Cannabis Doesn’t Make You More Lazy or Apathetic, New Research Claims

Smoking cannabis is usually known as not being a good idea for people’s health. It can lead to lung infections, a daily cough, and more. But scientists from Cambridge University and King’s College London now come to contradict a bit the idea that smoking weed can lead to being more apathetic or lazy, according to a new study published in the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology.

The research claims that you’re not more likely to become apathetic or lazy if you smoke weed. The researchers tried to find out if those who smoke pot regularly, meaning at least once a week, have a harder time trying to motivate themselves in order to reach their goals. Thus, 274 teenagers and adults who regularly smoke weed were analyzed for the study. They were asked various questions about their behavior.

The Cambridge press release regarding the study says:

Cannabis users scored slightly lower than non-users on anhedonia — in other words, they appeared better able to enjoy themselves — but there was no significant difference when it came to apathy,

The researchers also found no link between frequency of cannabis use and either apathy or anhedonia in the people who used cannabis.

Martine Skumlien, who is Cambridge psychiatry Ph.D. candidate, explained:

We were surprised to see that there was really very little difference between cannabis users and non-users when it came to lack of motivation or lack of enjoyment, even among those who used cannabis every day,

This is contrary to the stereotypical portrayal we see on TV and in movies.

People use dried leaves, seed oil, as well as other parts of the cannabis plant not only for recreational purposes. Cannabis can even serve medical purposes. Cannabis can also reduce chronic pain if it’s being used the right way.