Everyone on earth wants long-lasting happiness. However, achieving this goal is a lofty endeavor, especially in the ultra-fast-paced 21st century. Most of us non-enlightened mortals need extra help in our "happiness quest." Sure, mindfulness meditation and exercise can do wonders for mental health, but sometimes people need a little extra "push" to find their "happy state."

This is where cannabis enters the picture. No, pot laws won't produce "world peace," but they may influence the "vibe" in a community. There's no question that more people are turning to cannabis for stress relief, and restrictive laws likely harm most people's psyches. Taking a "live & let be" policy toward cannabis appears to be the best strategy for creating happier communities. 

How Can Cannabis-Friendly Communities Improve Mood? 

Since cannabis legislation is so new, there's little long-term sociological evidence that cannabis laws make communities "happier." Plus, it's pretty difficult to quantify emotions like "joy" and "contentment." However, there's no doubt that most Americans are fed up with the federal government's restrictive policies toward cannabis. 

Pew Research data shows well over 90 percent of Americans want legal weed for medical or recreational use. Even if Americans aren't interested in smoking cannabis, most believe the state shouldn't infringe on an adult's right to use this product. Removing cannabis restrictions gives Americans more options, and it helps heal years of stigma against those in the cannabis community. 

There's also evidence that many people choose to use cannabis to add "joy" to their lives. Indeed, a recent survey shows that 55 percent of MMJ patients primarily buy cannabis to experience "happiness." Many other studies suggest people began gravitating towards cannabis during the COVID-19 lockdowns to maintain a sense of peace during these turbulent times. 

Although scientists are still learning how cannabinoids like THC and CBD affect mood, many believe they have a positive association with stress relief. Many in the medical community also admit that particular cannabis extracts positively impact patients with issues ranging from childhood epilepsy to nausea. By giving citizens more options for their mental and physical well-being, cannabis-friendly laws profoundly impact the community. 

Cannabis-Friendly Communities May Remove Unnecessary Fear 

Besides allowing residents to easily access cannabis products, weed-friendly laws may improve a community's mood by removing decades of fear. Please remember that for most of the 20th century, people who used marijuana had to contend with a lot of anxiety. 

Not only were marijuana fans afraid of getting caught by the police, they had to worry about whether their weed was clean. Since marijuana was illegal in all states in the 20th century, there were no third-party lab tests customers could refer to.

Recreational or medical cannabis laws help to legitimize the cannabis industry and set clear guidelines for cultivation, sale, and consumption. These new policies help remove a ton of stigma surrounding cannabis use and provide customers with high-quality lab-verified products. These effects should have a positive impact on how people feel about using cannabis in their wellness routine.