Marijuana use is still increasing around the country for all manner of ailments. From reducing stress to improving sleep quality, weed can be a useful option for many. Despite all of its uses, however, a few negative misconceptions remain. The most common of these is the idea that weed makes you lazy, sleepy, and unmotivated. While this is a widely accepted “fact,” it is not necessarily accurate. Marijuana affects everyone differently, but making you lazy, sleepy, and unmotivated aren’t typical side effects, at least not in the long run. Neither makes you “slow” (whether in thought or action) or unproductive.
Let’s take a closer look at weed and how it impacts your mood and motivation.
Does Weed Make You Tired?
Why does weed make you sleepy? Weed doesn’t necessarily make you tired or increase fatigue. It relaxes you. This is one of the reasons it is so popular, especially among users with anxiety. Marijuana tends to help ease some of that worry and hyper-awareness in favor of calmer feelings. This can lead to a mildly euphoric state where users typically want to curl up and rest. This doesn’t imply a direct relationship between tiredness and marijuana use but rather a close relationship between relaxation and tiredness.
Note that, as with all things, this isn’t the case with all strains.
Why Does Weed Make You Sleepy?
Wondering why does weed make you tired? The right weed strain can either grant energy or improve relaxation. When you use the strains designed to bring about calmness, you are more likely to feel sleepy. This is especially true in users who otherwise struggle with stress or anxiety. When those feelings are relieved, even just a little bit, the body can relax, and sleep is the natural next step.
Does Sativa or Indica Make You Sleepy?
While there are several different strains of marijuana, there are two main kinds of them: sativa and indica. Each of these categories contains useful strains that help people around the country, but they do this in different ways.
Sativa strains are known for their invigorating “highs.” They excel at relieving stress and anxiety in favor of enhanced focus and creativity. This is the strain of choice for users with the goal of accomplishing something while smoking. Sativa still offers the increased calm characteristic of cannabis but without the full-body peace that other strains induce.
Indica strains are known for their calming highs. They also excel at relieving stress and anxiety but do this by inducing more of a body high than a head high, which is what sativa strains offer. This body high is characterized by full-body calmness, which leads to enhanced relaxation and sleepiness.
Does Weed Make You Tired the Next Day?
This is a tricky question. In short, it depends on how much you use and when you use it. One of the more common misconceptions about marijuana highs is that you can “sleep it off.” The truth is that falling asleep doesn’t do anything to hurry the drug out of your system. Time, not activity, is related to the strength of your high and, accordingly, the side effects from the weed you might be experiencing.
If you use it before bed and are still high when you wake up, you might be tired the next day. If you lower your dose, the high will weaken when you wake up, and those feelings will fade.
Does Weed Make You Lazy?
Some weed strains can increase your desire to relax in the short term. All of the same mechanisms that lead to relaxation naturally lead to the desire to “chill out.” Many users want to stay in and opt for a self-care day (or night) after using marijuana. This is an expected side effect and one that most users understand up front. When used recreationally, there is generally no issue with this.
In the long term, weed does not make you lazy. Remember that marijuana offers short-term effects, not permanent changes. Once the “high” wears off, so does the laziness. Consider it like the side effects you experience when drinking. Once the alcohol wears off, you’re back to your baseline. The same is true of marijuana use.
Why Does Weed Make You Unmotivated?
Of all of the misconceptions we’ve explored in this post, the idea that weed makes you unmotivated is perhaps the most pervasive. Older readers might even remember PSA commercials in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s warning against marijuana use as something that “flattens” your energy and motivation. This sentiment has carried over decades later, and it is only recently that the story has begun to change. Marijuana and motivation might be related, but not in the negative way it has been portrayed.
Because weed relaxes your mind and body, the feelings it inspires might be viewed as “apathetic” – feelings that drive down motivation. In reality, these temporary side effects are only active for a short while, and once you have stopped using marijuana, they go away along with your “high.” There are no lingering symptoms of demotivation.
Does Indica Make You Lazy Compared to Sativa?
Sativa is a primarily energizing marijuana strain. That means that, unlike the side effects we discussed above, using it often leads to more short-term energy rather than less. Indica, on the other hand, is known for its calming effect. It helps users relax and can even improve sleep quality.
Yes, in other words, indica makes you “lazy” in the short term when compared to sativa.
Does Weed Make You Lazy Long-Term?
No, weed does not make you lazy long-term. Remember that when you use marijuana, the effects exist only in the short term. Once the “high” wears off, so do the effects. If you experience an increase in energy that persists after the marijuana in question has left your system, consider speaking with your physician about other potential causes.
Also read: How to Manage Depression?
How to Not Be Lazy When Smoking Weed
If your goal is to be productive when smoking, it is important to pick the right strain. To a certain extent, “laziness” should be expected when using marijuana. It is a feature, not a bug. This depends highly on the strain of marijuana you are using, however. Some strains are more potent than others and inspire different side effects in its users. Sativa users, for example, often find that they have more energy rather than less.
Selecting the right strain can help you meet your goals and improve motivation in the short term rather than inhibit it.
Microdosing as a method of precaution
Microdosing cannabis involves consuming minimal amounts of cannabis to enhance motivation and productivity without experiencing impairment. It is a popular technique for individuals seeking the benefits of cannabis while remaining focused and driven. Start with a low dose and gradually increase as needed, finding the right balance for your tolerance and strain potency. Strains with higher CBD and lower THC levels are often preferred for microdosing, as CBD is associated with uplifting effects. It’s important to be aware of local laws, consult with a healthcare professional, and personalize your approach to optimize the benefits of microdosing cannabis.
Hi, I’m the Founder and Developer of Paramedics World, a blog truly devoted to Paramedics. I am a Medical Lab Tech, a Web Developer and Bibliophiliac. My greatest hobby is to teach and motivate other peoples to do whatever they wanna do in life.