Creative types have been using cannabis for ages to boost their mood and even improve their work. But what if you’re stuck doing administrative work every day from 9 to 5? Or if you’re a marketing specialist, handyman, or baker? The increasing legalization of cannabis around the world has led to more and more answers to these kinds of questions, and that’s exactly the answer we’re going to give you today!
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Want to use cannabis? Do it after work!
A recent study has shown that using cannabis after the workday does not negatively affect productivity and performance the next workday. The study examined how cannabis use at different times of the day affected people’s ability to complete tasks and meet job requirements, as well as their behavior toward colleagues and their attitude toward their work.
What did they find? When cannabis was consumed after the workday, it had absolutely no impact on workplace performance. A slightly more predictable finding, however, was that when people smoked or ate cannabis before or during work, it did indeed negatively affect performance.
In the latter case, the soft drug affected the ability to perform tasks, but it also impaired concentration and reduced problem-solving ability. It also had a negative effect on people’s “civic behavior”—how likely they were to help colleagues or work in a team. And on top of that, it also increased people’s tendency toward counterproductive behavior, such as daydreaming at work and taking an excessive amount of time to complete a task. In short: if you’re going to use cannabis, do it after work—but we probably don’t need to tell you that…
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Cannabis vs. alcohol
There is one caveat to the study, however. It doesn’t provide many details about how much cannabis the participants consumed—only that they used it before, during, or after work. In that regard, this study doesn’t say much about how much cannabis is actually too much before or during work, but let’s just advise against using cannabis during this time anyway—and wait until the workday is over. Nevertheless, the study does challenge stereotypes of cannabis users as lazy and unmotivated, since this is not necessarily the case.
There are also currently many more studies and research projects examining the effects of alcohol on work performance. These show how drinking after work—and especially heavy drinking—negatively impacts work in many ways. These include reduced productivity, increased absenteeism, inappropriate behavior, and poorer relationships with colleagues. This is in contrast to cannabis, where use after the workday does not have such negative effects at all.
Unlike alcohol, this study found no residual negative effects on coordination the day after cannabis use. However, another study from earlier this year found that chronic, heavy cannabis use was associated with poorer driving performance among non-intoxicated drivers. This is because the drug can impair the motor skills necessary for safe driving in the long term.
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Drug test
In addition, cannabis use isn’t exactly helpful if your employer conducts regular drug tests. Because although marijuana clears from your blood and saliva after just a few hours, it can take up to 90 days before it’s no longer detectable in your urine or hair. In short: enjoy cannabis, but do so responsibly!
