Let’s Bust This Myth Once and for All!
There’s a long-standing stereotype that people who smoke weed are lazy, unmotivated, and glued to their sofas, surrounded by a mountain of snacks. It’s a tired trope that’s been pushed by outdated propaganda and Hollywood stoner comedies for decades. But here’s the thing—real-life cannabis users are proving that narrative wrong every single day.
Take me, for example. I smoke all day, every day, and in the past few years, I’ve:
Founded and run a a multi ward-winning vegan restaurant, recognised as one of the top 100 in South Africa.
Built a boutique cannabis café and dispensary from the ground up.
Created and produced my own cooking show pilot episode.
Cooked for live audiences and on national TV.
Written books, including my upcoming cookbook.
Won a South African Music Award as an Executive Music Producer with Ard Matthew’s for Impossible Machines.
Married my twin flame, Daimon.
Fought and survived cancer.
Endured a botched medical procedure.
Managed my mental health issues.
Lazy? Hardly.
The Reality: Cannabis and Productivity Can Coexist
The idea that smoking weed automatically leads to laziness ignores the countless professionals, athletes, artists, and entrepreneurs who use cannabis regularly while excelling in their fields. The plant itself isn’t the problem—how you use it and what your intentions are matter far more.
Let’s break down the facts:
1. Different Strains, Different Effects
Cannabis isn’t a one-size-fits-all experience. Some strains can leave you feeling mellow and relaxed, while others give you a burst of creative energy and focus. Sativas, for example, are often associated with uplifting, energising effects, making them perfect for productivity and creativity. Indicas, on the other hand, tend to be more sedative, which is great for unwinding but not ideal if you have a to-do list as long as your arm.
If you’re smoking a heavy indica first thing in the morning and wondering why you can’t get off the couch—well, that’s like drinking a glass of red wine at breakfast and expecting to power through a workday. It’s all about using cannabis intentionally.
2. It’s Not the Weed, It’s You
People who lack motivation are going to be unmotivated whether they smoke or not. Blaming cannabis for laziness is like blaming your morning coffee for why you didn’t go to the gym—it doesn’t work that way. Cannabis, like any tool, is only as useful as the person using it. If you have goals, drive, and discipline, cannabis isn’t going to erase that—it might even enhance it.
3. Weed Can Actually Improve Productivity
Many high-functioning cannabis users find that it helps them focus, enhances creativity, and even improves their ability to problem-solve. Writers, musicians, entrepreneurs, and artists have long credited cannabis for unlocking inspiration and helping them enter a state of flow. It’s why so many of the world’s most successful people, from Steve Jobs to Carl Sagan, have openly discussed their use of cannabis.
Personally, I find that the right strain helps me stay engaged and energised, whether I’m working on a new recipe, painting in my studio, or running a business. It’s about knowing what works for you and using it as a tool rather than a crutch.
Breaking the Stigma
The “lazy stoner” stereotype is outdated, inaccurate, and rooted in misinformation. Cannabis users come in all forms—CEOs, athletes, artists, doctors, scientists, and yes, high-achieving entrepreneurs like me. The next time someone tries to push the idea that smoking weed makes you lazy, ask them this:
Would you call the Olympic athletes who use cannabis lazy?
Would you call the successful tech entrepreneurs who micro-dose THC unmotivated?
Would you tell me, someone who built multiple businesses, survived cancer, and produced a TV show, that I must be a couch-locked dropout?
It’s time to move past these outdated myths and start seeing cannabis for what it truly is—a powerful plant with the potential to enhance lives, not diminish them.
So no, weed doesn’t make you lazy. But excuses do.
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