://www.cbc.ca/music/read/why-do...zPqJhJEhnwq4UE

The brain's response to cannabis is equally widespread. Zachary Walsh, a psychologist at the University of British Columbia, explains that cannabinoid receptors are among the most prominent receptors in the central nervous system. Known as "CB1" receptors, they become hyperactive under the influence of cannabis, influencing mood, appetite and sensation.

The relationship between music and cannabis becomes more intertwined when we consider that both activate the pleasure and reward systems in the brain. Cannabis with higher levels of cannabidiol (better known as CBD — a compound that has medical benefits, but isn't solely responsible for the "high") than tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, the psychoactive component) is reported to increase the release of dopamine. In such strains, the amplified activity in the reward system can psychologically condition the user to correlate cannabis with a more positive listening experience. With music and cannabis simultaneously triggering the mesolimbic dopamine system, the brain is chemically reinforcing two extremely gratifying behaviours — and coupling them over time.

It's no stoned delusion to think that time moves a little slower under the influence, either. Cannabis enters the listener into a state of mind that distorts how they perceive the passage of time, and their ability to follow a beat changes how that musical composition comes together.