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Have you ever smoked a joint and felt so enlivened that you had no choice but to hit the gym or write that paper? While these highs are amazing, you've likely also smoked cannabis and felt overly stoned and unwilling to move. The herb has a nuanced effect on motivation. Find out what the research says about cannabis and productivity below.
Several stereotypes surround cannabis use, including that of the unmotivated and lazy archetypal stoner. This individual, often seen wearing a sweaty bandana and round orange-tinted sunglasses, requires little more than the bare necessities. Give this couch-dweller an ounce of weed, unlimited nachos, and orange juice on tap, and they’ll reach a state of bliss that dampens the will to lift a finger.
This stereotypical character, seen again and again in weed-themed movies and cartoons, has an element of truth to it. However, not every weed smoker lives this way. Many people who use the herb ascend to great heights; they become CEOs and keystones of their families. Despite this, the idea that cannabis lowers motivation still percolates.
So, does weed destroy or cultivate motivation? That’s take a look at the cold hard facts below.
Contents:
The effects of cannabis are not black and white. Instead, they’re highly nuanced and range drastically between individuals. There are hundreds of distinct cannabis strains that offer varying effects. The chemical profile of each cultivar interacts with the unique biology of each user, resulting in a massively diverse set of subjective experiences.
Some cannabis users will tell you that, thanks to weed, they’re able to routinely smash their work goals and hit the gym daily. Others, however, find that they start to experience apathy and disinterest in previous passions after prolonged use.
But what does the research say? The anecdotes in this area are mixed. So, let’s take a look at the latest science to navigate the murky waters.
Marijuana and motivation have a complicated relationship. Typically, many people think using cannabis equates to laziness. However, some data suggests that cannabis does little to tamper with the will to work and get things done.
A 2022 study[1] published in the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology collected data from 274 adult and adolescent cannabis users. The researchers found that using cannabis relatively heavily—between 3 and 4 times per week—has no association with apathy.
The findings also showed that cannabis users had lower levels of anhedonia (the reduced ability to experience pleasure) than non-users.
The findings from the study above don’t always hold true, as made evident in another 2022 study[2]. The authors of this paper cite previous research that links cannabis use to decreased motivation to engage in normally rewarding activities.
To further test these findings, the researchers conducted a study designed to measure willingness to exert effort for rewards. The double-blind study administered either 7.5mg of THC, 15mg of THC or a placebo to a group of young healthy women.
After receiving either THC or a placebo, they completed sessions that involved choosing between a hard or an easy task, each correlating to a higher monetary reward based on difficulty.
The results showed that cannabis acutely reduced motivation to earn non-drug rewards. The exact mechanism that underpins this phenomenon remains unknown.
So, the research appears mixed, right? Some studies show that cannabis users have more of a drive to achieve pleasure and lower rates of apathy, while other results display the opposite.
In truth, a fair amount of controversy surrounds research on weed and motivation. There are many variables at play, particularly because a lot of the research relies on subjective qualitative data as opposed to objective quantitative analysis.
Away from cannabis use, an individual’s personality[3] can also drastically impact their motivation for reward. Many people who use weed are naturally driven, whereas many people who don’t lack an innate desire to achieve, and vice versa.
Research that supports the negative association between cannabis use and a reduction in motivation gave rise to a diagnosis called amotivational syndrome[4]. This condition is defined by the following:
Some studies support the notion that cannabis use can increase the risk of a person exhibiting these traits. However, as mentioned, the myriad of variables at play means that many cannabis users never experience amotivational syndrome.
So, does weed kill motivation? In some instances, it does. However, countless marijuana users find that smoking a joint or hitting a bong helps them to thrive. Let’s take a look at some of the positive effects of cannabis on motivation:
There’s no denying that cannabis can make some people lazy and chip away at their internal drive. Let’s explore some of the negative effects of weed on motivation below:
If you’re using a lot of weed and want to stay motivated, there are certain measures you can take to prevent apathy from taking over. These include using weed responsibly, choosing the correct strain, and smoking at the right time of day. Check out these approaches in more depth below.
If you want to avoid weed brain fog and stay switched on, then you need to use cannabis responsibly. Resisting abuse stands as one of the key tenets of responsible cannabis use. If you sense that your way of using the herb starts to impact your personal development and achievement, either dial back your use or change the strains you’re smoking.
Cannabinoids, including THC and CBD, underpin the core effects of each weed strain. As the principal psychoactive constituent in cannabis, THC causes an acute rise in dopamine, though this effect wanes over time.
Take too much THC, and you’ll find yourself almost sedated. If THC takes too much of a toll on your motivation, try microdosing.
In contrast to THC, CBD doesn’t produce a high. Instead, you’ll experience a clear-headed effect. This cannabinoid shows promise in tackling motivation-related disorders in research studies[7].
Figure out the best time of day to smoke. This changes among different cannabis users. Some people find that waking and baking helps to kick start their day, whereas others want nothing more than to crawl back into bed. It also helps to choose energising strains if you’re smoking in the morning. If these still don’t work, smoke in the evenings when you’re free to laze around.
You should carefully consider the cannabis strains you use if you’re concerned about a lull in motivation. The three varieties below are energising and will keep you productive.
This vastly sativa-dominant hybrid leverages the powers of THCV to keep smokers in the zone. Although rare, this cannabinoid is gaining attention for its motivating and energising properties. Smoke up some Royal THCV buds if you need a jolt into action.
Pure African Sativa x Durban Haze | |
500 - 550 gr/m2 | |
80 - 120 cm | |
9 - 10 weeks | |
THC: 7% |
Sativa 95% Indica 5% | |
425 - 475 gr/plant | |
140 - 180 cm | |
Late October | |
Clear, Motivating , Uplifting | |
7% |
Sundae Driver possesses a massive THC content of 23%. She’ll get you super high, but her clear-headed terpenes will allow you to stay in control and get things done.
Fruity Pebbles OG x Grape Pie | |
400 - 450 gr/m2 | |
90 – 140 cm | |
9 - 11 weeks | |
THC: 23% |
Sativa 50% Indica 50% | |
450 - 500 gr/plant | |
130 - 170 cm | |
Early October | |
Balanced, Euphoric, Motivating |
As the progeny of Gorilla Glue 4 and Gelato 33, Triple G packs an insane THC value of 26%. Use these buds in small amounts, though, and you’ll take advantage of her euphoric and motivating effects.
Gorilla Glue 4 x Gelato 33 | |
525 - 575 gr/m2 | |
90 – 140 cm | |
8 - 9 weeks | |
THC: 26% |
Sativa 15% Indica 85% | |
600 - 650 gr/plant | |
140 - 180 cm | |
Middle of October | |
Clear, Euphoric, Fast Thinking, Motivating |
You’re almost set to use cannabis in a way that minimises its impact on your productivity. To summarise, keep these tips in mind when blazing to avoid a lull in motivation:
As you’ve learned, the research around cannabis and motivation remains mixed. The herb doesn’t affect motivation in some people but lowers it in others. Cannabis can also negatively impact creativity and blunt the dopamine system. Remember, an individual’s personality also plays a big role in how motivated they feel, away from cannabis.
Overall, you should strive to use cannabis responsibly to shield your motivation. Smoke at times of the day that work for you, and select energising strains filled with terpenes that increase focus.