There has been a lot of discussion in recent years about the effects of cannabis on consumers. Particularly, the stereotype that cannabis consumers are lazy and unmotivated. However, more and more research is showing that this idea is simply not true. In fact, there is mounting evidence that cannabis actually makes people more active. This week host David walks us through where this myths origin and what you should and shouldn’t do while you are enjoying cannabis. Finally answering the question as to whether cannabis stereotypes are real.
Feeling lazy? It might just be you
What are you doing? I’m pretending to eat because I’m lazy and unmotivated. Wouldn’t that take much more effort to pretend than to actually eat? whatever…
There’s been a lot of discussion in recent years about the effects of cannabis on users, particularly the stereotype that cannabis smokers are lazy and unmotivated. But more and more research is showing that this idea is just not true. In fact, there’s mounting evidence that cannabis actually makes people more active. The stereotype that cannabis smokers are lazy and unmotivated is a myth, and users are no more likely to be lazy or unmotivated than non-users, according to a new research published in the Journal of Psychology and Addictive Behaviors.
Stereotypes debunked by Brown University
The first study, a meta analysis by researchers at Brown University, included data from 23 previous studies with more than 300,000 participants. The research team found that those who consumed cannabis were as likely to be as active as non-users, meaning that if you’re an active person, you’ll continue to be an active person. Another study of a large scale survey of over 100,000 Americans aged 50 and older also showed a lack of difference between cannabis users and non-users in terms of physical activity, levels of exercise and participation.
Stereotypes were created from negative narratives
Again, no difference between these two studies. When it came to levels of physical activity, either during periods when they’re using cannabis recreationally or when to abstain altogether from it. So where does this idea come from? Well, from an old and quite negative history of the plant, starting in 1906, just marijuana. The burning weed with its roots in hell and officially outlawed by Harry Anslinger in 1937, which she also attached a racist narrative with the plant and Mexican immigrants.
Mainstream media perpetuates stereotypes
Over time, this just grew and grew getting into the mainstream media, where the cultivation of the lazy, dumb stoner further matured and finally end up where we have it today. Cannabis has many effects and it does have the potential to make you feel a little lazy. However, that’s only based on the individual. Additionally, various strains also have different effects because they contain various amounts of THC, CBD and different concentrations of sedative or stimulating terpenes meaning that when you’re using cannabis, it’s almost like a fun guessing game because you’re trying to see what’s going to happen under that kind of strain. You know what I’m saying?
Most importantly be safe
But in the end, ask yourself what you can and can’t do while you’re toasty and then go from there. Can I read while I’m toasty? Yup. Can I workout while I’m toasty? Yup. Can I ride my bike while I’m toasty? No. And like always, with all that being said, I hope you enjoyed today’s segment. I’m your boy, David, hitting you up from the Grassdoor headquarters saying, I’ll catch you guys later. Grassdoor…out!
