For decades, marijuana has been saddled with negative stereotypes, popularized by movie characters such as Cheech & Chong or the “Dude” Lebowski. These characterizations depict marijuana users as lazy, unmotivated, and intellectually disengaged, solidifying the “stoner” trope in popular culture.

Prohibitionists, fueled by fear and misinformation, have long argued that marijuana usage leads to a host of social and personal ills, especially among young people. Yet, as scientific research progresses and society grows more comfortable with cannabis, these myths are being systematically debunked.

The idea that marijuana users are unmotivated, slow, and unable to function in daily life is increasingly outdated. The portrayal of cannabis users as permanently stuck in a daze doesn’t hold up under scrutiny.

A growing body of scientific research shows that marijuana can offer medical and therapeutic benefits without leading to cognitive decline or lack of ambition.

In fact, studies have demonstrated that, for many users, cannabis can have the opposite effect, enhancing creativity, reducing anxiety, and alleviating chronic pain, allowing them to function better

Consider a recent study, conducted by the University of Toronto and published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science. In the study, researchers found that regular marijuana use had minimal effects on motivation and willpower. Indeed, the study found that getting high generated more positive emotions and perceptions and fewer negative ones.

The goal of the study was to make a scientific examination of the effects of recreational cannabis on the daily lives of frequent users.

The study’s introduction states:

“People like to get high. With nearly 200 million people worldwide having used cannabis in the past year, cannabis is the fourth most used recreational drug after caffeine, alcohol and tobacco.

“Despite its wide use and increasing legal and societal acceptance, surprisingly little is known about its effects among habitual users in everyday life. Instead, research on cannabis tends to treat it as a drug of abuse, focused mostly on the health risks of overuse and dependence.

“Here, we focus on what is missing, describing the everyday experience of getting high among habitual users, examining reasons they get high, its possible salutary emotional effects, and its surprising lack of costs to motivation and industriousness.”

For the study, scientists surveyed 260 chronic cannabis users, defined as those who used cannabis at least three times a week, five times per day over the course of a week. Participants received notifications through an app asking if they were high and were then asked to answer questionnaires that assessed their emotional state, motivation levels, willpower and self-regulation.

Overall, participants claimed liking the feeling as the main reason driving use, but the ability to be creative and to forget one’s worries were also endorsed frequently.

The survey states: “Surprising to us, many people also reported using cannabis to help them focus and concentrate.” Take a look at the following chart:

Source: University of Toronto

Participants were found to be just as willing and motivated to exert effort in completing a task when high compared to when sober.

Chronic cannabis users were also found to experience a sharp increase in positive emotions such as joy and gratitude when they were high, and a reduction in some negative emotions such as worry and fear. The study also found no evidence of a “weed hangover” the day after cannabis use.

The upshot: The data suggests that a person can be hard-working, motivated and a chronic cannabis user at the same time. As marijuana becomes a mainstream consumer product, investment opportunities in weed are flourishing.

WATCH THIS VIDEO: Takin’ Care of Business: 10 Traits of Profitable Pot Firms

Editor’s Note: Marijuana equities have been rebounding so far in 2024. You can reap enormous investment gains in the fast-growing, global marijuana industry. However, when picking a pot stock, you need to be especially careful.

I’m the editorial director of Investing Daily. I’m also the chief investment strategist of our premium trading service Marijuana Profit Alert.

For Marijuana Profit Alert, I’ve put together a portfolio of the best-of-breed marijuana equities. These holdings are poised to soar during this political season, as a slew of states consider ballot initiatives to legalize weed. Want to learn about my money-making marijuana trades? Click here.

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