Tripped Up

Think the use of marijuana is a phenomenon of the last century? Think again. From the cultivation of the plant in ancient China to the discovery of a 3,000-year-old Egyptian mummy with traces of THC, psychedelic drugs have a long history of experimentation dating much further back than the 1970s. But what is it about these drugs that sparks such a timeless interest? How do different psychedelic drugs affect the senses for better or for worse?

Marijuana

Although the taste buds aren’t directly affected, molecules called endocannabinoids trigger what we know as “the munchies,” or the ability to finish an entire package of Double Stuf  Oreos  by yourself.

Usually, the pupils are dilated and peripheral vision is distorted.

Tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly known as THC, blocks neurotransmitters in the brain from functioning properly. That means information from the senses, such as what you see or smell, is delivered to the brain differently. Concentration, memory, and motor skills are just a few things that are affected.

Personal Health Coordinator and IU professor Kathy Finley says chronic use of marijuana can be particularly negative, even decreasing IQ by eight points for adolescent users.

Severe abuse of marijuana can also downplay the effects of other pleasures when the user is sober.

“They need something else to replenish that surge of euphoria,” Finley says. “You’re not going to feel happy enough with food or sex like normal people. You’ll need something more.”

Mushrooms

Psychedelic mushrooms, also known as psilocybin, typically affect the user for about five hours. One generally feels like the experience lasted much longer.

Mushrooms affect the central nervous system, or the brain and spinal cord, which is why users often feel like they are able to explore different parts of their consciousness. However, bad trips on mushrooms do happen and are usually triggered by unfamiliar surroundings or a poor emotional state.

Although vision isn’t directly affected, the perception of colors, surfaces, details, and patterns can be exaggerated or enhanced.

Users also report feeling light and tingly when under the influence of the magic fungus.

LSD

LSD, also known as acid, California Sunshine, Electric Kool-Aid, or blotter, exhibits as many effects on the senses as the seemingly infinite number of eclectic nicknames it has received.

Consistent LSD users rarely have the same experiences as one another, which makes it difficult to narrow down any definitive symptoms that result from using the drug.

Typically, LSD can play tricks on the senses and cause users to taste, see, or hear something that doesn’t exist in reality.
 
LSD can also trigger a user’s synesthesia, or the connection between two senses. For example: seeing sourness or hearing blue.