Cannabis and Productivity

There’s a pervasive stereotype that people who smoke cannabis are lazy underachievers whose primary goal is to finish off that box of Twinkies and binge watch Netflix. Does cannabis make you more productive? The evidence does not show that it does: it affects memory, learning and attention, according to CDC, and strain names are a poor guide to what a product does.

A survey run mainly in California and Colorado reported the figures below; we found no peer-reviewed record of it, and it shows who answered, not what cannabis does:

• The average income among cannabis users is $93,800 compared to $75,900 among those who reject it completely. Those who accept cannabis use, and may use it, but don’t currently earn $72,500.
• 20% of cannabis users hold a master’s degree, compared to 13% for people who may consider using it, and 12% for those who reject cannabis use completely.
• 64% of cannabis users have full-time employment, compared to 51% of those who may use, and 54% of those who reject use entirely.

Survey numbers like these cannot show that cannabis makes anyone more productive or creative, at work or in social life. The same analysis discovered that 36% of cannabis users consider themselves to be very active socially. Compare this to 21% of those who might consider using and 28% of those who reject use completely.

Yet people report very different effects: some say cannabis leaves them motivated, while others describe couch lock and don’t want to move. While many people credit strain names (more on this later), people also differ in dose and experience, and while some use it for relief from anxiety, CDC notes that cannabis affects memory, learning and attention.

Beyond surveys, there are personal stories, which are not evidence that cannabis helps productivity. Jon, an editor at a popular magazine based in New York, says, “Getting stoned helps me to get really… in the zone.” For Jon, it promotes a laser-like focus that helps him to concentrate on what needs to be done.

Some well-known musicians also say they use cannabis while working, but their experience is no guide for anyone else. Their reputations for heavy use and steady output prove nothing about cause, and strain names are a poor guide to what a product holds, so they cannot explain anyone’s output at work.

Sativa vs Indica vs Hybrids

Cannabis strains can be broken down into three main types: sativas, indicas, and hybrids.

• Sativas are often described as uplifting, but those are user and seller descriptions, not trial results.
• Indicas are often described as relaxing and calming, again by users and sellers rather than in trials, since strain labels do not reliably match what is in a product
• Hybrids generally have characteristics of both.

Keep in mind that a 2022 study of commercial cannabis in six states found that strain and type labels do not consistently match what is in the product. Here are strain names often linked to daytime use.

Cannabis Strains Marketed for Productivity

1. Green Crack

Users often describe this sativa-dominant strain as energizing, but those are user descriptions, not trial results, and a strain label does not reliably match what is in the product.

2. Jack Herer

Named for the cannabis activist who wrote “The Emperor Wears No Clothes,” Jack Herer is often called uplifting by users; those are user reports, not trial results.

3. Durban Poison

Some users compare Durban Poison to a shot of espresso and describe a clear-headed effect. User reviews are a weak guide, since products sold under one name can differ in chemistry.

4. Harlequin

Harlequin is usually sold as a higher CBD strain, and people choose it hoping for less of a high. Those are marketing and user claims rather than trial results, so ask a qualified physician before using cannabis for pain or anxiety.

5. Haze

Don’t let the name fool you. Haze has been around since the 1960s, but the name alone tells you nothing about how uplifting it is. Users often describe its high as creative, but CDC notes that cannabis affects attention and memory, which can work against a long to-do list.

Should You Experiment With Cannabis at Work?

Experimenting with cannabis to stay productive carries real risks, especially at work. The amounts of THC and CBD on a lab-tested label tell you more than a strain name does, a 2022 study of commercial cannabis suggests. CBD does not cause the “high” that comes with THC, and the FDA has approved it only as a prescription drug for certain seizure disorders.

How cannabis is used also changes its effects. NIDA warns that dabbing concentrates can deliver large amounts of THC quickly, which raises the risk of side effects. Edibles take longer to kick in and last longer, a delay that NIDA says can lead people to take more than they meant to. Dabs and concentrates also tend to be much stronger than the herb alone.

The old image of a couch-locked stoner with little to no ambition or drive is quickly becoming as outdated as that old flip-phone. Many cannabis users believe strain decides whether cannabis feels invigorating or sedating, but research shows labels are an unreliable guide. If you use medical marijuana, ask your certifying physician how it may affect your work and your driving.