Critical listening and altered states

Decades ago I took some sort of acid and thought my friends car stereo was the best I had ever heard.  I believe mushrooms had a similar effect on me.  The interesting thing is that both increase ones sensitivity to seratonin, which is similar to staying up a long time with no sleep, but seratonin also builds up the longer one is awake, so perhaps that’s why those late night listening sessions sound so good- as well as quieter electric grid.  

daj makes a point.
When I was between 18 and 22, I used cannabis on a regular basis and found that when listening to music, it turned down the "noise" in my head as well as peripheral thoughts and allowed me to connect with the music deeply much more easily, with a relaxed concentration. I then used it  only on rare occasions up until I was around 40, noting the same effects. 
In the end, I decided to stop using it altogether because I hated the unpleasant side effects and found that for me, it just wasn't worth it in total. 
Thinking now of some of the unpleasant parts of using it, I recall being very surprised in recent years when I heard that people were using it for pain relief. It always had the opposite effect on me. Any small ache or pain that I had seemed greatly amplified after smoking.
Everyone's different. For me, it just got played out over time. I know people my age who still smoke every day.

I find THC to give a hyper sharp focus. It can also turn on the the illuminated, 3 dimensional inner landscape of visuals, sound, emotions and an ineffable blend of them all, that I would bet many a person doesn't even suspect is there to be experienced. (won't even go into what other substances have to offer) Show me a person with a fearful, negative attitude toward the use of mind altering substances and the exploration they make possible, and I will show you someone who is most likely locked into the consensual dream state of life as the character they learned to be. There is nothing beyond these confines for them. Bless their hearts.

Let me guess, you were high when you wrote this?

I rest my case.

This whole question comes down to personal experience and preference.  There's no rigth or wrong, just a lot of opinions.  And like they say, opinions are like a**holes.  Everybody has one but people usually don't want to hear someone else's. 

@coys21

if you’re willing to share, would love to hear what your top 2-10 reference tracks are - digital/vinyl. Impressive regimen. And system!

i listen 30+ hours a week........for the last 20+ years. i’ve always enjoyed comparing formats......and gear investigations. and i have lots of media in discs, files , pressings, and reels of tape. so naturally i’ve always done plenty of comparing things and so that led to finding my most effective method over time. it was no accident or casually arrived at.

here is my system link;

https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/615

my pictures and gear list from that link is now a year or so old, so there are some additions not listed. a 4th tt, headphones and a headphone amp are not listed.

here are a few reference cuts i use;

digital;

https://boxset.me/anna-netrebko-sempre-libera-24-88-flac/

track 11, about 3:20 is a glass harmonica which will either be real or just a hint. it is very delicate, well defined and clear, sweet and soaring when it’s done right. can be smeared and indistinct on some gear. no place to hide and separates the real from the pretenders. i own the 16/44, the dsd file, SACD and the 24/88 file. the 24/88 (the source resolution from the recording) is much better than the others. her voice is divine.

i have a 24/352 dxd file of Aerosmith’s "Sweet Emotion" which is direct transfer from the master tape. the beginning of this song is a holographic spectacular. and this file is a revelation......and so far is typically the best digital i or anyone i’ve played it for has heard. again; it demands everything from my system spatially and dynamically, and reveals any shortfalls. and when i’ve improved my digital this cut has really shown that. i doubt this file can be found commercially.

i will try and list some others when i have time.

if you are ever in the Seattle area you would be very welcome to visit and i will play a number of my reference test cuts for you.