It seems the world revolves around tech – but does a green plant make it easier for developers? In the high-stakes, high-concentration world of software development, focus is currency.  So is a dab for developers still a thing? A growing subset of programmers, cannabis has become an unlikely coding companion. A recent study posted to arXiv.org reveals that 18% of surveyed software developers use cannabis at least once a month to help them “get into a programming zone,” while 35% have tried it at some point while coding.

“It’s not about getting high—it’s about getting aligned,” says Mike, a full-stack engineer at a startup in Boulder, Colorado. He microdoses THC edibles during evening coding sessions. “I find that I’m better at thinking laterally. If I’m stuck on a function, cannabis sometimes helps me approach it differently, like a soft mental rotation.”

The arXiv study suggests this is not uncommon. Developers cited reasons ranging from enhanced concentration and creativity to reduced coding anxiety. Others described a more “immersive” experience—tuning out distractions and hyper-focusing on logic puzzles and algorithmic flow. But not all agree. “Cannabis makes me too foggy for real problem-solving,” says Janelle, a senior developer at a cybersecurity firm. “It’s a myth that weed makes you a better programmer. It might feel good, but you’re probably introducing bugs.” She’s also concerned about how normalization could muddy professional expectations in already remote-friendly tech workplaces. Workplace policies, meanwhile, are still catching up. While cannabis is legal in many states, most companies—especially those dealing with sensitive data or government contracts—maintain strict no-use policies. Random drug testing still exists, and while off-hours use might be tolerated, developers tread a fine line. “There’s no real protocol,” says Arun, a DevOps engineer and manager. “Is it the same as a glass of wine after work, or is it a performance risk? Legally and culturally, we’re still in limbo.”

RELATED: 8 Ways to Enjoy Weed Without Smoking It  That limbo hasn’t stopped some communities from embracing the trend. Online forums and subreddits like r/trees and r/ProgrammerHumor regularly share weed-and-code memes and productivity tips, even jokingly referring to sessions as “THCoding.” Ultimately, the intersection of cannabis and code reflects tech culture’s evolving views on productivity, wellness, and neurodiversity. For some developers, decoding with a dab isn’t rebellion—it’s a workflow. As one Redditor quipped: “Sober, I fix bugs. High, I find the ones I didn’t know existed.“

The Fresh Toast is a daily lifestyle platform with a side of cannabis. For more information, visit www.thefreshtoast.com.

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