Who Are The Cannagamers?

Gaming and cannabis are two words that go together pretty well. One’s thoughts can instantly return to carefree days of playing video games with friends in smoke-filled rooms. Or, perhaps this is something you still do. If so, you're not alone! A sector of the cannabis community known as “cannagamers” carries the torch for blazing while playing some of their favourite video games. From the living room to esports arenas, read on to find out all you need to know about cannagamers.

Cannagamers: Who are they?

It's thought that there are over 3 billion gamers in the world. Now, this varies from die-hard PC gaming enthusiasts to casual mobile gamers; the spectrum is broad and includes practically all age groups, genders, and races. Simply put, gaming has never been more popular, and the industry is worth well over $249.6 billion globally. When you consider that the music and film industries are worth around $31.2 billion and $93 billion respectively, there's significant money to be made here.

And while many individuals enjoy playing their games without herbal inspiration, others look to heighten the experience by consuming cannabis. These cannagamers, composed mainly of Gen Z and Millennials (but not exclusively), believe weed to be the perfect accompaniment for the immersive world of gaming.

Combining weed and gaming

You might wonder if using cannabis while gaming could be a detriment to concentration—which can sometimes be the case—but it can also offer a host of benefits that allow gamers to unwind, boost their creativity, enhance social connections, and potentially even increase focus instead of decreasing it.

In a casual gaming setting, such as at home or with friends, including weed in your proceedings often makes for a fun, lighthearted experience. Keeping it light is definitely the way to go for the casual cannagamer; you don't want to get into stressful, overly competitive games that could spoil the mood.

Now, pairing weed with more intense gaming ventures, like esports competitions (more on this below), can bring into play certain variables that might throw individuals off their game.

Does being high help with video games?

We'd be lying if we said that a couple of hits from a bong will make you the best gamer of all time, but it's not hard to see why it might be a draw for some gamers. Of course, there are plenty of factors to consider here. The type of strain you choose and your tolerance, for example, will both play considerable roles in your gaming performance.

As mentioned, if you're keeping things light with your gaming and socialising with friends (either in person or online), you'll find that cannabis can help you to relax and enjoy the moment. A game that is creative and with no strict story, such as Minecraft, would make for an enjoyable time with friends.

But manage your expectations. If you think that smoking a ton of weed and then hitting up the ranked League of Legends servers is a recipe for a platinum rank, you might find yourself a little disappointed to see how much you've dropped when you next log in. We're speaking in broad terms here, but you get the picture. If you have too much cannabis or a strain that's too potent, it might just hinder your performance rather than enhance it.

Esports and cannabis

While cannabis will always have a place for the casual gamer, did you know that it's becoming much more of a presence within the esports gaming community? In fact, co-founder of the professional esport team FaZe Clan, Nordan Shat (known as FaZe Rain) partnered with California-based business The Parent Company back in 2022 to launch the cannabis brand RCVRY, aimed directly at gamers.

RCVRY's initial releases included an exclusive strain known as “Rainz Runtz”, which was available in limited quantities throughout dispensaries in America. They have since gone on to create gummies as well as THCA & THCP syrups. Nordan Shat believes in the possible benefits that cannabis has had on his nerve damage and wants to build a cannabis wellness brand that speaks to gamers.

When it comes to competitive gaming, such as esports tournaments, you might be surprised to learn that some competitions have strict anti-doping rules, much like you'd find with regular sports. While these rules will vary from competition to competition, higher-profile events such as Counter-Strike tournaments strictly prohibit the use of drugs such as Adderall (dextroamphetamine) due to its ability to increase focus, reflexes, and reaction time, although this is hotly disputed.

However, when it comes to cannabis, there are no regulations regarding its usage. That's not to say you could light up a joint on stage while playing, but it's unlikely you'd be asked to carry out a drug test. But as mentioned, tolerance and strain type play a significant role, as those taking part in esports competitions might not want to run the risk of being impaired. But that's not to say that there aren’t any potential benefits to using cannabis before a tournament—it all comes down to the dose, the strain, and the individual.

A new generation of cannagaming

The union of cannabis and gaming is one that's longstanding and doesn't look like it’s coming to an end any time soon. Whether you're at home solo gaming and smoking, kicking back with friends, or about to step out into an arena full of esports fans, there's truly something for everyone when it comes to this pairing. However, this relationship can be complex, with many factors that can contribute to the experience.

Luckily, you don’t have to look hard to find plenty of anecdotal evidence on Reddit to suggest that cannabis can improve a gamer's performance. But with no formal studies, it's difficult to determine its efficacy in this regard. Still, that doesn't mean you can't just enjoy the surface level experience and relax while gaming after a long day. It sounds like the perfect partnership to us!

In the meantime, if you're looking to enjoy cannabis with your games, head to the Zamnesia store and get your pick of the finest strains and cannabis products around.

Adam Parsons

Professional cannabis journalist, copywriter, and author Adam Parsons is a long-time staff member of Zamnesia. Tasked with covering a wide range of topics from CBD to psychedelics and everything in between, Adam creates blog posts, guides, and explores an ever-growing range of products.

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