Marijuana Mascot Miley Cyrus Is Done With Weed (for Now)
After endorsing marijuana for several years, Miley Cyrus is sober and doesn't want to be around potheads because she thinks they are lazy.
Miley Cyrus is stepping down from her reign as the unofficial Queen of Marijuana. The singer, who has literally worn a pot leaf as a badge of honor for several years, has announced that she is no longer smoking cannabis. And she may just be turning on her pothead posse.
In an interview with Billboard, the former "Hannah Montana" star divulged that smoking pot was no longer her style. "This is crazy, but I haven't smoked weed in three weeks!" she confessed, admitting it's the longest she has done without it.
While it's only been less than a month since she put down the pipe, that's a big deal for Cyrus. But why did she decide to quit? "I like to surround myself with people that make me want to get better, more evolved, open. And I was noticing it's not the people that are stoned," she tells Billboard. "I want to be super clear and sharp, because I know exactly where I want to be."
Cyrus may not realize this, but she isn't the first person to deduce that potheads can be, well, lazy. In fact, there is scientific evidence behind the stoners-are-unmotivated theory.
A 2013 study done by Imperial College London found that long-term marijuana users tend to produce less dopamine — a feel-good chemical in the brain that's released when you are rewarded and has been linked to motivation. "Long-term regular marijuana use seems to have a [strong] effect on brain chemistry," lead author of the study Michael Bloomfield, Ph.D., explained in a press release.
"After a period of time, your brain cells aren't able to make as much tyrosine hydroxylase, an important enzyme that's a key component in making dopamine," explains Bloomfield. "We know that dopamine affects how the brain controls motivation and addictions; therefore our study provides a scientific explanation as to the reason that cannabis users seem to become less motivated."
Along with decreased motivation, symptoms of low dopamine levels in the brain can include depression, anxiety, disorganized thinking, attention deficits, fatigue, low libido, weight changes and memory impairment.
In addition to the bong, Cyrus has also put down the bottle. "I'm not doing drugs, I'm not drinking, I'm completely clean right now! That was just something that I wanted to do," she shared. We look forward to seeing what a focused Miley Cyrus can do.
Sobriety appears to be a healthy trend in Hollywood these days. Brad Pitt revealed this week that he has sobered up, and earlier this year Ben Affleck announced that he had completed a rehab program.
While it's important to seek help if you have an addiction, there are some scientifically proven benefits to using alcohol and marijuana in moderation. Marijuana, in particular, has been used to treat chronic pain, migraines and epilepsy.
What Do YOU Think?
Was Cyrus smart to turn over a new leaf? Do you think potheads are lazy? Do you think it's OK to drink and smoke weed in moderation?