Title: Amotivational Syndrome and Marijuana Use | Psychology Today
Headings: Amotivational Syndrome and Marijuana Use
Gary Wenk Ph.D.
Amotivational Syndrome and Marijuana Use
Why does this syndrome only develop in some long-term users?

Content: Amotivational Syndrome and Marijuana Use | Psychology Today
Gary Wenk Ph.D.
Your Brain on Food
Amotivational Syndrome and Marijuana Use
Why does this syndrome only develop in some long-term users? Posted November 21, 2014 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan
Studies suggest that people who user moderate amounts of marijuana show no personality disturbances. This finding raises the important issues of how much the term “moderate” implies, how long the people in these studies been smoking marijuana, and at what age they began smoking. In contrast, people who are heavy users of marijuana for a prolonged period of time were characterized as suffering from apathy, dullness, lethargy, and impairment of judgment, i.e. the classic amotivational syndrome. Whether the amotivational syndrome exists or not is still controversial; there are still too few poorly controlled small studies that do not allow a definitive answer. Also, most people who use marijuana do not develop this syndrome. Why does this syndrome only develop in some long-term users? The answer lies in understanding the behavior of our brain’s own marijuana system. Our human brain produces its own endogenous marijuana-like chemicals.