The benefits of intention-driven cannabis
It happens all the time; you get in your car and drive to a familiar destination, but not where you actually need to go. Similarly, this happens with cannabis; a person sometimes consumes it automatically, without paying attention, and arrives at some random place that isn’t what the person wanted in the first place.
This effect is very natural. As described by Daniel Kahneman in his book Thinking Fast and Slow, “System 1” is the automatic or habitual mode of the human-animal. This system takes very little effort but may lead the person to unexpected zones. Sometimes, however, not paying attention could be crucial, as a person should probably not be painstakingly analyzing the movements of a tiger as it runs across to make its kill.
On the other hand, “System 2” is the slower but more calculated mode of the personality and is a lot more expensive for the brain. Using this system in the right places is also vital, such as in solving a complex problem, setting major goals, etc. Cannabis only looks simple.
Two things determine the effect of cannabis
When discussing the impact of powerful substances, “set” and “setting” are major factors that bring about the total experience. “Setting” encompasses all external factors such as the total physical and social environment in which the person finds themself, when and what the person ate last, the quality of their sleep the previous night, whether the environment is indoors or outdoors, their current level of ease and comfort, their current social interactions, do they feel safe? loved? etc. All of these only regulate half of the effect.
The other half is where “System 2” kicks in: “Set” a person’s conscious attention to choose their own experience, to know what they want, and preferably also to know why you want it.
Navigating with cannabis
By using “System 2”, cannabis can become a tool, or more accurately, a utility that potentially provides, at different times, the exact effect needed to enhance that moment.
For example, if you're angry after a rough encounter with whomever it might be, the appropriate thing will be to calm down, take some of that edge off, and allow yourself to reenter the situation with your balanced side and fewer hard feelings.
Cannabis is a potent psychoactive and using it with simple automatic impulses usually limits the tremendous advantages this plant has to offer. In other words: when navigating the mind, it is particularly worthwhile to be mindful of the steps one takes to achieve a state of mind or feeling.
Just like with many other destination-oriented tasks, navigational assistance comes best in the form of intelligent software. For choosing an experience, we designed the app that asks you what you’re trying to achieve and reminds you of the setting you are in thus helping you to bypass “System 1", as well as giving you a clearer picture of your own set and activating system 2, This clearer picture is called mindfulness.