According to a new study called “The Effects of Consuming Cannabis Flower for Treatment of Fatigue,” cannabis flower may be useful in decreasing fatigue.
The study, which was published in Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids in April, was conducted via interview by the authors through the Economics and Psychology Departments at University of New Mexico (UNM), as well as MoreBetter, which is the creator of an app called Releaf that was used in this study to track consumption.
The study analyzed 1,224 people who conducted 3,922 cannabis flower consumption sessions within the range of June 6 through August 7, 2019 using the Releaf app.
Participants had recorded their levels of fatigue prior to consumption, as well as afterward, and also included notes about the specific strain and properties they consumed.
According to the results, an average of 91.94% of participants felt that their fatigue decreased overall after consuming cannabis.
Researchers had found that specific strains labeled as indica, sativa or hybrid did not provide a positive/negative effect in combating fatigue. However, participants who smoked joints felt fatigue relief more than those who chose to consume via pipe or vaporizers.
The authors also found that less than 24% of consumers felt negative side effects while approximately 37% felt more positive effects.
“The findings suggest that the majority of patients experience decreased fatigue from consumption of Cannabis flower consumed in vivo, although the magnitude of the effect and extent of side effects experienced likely vary with individuals’ metabolic states and the synergistic chemotypic properties of the plant,” said the authors.
In an interview with Benzinga, research author Dr. Jacob Miguel Vigil described that the results of this study were quite the opposite of the pre-existing stigma that still exists in relation to cannabis.
“Despite the conventional beliefs that frequent Cannabis use may result in decreased behavioral activity, goal-pursuit, and competitiveness, or what academics have called ‘amotivational syndrome,’ people tend to actually experience an immediate boost in their energy levels immediately after consuming cannabis,” Vigil said.
