Use of Marijuana makes People lazy: Study

Posted by Sagar Satapathy on August 29, 2016.

The use of marijuana could make a person lazy, claimed a new study which was first published in the Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, and reported by Medical News Today.

Researchers from the University of British Columbia in Canada found that the primary active compound in marijuana - tetrahydrocannabinol  (THC)- made  the laboratory rats less willing to carry out a complex task for a large reward, while  most opting for an easier one despite a smaller reward like a sugar pellet or two.

The researchers provided 29 rats doses of THC to see whether it made them less likely to opt for tasks that required more effort. To figure out which component of pot was to blame, the rats also were given cannabidiol (CBD) by itself, and the researchers found that the rodents didn't choose easier tasks with only CBD in their systems.

Mason Silveira, who led the study, said that THC was particularly found to be what caused the rats to be lazy.  “Perhaps unsurprisingly, we found that when we gave THC to these rats, they basically became cognitively lazy”, the author claimed.

The findings indicate that marijuana users may not be able to complete challenging work, but simply don't prioritize it, researchers said.

Notably, THC has been linked to anxiety and psychosis, as well as problems with learning, memory and attention.

Ironically, the ingredients of recreational marijuana contains much higher levels of THC than marijuana used  for medicinal purposes, which has more of a chemical called cannabidiol that is helpful for the functions of brain, particularly in decision making.

As many as 25 states and Washington, D.C of America, have already legalized marijuana for medical or recreational use, and more states are expected to follow suit in the forthcoming November ballot. The study will certainly helpful for a better understanding of the real benefits or possible risk factors of marijuana use across the country.

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