Lifestyle
People Who Smoke Weed Are Just Nicer People Says New Study Based on Empathy and Morality
Cannabis users have always been associated as laid-back, relaxed, friendly, and always smiling. How can we not; after all, weed makes us happier people and we tend to just be more chilled out about life compared to non-users.
Now, there’s a growing body of evidence suggesting that marijuana use makes us more empathetic and overall nicer people.
The latest of these studies was conducted by researchers from the University of New Mexico (UNM), entitled “Cannabis consumption and prosociality.” The results, which were published in the journal, Scientific Reports, had fascinating insights on the emotional and behavioral patterns of cannabis users. The researchers analyzed 146 adults from 18 to 25 years old, and found that marijuana users showed more empathy, morality in decision-making, and pro-social behavior compared to non-users.
According to University of New Mexico psychology professor Jacob Vigil, who was also the study’s lead psychologist, he was intrigued on the results of a National Institute of Health lecture saying that cannabis consumers weren’t as motivated by money. “It seemed as though cannabis tends to result in a psychological shift from externally pressured goals… And to me, my observation is that cannabis tends to result from that kind of egocentric or perhaps, externally pressurized trajectory towards one that is more primal and one that is more concerned with humanity in a broader collective context,” explained Vigil to The Daily Lobo.
“Most investigations into the effects of cannabis use have focused on the negative consequences of cannabis addiction or the physical health effects of cannabis use,” Vigil said. “Almost no formal scientific attention has been devoted to understanding the other psychological and behavioral effects of plant consumption, despite it being so widely used throughout human history,” he added.
Sarah Stith, a researcher for the study and an Economics Professor at UNM said that THC users portrayed more pro-social behaviors. She went on to add that there was a causal association between these behaviors and cannabis use. “Positive benefits seem to really be correlated with the recency of cannabis use,” she disclosed to The Daily Lobo. “You know, maybe there’s some negative behavioral changes or secondhand smoke or things like that,” she added, “but in this case, it’s suggesting, actually, that people might get along better if they were consuming cannabis, which is pretty extreme.”
It makes total sense, considering that marijuana users are so laid back.
But there are other studies and hypothesis that shed interesting data on how this happens in the human body. Cannabis use does have an effect on emotional regulation and processing, as well as overall psychological responses. It reduces our stress responses which we can say helps us see the world more peacefully and make decisions with less ego involved.
The ego itself is not bad; in fact, a healthy and balanced ego has helped humans survive. Other animals have it in varying capacities, but the ego has evolved through the centuries. Yet, humans that have a either an underdeveloped or overdeveloped ego can each have problems – perhaps depression or causing trouble to others in the world due to their self-centered nature. Being able to strike a balancing act of our needs and those of others is where empathy comes in, and marijuana can be a fantastic tool for accessing that part of the brain.
The Role of Entheogens In How We Perceive The World
Empathy, or the ability to put yourself in another’s shoes to see the world from a different perspective, has long been one of the foundations of marijuana culture. Ask any cannabis user and we can tell you that while it’s difficult to explain why, we do feel a more amplified sense of love towards ourselves and other people under the influence. That’s why being able to feel empathetic and become a nicer person in general is easier for cannabis users.
After all, marijuana is one of the oldest entheogens known to man.
Entheogens refer to a plant-based substance that can induce a state of higher consciousness, and which can bring about a change. It has been used since ancient times for spiritual and religious reasons, so these findings are no surprise. Today, the use of entheogens are on the rise yet again, with marijuana being the most popular and accessible of the lot, given its wide legalization in the United States and the rest of the world. Its use makes mystical experiences more democratized, and as more people consume the drug, it can inspire feelings of reduce egocentrism.
“Many of the challenges facing the world today, such as the environmental crisis and hostilities within and between cultures, stem from a lack of appreciate for the profound interconnectedness of all people and all things,” wrote psycho-pharmacologist Roland Griffiths in his blog, discussing the ethical effect of entheogens.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide shared in 2017 the findings of their study that suggests, when we are in an altered state of consciousness triggered by psychedelic drugs, we experience a temporary loss of ego. Though the drug in the study was magic mushrooms and LSD, marijuana does have psychedelic effects when THC is used. “We know quite a lot about the neurochemistry of psychedelic drugs and how they work on the brain. What’s poorly understood is the more complex relationship between the brain, our sense of self, and how we perceive the world,” explains Professor Gerrans.
“This ‘ego dissolution’ results in a moment of expanded awareness, a feeling in which the mind is put more directly and intensely in touch with the world,” adds Professor Gerrans.
Conclusion
Society as a whole, globally, is now experiencing a shift in consciousness. Call it the woke movement, call it anything you want. But more people are using psychedelics than ever, and it has become clear that those causing problems in the world are those that don’t use psychedelics.
Business
Alabama to make another attempt Dec. 1 to award medical cannabis licenses
Alabama regulators are targeting Dec. 1 to award the first batch of medical cannabis business licenses after the agency’s first two attempts were scrapped because of scoring errors and litigation.
The first licenses will be awarded to individual cultivators, delivery providers, processors, dispensaries and state testing labs, according to the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC).
Then, on Dec. 12, the AMCC will award licenses for vertically integrated operations, a designation set primarily for multistate operators.
Licenses are expected to be handed out 28 days after they have been awarded, so MMJ production could begin in early January, according to the Alabama Daily News.
That means MMJ products could be available for patients around early March, an AMCC spokesperson told the media outlet.
Regulators initially awarded 21 business licenses in June, only to void them after applicants alleged inconsistencies with how the applications were scored.
Then, in August, the state awarded 24 different licenses – 19 went to June recipients – only to reverse themselves again and scratch those licenses after spurned applicants filed lawsuits.
A state judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by Chicago-based MSO Verano Holdings Corp., but another lawsuit is pending.
Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/alabama-plans-to-award-medical-cannabis-licenses-dec-1/
Business
Pot Odor Does Not Justify Probable Cause for Vehicle Searches, Minnesota Court Affirms
The Minnesota Supreme Court affirmed that cannabis odor does not constitute probable cause to search a vehicle.
If Minnesota police search a vehicle solely based upon the smell of pot, they can’t justify searching a vehicle, even if there is evidence found of other alleged crimes. Even after appealing a lower court decision to suppress the evidence—twice—the Minnesota Supreme Court agreed, and the dismissal of his charges stands.
In a ruling filed regarding a case the State of Minnesota Court of Appeals on Sept. 13, the Minnesota Supreme Court affirmed that cannabis odor does not constitute probable cause to search a vehicle.
The case has been ongoing for two years. On July 5, 2021, just before 10 p.m., a Litchfield police officer stopped a car for an obscure local law: the light bar mounted on the vehicle’s grill had more auxiliary driving lights than are permitted under Minnesota law. The officer asked the driver, Adam Lloyd Torgerson, for his license and registration. Torgerson, his wife, and his child were present in the vehicle. The officer stated that he smelled pot and asked Torgerson if there was any reason for the odor, which he initially denied. But cops found a lot more than just pot.
A backup officer was called in. The couple denied possessing any pot, but Torgerson admitted to smoking weed in the past. The second officer stated that the weed odor gave them probable cause to search the vehicle and ordered them to exit the vehicle. The first officer searched the vehicle and found a film canister, three pipes, and a small plastic bag in the center console. The plastic bag contained a white powder and the film canister contained meth, which was confirmed in a field test.
Torgenson was charged with possession of meth pipe in the presence of a minor and fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance after the unwarranted search of Torgerson’s vehicle.
Police Aren’t Allowed to Do That, Multiple Courts Rule
But the search had one major problem—cops weren’t searching for a meth pipe. They only searched his car because they could smell pot, and the meth and paraphernalia were a surprise for everyone. Still, they had no grounds to search the vehicle. The man’s charges were later dismissed after the district court determined the odor of cannabis alone was insufficient basis for probable cause to search the vehicle, regardless of whatever other drug paraphernalia they found.
The state appealed the case, but the Minnesota Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s decision. The case was appealed a second time, this time to the Minnesota Supreme Court, which agreed with the lower court’s ruling.
“This search was justified only by the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle,” the Minnesota Supreme Court decision reads. “Torgerson moved to suppress the evidence found during the search, arguing that the odor of marijuana, alone, is insufficient to create the requisite probable cause to search a vehicle under the automobile exception to the warrant requirement. The district court granted Torgerson’s motion, suppressed the evidence, and dismissed the complaint. The State appealed. The court of appeals affirmed the district court’s suppression order. Because we conclude that the odor of marijuana emanating from a vehicle, alone, is insufficient to create the requisite probable cause to search a vehicle under the automobile exception to the warrant requirement, we affirm.”
It amounts to basic human rights that apply—regardless of whether or not a person is addicted to drugs.
Other States do Precisely the Same Regarding Pot Odor as Probably Cause
An Illinois judge ruled in 2021 that the odor of cannabis is not sufficient grounds for police to search a vehicle without a warrant during a traffic stop.
Daniel J. Dalton, Associate Judge of the 14th Judicial Circuit, issued a ruling in response to a motion to suppress evidence in the case of Vincent Molina, a medical cannabis patient arrested for cannabis possession last year.
In that case, Molina was arrested despite the decriminalization of small amounts of cannabis in Illinois in 2019 with the passage of the Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act.
In some states, the issue of probable cause and cannabis was defined through bills.
Last April, the Maryland House of Delegates approved a bill that reduces the penalties for public cannabis consumption and bars police from using the odor of cannabis as the basis for the search of an individual or auto. Under Maryland’s House Bill 1071, law enforcement officers would be prohibited from using the odor of raw or burnt cannabis as probable cause to search a person or vehicle.
The rulings represent the rights of citizens when they are pulled over by police, even if there are hard drugs involved.
Business
Can Cannabis Help Seasonal Depression
Ultimately, seasonal affective disorder can set in as quickly and seamlessly as the fall foliage on the trees outside.
The weather and foliage on the trees aren’t the only things that are changing around this time of year. As the sun starts to set earlier and earlier, peoples moods can be affected by the decrease in sunlight. This is often known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and it can make the winter months miserable for lots of people. Can cannabis help seasonal depression?
Fortunately for those that do suffer from SAD, there are numerous remedies that can make this time of year more bearable. Exercise, vitamin supplements and even marijuana can have an enormous impact on fighting against the disorder. While there are resources for offsetting the disorder, getting a full understanding of the problem is paramount in being able to overcome it.
Seasonal Affective Disorder Symptoms
One of the most crucial steps in combating SAD is properly identifying its symptoms. Some of those symptoms include:
- Anxiety
- Social withdrawal
- Sleepiness and fatigue
- Weight gain
- Suicidal thoughts
- And several others
Those who are suffering from any of these symptoms should refrain from self-diagnosis and seek professional assistance. That professional assistance could lead to more resources to fight the disorder such as an antidepressant prescription.
How Common is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
In recent years, more and more people who suffer from seasonal affective disorder have begun opening up about their struggles. An estimated 10 million Americans are said to be currently dealing from SAD. Additional research shows women are four times more likely to be diagnosed with the disorder than men. SAD also appears to be more prevalent among people with pre-existing mental health conditions like bipolar disorder.
The number of people across the globe who suffer from seasonal depression is slightly lower than that of the United States. Only about 1-2% of the global population is said to suffer from seasonal depression while about 5% of the U.S population suffers from SAD.
How to Fight Seasonal Affective Disorder
There are a number of proven ways to offset some of the sadness that comes with the changing of the seasons. For example, cannabis contains cannabinoids that can have a positive impact on mood, while potentially increasing serotonin levels. When it comes to decreasing anxiety levels, that’s where CBD comes into play. By working with our body’s endocannabinoid system, CBD has been seen as instrumental in boosting dopamine levels.
Aside from cannabis, there are a handful of other at-home methods that can help alleviate the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. Spending more time with friends, family and loved ones can be highly effective in offsetting some SAD symptoms. The same can be said for making an effort to get lots of sunlight and getting regular exercise.
Ultimately, seasonal affective disorder can set in as quickly and seamlessly as the fall foliage on the trees outside. Knowing that you aren’t alone, and having the best practices for fighting it, can make the fall and winter months better than you could have ever imagined.
Source: https://thefreshtoast.com/medical-marijuana/can-cannabis-help-seasonal-depression/
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