A new study published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science debunks the stereotype that people who consume cannabis are lazy or unmotivated. In the study, researchers from the University of Toronto interviewed 260 cannabis consumers five times per day over a week. The participants — who were considered “chronic” consumers, using cannabis at least three times per week — would log their answers through an app that asked if they were currently high, and other questions designed to determine their emotional state, motivation levels, and willpower, the report said.
Prof. Michael Inzlicht, a Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto, led the study. Inzlicht said the study sought to investigate the effects of cannabis on the daily lives of chronic users. Inzlicht stated, “there is a stereotype that chronic cannabis users are somehow lazy or unproductive. We found that’s not the case – their behaviors might change a bit in the moment while they’re high, but our evidence shows they are not lazy or lacking motivation at all.”
The study also noted that chronic consumers were more likely to experience positive emotions while high, and less likely to experience negative emotions. More chronic users, however, were found to experience more negative emotions in general.
