Cannabis Use and Happiness: What We Can Learn from People in Recovery

As the therapeutic potential of cannabis continues on a path toward acceptance, broader questions are now being asked: Can cannabis use actually contribute to greater happiness – particularly among people in recovery from substance use disorders?

This question is especially relevant for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) and people who inject drugs (PWID), whose experiences with recovery are often shaped not only by abstinence but also by mental well-being and social connection.  A recent study¹ published in Scientific Reports aimed to answer this by examining happiness among this population.

Cannabis Use and Baseline Happiness: A Complicated Start

In the study, data from 967 patients was analyzed, 64% of whom reported using cannabis in the month prior to assessment.  At baseline, cannabis users were grouped under “high substance use,” which was, notably, associated with significantly lower self-reported happiness – about 24% lower – than their non-using peers.  This immediately suggests that cannabis use alone does not point toward greater happiness – at least not initially.

Context matters, though, and it is important to recognize that most participants were polydrug users, and cannabis use was often part of a widespread pattern of self-medication or unmanaged substance use, not structured therapy.  With that in mind, these conditions that result in reduced happiness could simply reflect the burden of addiction and associated mental health struggles.

Long-Term Gains: Cannabis Users Report Increasing Happiness

Looking deeper, it is interesting that while cannabis users had lower happiness scores to start, their happiness increased significantly over time.  The study found an 11% overall boost in happiness after one year, with many participants who initially reported low or moderate happiness transitioning to higher levels.

This trend aligns with other research, with detailed clinical findings from structured recovery programs incorporating medically supervised cannabis use.  In these settings, patients reported:

• Reduced cravings for opioids and stimulants

• Improved sleep and mental health

• Higher retention rates in treatment programs

These benefits are closely tied to subjective well-being, suggesting that when cannabis is used intentionally and therapeutically, it may contribute to increased happiness in recovery.

Cannabis as a Harm Reduction Tool in Recovery

The evidence points to an emerging role for cannabis not as a replacement for traditional treatment but as a potential adjunct therapy.  Important to note is that participants in both of the mentioned studies defined recovery not as strict abstinence, but as a pathway to improved quality of life.

In that light, cannabis may serve several overlapping purposes:

• Helping patients manage psychological distress (which was inversely correlated with happiness)

• Supporting better sleep and emotional regulation

• Reducing reliance on more dangerous substances

• Creating a sense of control and personal agency during recovery

Rather than viewing cannabis as a setback to sobriety, which is made easier particularly when viewed through the lens of emerging research that challenges the outdated ‘gateway drug’ hypothesis, structured programs increasingly recognize it as a bridge to stability – especially for those who have not found success in abstinence-only approaches.

A Shift in Recovery Metrics: From Abstinence to Well-Being

Traditional definitions of recovery center on abstinence, but both the scientific and anecdotal data suggest that this metric may be too narrow in the modern world.  Rather, measuring happiness as a proxy for overall well-being offers a more comprehensive view of success in recovery – one that cannabis may help support.

The Norwegian study concludes that happiness could be a valuable indicator of recovery trajectory.  When paired with clinical observations showing that medical cannabis can improve mood, reduce distress, and foster treatment engagement, the case for including cannabis in some recovery plans becomes stronger.

Final Thoughts

Cannabis is not a silver bullet for addiction recovery, nor is it universally helpful.  In fact, it is important to note that the study did not isolate cannabis use from other substances, so its independent effect on happiness cannot be determined from this data alone.  But when considered alongside the growing body of evidence – including data from long-term studies and medically supervised programs – it isn’t unreasonable to suggest that under the right conditions, cannabis can support recovery; by enhancing well-being and increasing happiness, perhaps not directly, but indirectly through fostering the conditions needed for this to occur.

This means recognizing that cannabis use, especially when guided and structured, may not hinder recovery – it may enhance it.  For individuals navigating recovery, cannabis might offer a valuable tool to restore balance, reduce cravings, and improve day-to-day life satisfaction.

Studies Referenced:

^{1. Guerra, C. L., Vold, J. H., Aas, C. F., Chalabianloo, F., Løberg, E.-M., Johansson, K. A., & Fadnes, L. T. (2025). Associations between happiness with social factors and opioid agonist therapy among people who inject drugs. Scientific Reports, 15, 11790. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95967-y}