New Study Reveals Surprising Effects of Chronic Cannabis Use
Think you know everything about cannabis use? Think again. Despite the stereotypes and stigma surrounding it, a new study has found that getting high can actually have positive effects on emotions and motivation.
Published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, the study conducted by researchers at the University of Toronto aimed to shed light on the everyday experience of chronic cannabis users. With the increasing prevalence of cannabis use, the researchers recognized the need to move beyond the traditional focus on its potential health risks and instead explore its effects on emotions, motivation, and self-regulation.
The study, which included 3,701 observations from the daily lives of 260 recreational cannabis users, found that getting high was associated with more positive emotions and fewer negative emotions. Surprisingly, it also had minimal effects on motivation and industriousness, and there were no “hangover” effects the next day.
But who are these chronic cannabis users? According to the study, they come from all walks of life and are often employed, conscientious, and have stable incomes. Despite this, cannabis is still often treated as a substance with substantial risk, and research surrounding it often has the goal of reducing its use.
To get a clear picture of the effects of chronic cannabis use, the researchers sent participants sampling surveys five times a day for seven days at random times. The surveys asked about current levels of being high, how the cannabis was ingested, and the reasons for getting high.
So next time someone tries to tell you that cannabis makes you lazy and unproductive, you can confidently tell them about this new study and its surprising findings. Who knows, maybe they’ll even join you for a smoke session.
