New Study Finds That “Stoners” Are No More Likely To Lack Motivation Than Non-Cannabis Users
Everyone knows about the “stoner” stereotype typically portrayed in popular media and the like.
In fact, people who smoke cannabis are usually grouped into the category of being lazy, unmotivated, and indulging in “the munchies” quite often.
But, a first-of-its-kind study conducted by researchers at the University of Cambridge, University College London (UCL), and King’s College London has actually declared this notion a misconception.
Instead, the researchers found that cannabis users are actually no more likely to display higher levels of apathy (motivation loss) or anhedonia (loss of interest) than people who do not smoke.
The study included two hundred and seventy-four adolescents and adults who, for the past three months, used cannabis weekly– with the participants’ weekly cannabis usage averaging about four days per week. Then, they were matched up with non-users of the same gender and age.
Next, the participants filled out questionnaires to measure levels of apathy and anhedonia.
They were asked to rank statements such as “I enjoy being with family or close friends,” as well as rate characteristics, such as “I am interested in learning new things.”
And interestingly enough, cannabis users actually scored a bit lower in regards to anhedonia than non-users. This means that cannabis users appeared more able to enjoy themselves.
Additionally, there was no significant difference in apathy– or lack of motivation– between users and non-users.
Pixel-Shot – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purpose only, not the actual person
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But, this study not only undermines the “stoner” stereotype of adults. It also provided the researchers with more clarity on adolescent cannabis use outcomes– because, apparently, cannabis did not augment any difference between anhedonia and apathy.
And Dr. Will Lawn of the King’s College London Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience described why this is a groundbreaking discovery.
“There has been a lot of concern that cannabis use in adolescence might lead to worse outcomes than cannabis use during adulthood. But, our study– one of the first to directly compare adolescents and adults who use cannabis– suggests that adolescents are no more vulnerable than adults to the harmful effect of cannabis on motivation, the experience of pleasure, or the brain’s response to reward,” Dr. Lawn explained.
Moreover, the researchers believe these findings about both adolescents and adults can be crucial to increasing the effectiveness of harm reduction and cannabis education.
“Unfair assumptions can be stigmatizing and could get in the way of messages around harm reduction. We need to be honest and frank about what are and are not the harmful consequences of drug use,” said Martine Skumlien of the University of Cambridge.
Still, the researchers underscored that further long-term research– particularly spanning from the onset of adolescence through young adulthood– is needed to definitively conclude that cannabis use will not negatively impact brain development or motivation.
To read the study’s complete findings, which have since been published in the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, you can visit the link here.
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