Cannabis Users 'Are Not Lazy Or Lacking Motivation At All' Even While High: University Of Toronto Study

Cannabis consumers, often stigmatized as lazy or spaced out, are finding vindication in a new study from the University of Toronto (U of T) Scarborough that challenges these negative stereotypes.

"There is a stereotype that chronic cannabis users are somehow lazy or unproductive," says Michael Inzlicht, a professor in the Department of Psychology at U of T Scarborough who led the study.

"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,” Inzlicht adds.

The research surveyed the lives of 260 frequent cannabis consumers. It found no significant drop in their motivation or effort levels while high compared to when they were not high.

Published on April 23 in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, the study scrutinizes the impact of cannabis on daily life.

Past research has shown mixed results when it comes to chronic cannabis use and motivation. Inzlicht notes much of it relied on limited experimental designs that didn't account for differences between cannabis users and non-users, such as variations in personality, mental health or use of other psychoactive substances.

Here's What Researchers Found

Key findings shed light on emotional nuances and self-regulation dynamics. While cannabis provoked heightened positive emotions like awe and gratitude, it also triggered a subtle decline in self-regulation, manifesting as increased impulsivity and disorderliness. However, this dip did not diminish users’ industriousness or focus, challenging misconceptions about their work ethic, Inzlicht noted in NeuroscienceNews.com.

"These things can detract someone from getting stuff done, but we didn't find it made them less hard-working, responsible or able to focus."

Contrary to popular belief, participants displayed unwavering motivation, exhibiting consistent effort levels even while high, the survey found.

Is ‘Weed Hangover’ A Thing?

The research also found no evidence of the so-called "weed hangover" or decline in emotional or motivational function the day after cannabis use, debunking the hangover idea.

"The cannabis literature, historically, tended to focus a lot on the negative medical consequences of chronic use," said Inzlicht, who runs the Work and Play Lab, which researches self-control, motivation and empathy as well as social media, digital device and recreational cannabis use.

"Part of the motivation for this study is to take a neutral, clear-eyed approach to see how cannabis affects chronic users in their everyday lives,” Inzlicht concluded.

Photo: Shutterstock