Why weed makes you laugh

Do you recognize this situation? You and a good friend are enjoying a joint together. After a few hefty puffs, you look at him or her and burst out laughing! A spontaneous bout of laughter, also known as a laughing fit. You laugh about everything and nothing until your jaws hurt and tears start rolling down your cheeks.

In this Article

What is laughter, really?

Laughter is universal. All over the world, we're laughing our heads off. It is timeless, transcends cultures, and ages. Babies practice laughing in the womb and show their first unconscious wide smile after a few days. Often, people laugh when they find something funny, but it's much more than just a physical reaction. Laughter is actually a kind of miracle drug. It helps in building social relationships, reduces stress and negative feelings. According to various studies, it even has positive effects on your cardiovascular system [1].

Why does weed make you laugh?

Okay, all very interesting, but what does that have to do with weed? To explain this properly, first a bit about humor. We all laugh, but we definitely don't always share the same sense of humor. In your brain, the frontal and temporal lobes are responsible for determining what you find funny or not. When you laugh, endorphins, chemical substances, are released that give you a good feeling.

Laughter in the brain

When you smoke weed, the THC stimulates the CB1 receptors. These receptors are responsible for the release of various neurotransmitters, including dopamine and serotonin. Besides the increase of these brain chemicals, your environment also plays a significant role. Often you are already in a silly mood and it doesn't take much to bring on the laughter. Someone makes a funny slip of the tongue, starts laughing contagiously, or suddenly asks some bizarre questions and you're soon doubled over with laughter [2].

Which type of weed causes a laughing fit?

What is the best weed to get into a cheerful mood with a permanent grin on your face? Firstly, of course, there must be plenty of THC to get things started. On the street, it is often said that sativa strains provoke more of these effects, but that's not necessarily true. Both sativa and indica strains can cause a laughing fit. However, we recommend choosing a strain that contributes to a social mood and joyful effects. Use the filters in the overview. The real difference lies in the terpene profile of the weed strain. Limonene is most often credited as the most laughter-inducing terpene. The Haze family is usually rich in it, but here too there are more exceptions than rules. Some strains we recommend if you want to train your laughing muscles are:

Auto Amnesia Haze

Auto Amnesia Haze is the ideal strain for inducing a laughing fit. This delicious haze makes you talkative, goofy, and gives you just the kind of wacky energy that ends in uproarious laughter!

auto-amnesia-haze

OG Kush

OG Kush is a cannabis strain that not only makes you happy, but downright euphoric, with a THC content of up to 24%.

og-kush

Do si Dos

Do Si Dos is loaded with limonene, social effects, and a THC percentage of up to 30%! One of our strongest strains.

do-si-dos

Are there other drugs that cause laughter?

Indeed, psychedelic tryptamines in mushrooms, magic truffles and mescaline-containing cacti are partial serotonin agonists. These agonists affect the serotonin receptors with possible resulting feelings of happiness, intense euphoria, and laughter fits. However, it is not advisable to take these mind-expanding substances just for an evening of laughter, as the effects of these smart drugs are difficult to predict. Other emotions can also occupy you for hours.

Sources

  • [1] Miller, M., & Fry, W. F. (2009, November). The effect of mirthful laughter on the Human Cardiovascular System. Medical hypotheses. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2814549/?tool=pubmed 
  • [2] Lemon, R. (2023, May 23). 5 reasons why weed makes you laugh. Leafwell. https://leafwell.com/blog/why-does-weed-make-you-laugh