Reddit Study: Impact of Being High vs. Sober on r/Trees Posts

Study on Cannabis Reddit Posts and Subjective Highness

New York, NY — A recent study published in the journal PLOS One has provided new insights into how the context and content of marijuana-related posts on Reddit influence users’ subjective experiences of highness. By analyzing posts from the popular marijuana-focused Reddit community, r/trees, researchers discovered notable correlations between the type of content shared and users’ reported levels of highness.

Research Findings

The study, focusing on posts from r/trees, found that discussions about in-person social settings were linked to higher subjective feelings of being high compared to posts about online social environments or positive affect psychological states. This suggests that the environment and context in which cannabis is consumed play a significant role in users’ subjective experiences.

Methodology

Researchers examined hundreds of thousands of Reddit posts spanning from 2010 to 2018, focusing on those where users included bracketed numbers indicating their level of highness, ranging from 0 (sober) to 10 (in space). This self-reporting convention allowed the research team to analyze how different contexts influenced users’ perceptions of their highness. By analyzing 328,865 posts, the study provided a comprehensive overview of how various factors impact the subjective experience of cannabis use.

Insights from the Study

The research aimed to explore the relationship between subjective highness ratings and the textual content of posts in r/trees. The findings suggest that the set (internal beliefs, expectations, intentions) and setting (social, material, cultural environments) significantly influence users’ experiences with cannabis. Posts describing in-person social interactions were more frequently associated with higher highness ratings, indicating that the social context in which cannabis is consumed can enhance the subjective feeling of being high.

This study contributes to a deeper understanding of how set and setting affect the subjective experiences of cannabis users, both within academic discourse and among communities like r/trees. It underscores the critical role of context in shaping perceptions of highness, highlighting the importance of environment and social interactions in cannabis consumption experiences. These findings can inform both clinical approaches to cannabis use and recreational users’ understanding of how their surroundings may influence their experiences.