A recent study published in the Journal of Neuroscience Research has found that regular cannabis users may possess a greater understanding of the emotions of others. The findings of this study highlight potential positive effects of cannabis on interpersonal relationships and its potential therapeutic applications.
The study, conducted by a team of neurobiologists at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, involved comparing measurements of empathy between a group of 85 regular cannabis users and 51 non-users. The researchers utilized a 33-item test and MRI images of the participants in their analysis.
The written test used in the study analyzed the empathic ability of the subjects, assessing both cognitive and affective empathy. Empathic ability was further divided into specific areas or “subscales,” such as the capacity to place oneself in the shoes of another and the ability to recognize other people’s emotions and impressions, as well as the abilities to feel or be in tune with others’ positive and negative emotions.
The study found that cannabis users showed higher scores in the Emotional Comprehension scales of the test, which focused on the ability to recognize and understand others’ emotions. However, there were no statistically significant differences observed between cannabis users and non-users in other empathy subscales.
The researchers suggest that there may be a potential association between marijuana use and empathy, but caution that further research is necessary to fully understand these interactions, as there may be other factors at play.
To explain these findings, the neuroscientists noted that one region of the brain, called the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), is prone to the effects of cannabis consumption and heavily involved in empathy. They suggested that differences observed in emotional comprehension scores and brain functional connectivity among regular cannabis users could be related to their use of cannabis.
However, there are some caveats to consider. The authors acknowledge that they cannot discount the possibility that these differences in empathic ability were present before participants started using cannabis. Additionally, self-reported responses to the empathy questions may not be as reliable as biochemical markers in conjunction with subjective reports.
It is also important to note that the marijuana used by participants in this study was likely of lower THC potency compared to products found at state-legal retailers in the United States. The authors highlight that the quality of cannabis consumed in Mexico contains approximately 2% to 20% of THC on the illegal market, which may differ from the cannabis consumed in the US.
Despite these qualifiers, the study concludes that these results contribute to opening a pathway for further research into the clinical applications of cannabis or its components on affect and social interactions.
This study is just one example of recent neuroscience research exploring the potential benefits of cannabis. Other studies have found that medical marijuana use is associated with improved quality of life among people with neurological disorders, better job performance, sleep, appetite, and energy levels. Cannabis has also been shown to enhance the practice of yoga and boost the “runner’s high” felt during exercise.
While more research is needed to fully understand the effects of cannabis on empathy and other aspects of human psychology and behavior, these findings provide valuable insights into the potential therapeutic applications of cannabis and its impact on interpersonal relationships.
