Marijuana and Poor Educational Attainment
Is the following statement FACT or CRAP?
9. Students who use marijuana are more likely to drop out of school.
Answer: FACT
Young people who use cannabis are at increased risk of poor academic performance and dropping out of school. The effects of adolescent cannabis use on educational attainment: a review https://sci-hub.tw/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11219366/
So, we knew pot could hurt your brain, didn’t we? It seems so obvious now, but we must have known the harms from marijuana use at some level for decades, at least. After all, look at the stoner humor and stereotypes portrayed in popular culture since the 1970s. Cheech and Chong. Reverend Jim. Jay and Silent Bob. The Dude. All brain-fried, lovable losers who just want to chill and bake.
However, the marijuana industry doesn’t want you to think that. However, we now have empirical research proving that marijuana interferes with memory, learning, and motivation. Because it stunts developing brains, those who start using in adolescence suffer diminished intellectual and emotional growth as adults. They lack ambition. Worse, they end up not caring about what they’ve lost.
It was clear many years ago that there’s a link between cannabis use and poor educational attainment among teens. Adolescent cannabis users tend to fail more easily than non-users, to drop out of school more often, and to give up on dreams of college.
For those of you who have been impacted by a loved one’s marijuana use, none of the stereotypes, none of the humor, is funny anymore. Knowing how marijuana affects young brains and educational attainment, never, ever take the chance.