A recent study suggests that marijuana increases positivity and reduces the negativity in emotional processing.

Let’s face it: marijuana can put a smile on many a people’s faces, and research adds to the already great news, for some of us. The recent study conducted in 2012 and published 2013 suggests that marijuana’s positive effects extend beyond just getting high.

The study published in the peer-reviewed academic journal European Neuropsychopharmacology found that the brain’s endocannabinoid system activated by the psychoactive ingredient known as THC (a component of marijuana) may contribute greatly to emotional processing: a crucial aspect of apt social interactions and interpersonal relationships.
In particular, the authors of the study established that participants given THC in a controlled experiment indicated reduced brain activity in response to negative stimuli as compared to those given placebo. Mental conditions such as depression have been associated with a bias towards negative stimuli. Additionally, evidence that THC curbs this effect suggests that the endocannabinoid system could play an imperative, valuable role in how humans experience emotions and mood.