Virtual Reality and Legal Cannabis: A New High-Tech Experience
Not long ago, the legalization of marijuana and the invention of virtual reality technology seemed like distant dreams. Yet, here we are, living in a time when the average person can access both—at least in the United States. Unsurprisingly, people with access to virtual reality have tried it while using cannabis. Now, they’re telling the world that this age-old psychoactive plant perfectly complements the virtual reality experience, helping users adapt more quickly to simulated environments.
Seven Gray, founder of the entertainment company Seven Ghosts and co-owner of the cannabis brand JADE, has spent the past three years testing the combination of virtual reality and cannabis. For some time now, Mr. Gray has operated a small virtual gaming gallery in downtown Los Angeles. This venture, known as “Little Amsterdam,” is a kind of mobile social club with music, a bar, and a buffet, in addition to the gaming gallery. The club moves to different neighborhoods each month. For the upcoming New Year, similar cannabis-friendly social clubs will pop up in several parts of the city, offering visitors the chance to experience virtual reality while under the influence of marijuana.
When it comes to using virtual simulations while high, it turns out that people generally have an easier time immersing themselves in games with the help of cannabis. Gray claims that cannabis allows players to enter simulations feeling relaxed and open to new experiences, making it easier to get comfortable with the technology.
“I love watching people try virtual reality for the first time after a good smoke,” says Gray. “I’ve played while high myself, and nothing compares to that first dive into VR with cannabis. The psychoactive effects make the simulation more vivid and realistic, helping players adapt to the virtual environment more quickly.”
Gray also notes that cannabis seems to make players react faster to in-game stimuli, even if it’s their first time trying a simulation.
Special Strains for Virtual Reality
Gray’s company has even developed its own exclusive cannabis strain called VR OG. As you might expect, this strain is designed to provide a balanced psychoactive effect for use with virtual simulations. Specifically, it’s a 50/50 sativa-indica hybrid that delivers a stimulating effect without causing nervousness or paranoia, even at higher doses. According to Gray, the buds have a light, calming pine aroma with noticeable sweet notes, which also helps users relax before gaming.
“I think our strain is the only VR-themed brand on the market. I’ve tried it myself and can say it really enhances the virtual reality experience,” Gray tells reporters. “As for the idea of combining legal cannabis and VR technology, I’d say it’s a natural evolution of both concepts in public consciousness over the past two or three years.”
What Games Are Most Popular?
Gray’s gallery offers a variety of games in different styles. He notes that few visitors choose first-person shooters where you have to fight off hordes of monsters or zombies. Instead, visual and musical simulations—like virtual tours of scenic natural locations—are the most popular. Gray’s company has also developed a new escape room-style quest game for VR consoles called Reverb.
“Overall, people under the influence of cannabis prefer less action-packed games,” Gray says. “But surprisingly, many really enjoy interactive quests. It’s funny, but with marijuana, people figure out the rules and functions of the simulation faster than when sober. They’re less afraid to experiment and immerse themselves in the game world, which helps them solve challenges more quickly and successfully.”
Other Cannabis and VR Events
Another escape room quest, called Confused, was introduced at a different mobile cannabis club, Virtual Reality Elevated, organized by Grassfed. I had the chance to attend one of these events and try the simulation after sampling some of the offered strains. To my surprise, I managed to escape the virtual room in the allotted seven minutes on my first try. Although I initially struggled with the controls, I quickly realized that to pick up objects in the game, you actually need to bend down or squat in real life. Other guests tried games like Tilt Brush, a drawing simulator, or the horror shooter The Brookhaven Experiment. Guests frequently visited the buffet, where, in addition to flower and concentrates from Bloomfield, you could enjoy cannabis-infused desserts like delicious baked pistachio ice cream and chocolate cookies.
Grassfed was founded in 2016 by entrepreneur Dan Braunstein. The company now produces various cannabis-themed public events, including comedy shows and cabarets, and has recently found a new niche in organizing mobile social clubs with VR galleries. Tomer Grassiani, a cannabis activist and founder of the cannabis restaurant Art of Edibles in Culver City, sponsored one of Grassfed’s events last May. “Both cannabis legalization and the adaptation of virtual reality for the mass market are hot topics right now. Since these concepts are about to become real factors in the lives of millions, it’s no surprise they’re being combined to create a truly unique consumer experience,” he says. “Responsible use of the plant heightens the senses and mind, and stimulates creativity. It’s no wonder that a plant with these properties turns a VR introduction from a curiosity into a truly vivid and unforgettable adventure.”
Expert Opinions
Mike Guerrero, director of the Portal Zone VR arcade, which provides VR systems for Grassfed events, fully agrees with Grassiani. Using casual games like Tilt Brush as an example, he observes that people are more active and energetic in learning new technologies when using cannabis. In his opinion, cannabis also helps people let go of nervousness when diving into a game.
“Cannabis definitely helps people drop their fears and inhibitions before playing,” Guerrero notes. “I often see people who are simply afraid of the simulation until they smoke. After a couple of hits, they’re always filled with enthusiasm and curiosity.”
Personal Experience with VR and Cannabis
After checking out the clubs and arcades, I decided to personally experiment with using VR while high. Using Google’s DayDream View headset and a couple grams of the sativa hybrid Sour Piña, I tried out Relic Seeker (another escape room) and Twilight Pioneers (an action-adventure game). Cannabis noticeably made it easier to immerse myself in the game: I was often completely inside the simulation, no longer aware of my real-world surroundings. I was also able to react quickly and naturally to visual and audio effects in the game. While I didn’t experience motion sickness or nausea in VR, a friend told me that cannabis helps her get rid of those symptoms, as well as eye fatigue during long VR Skyrim sessions.
Beyond Gaming: Other VR Experiences
Don’t forget about non-gaming VR programs, like Relax VR, which offers relaxing simulations to help with stress and insomnia. There are also themed apps, such as a virtual tour of a commercial cannabis plantation developed by Dawg Star Cannabis.
Author: Juliet Bennett Ryla