Research
Cannabis, motivation, and life satisfaction in an internet sample
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* Corresponding author: Sara S Barnwell smucker@usc.edu
1 University of Southern California, Department of Psychology, SGM 501, 3620McClintock Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089-1061, USA
2 The University at Albany, SUNY, Department of Psychology, Social Sciences 369, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222, USA
3 University of Southern California, Department of Psychology, SGM 501, 3620McClintock Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089-1061, USA
Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 2006, 1:2 doi:10.1186/1747-597X-1-2
Published: 12 January 2006Abstract
Although little evidence supports cannabis-induced amotivational syndrome, sources continue to assert that the drug saps motivation [1], which may guide current prohibitions. Few studies report low motivation in chronic users; another reveals that they have higher subjective wellbeing. To assess differences in motivation and subjective wellbeing, we used a large sample (N = 487) and strict definitions of cannabis use (7 days/week) and abstinence (never). Standard statistical techniques showed no differences. Robust statistical methods controlling for heteroscedasticity, non-normality and extreme values found no differences in motivation but a small difference in subjective wellbeing. Medical users of cannabis reporting health problems tended to account for a significant portion of subjective wellbeing differences, suggesting that illness decreased wellbeing. All p-values were above p = .05. Thus, daily use of cannabis does not impair motivation. Its impact on subjective wellbeing is small and may actually reflect lower wellbeing due to medical symptoms rather than actual consumption of the plant.