A recent article in the medical journal Lancet Psychiatry links Marijuana use to poor educational outcomes and increased risk of suicide.
The authors of this article did an analysis of data from three longitudinal studies and found that Cannabis (Marijuana) use in the mid-teen years is associated with numerous poor outcomes by young adulthood. The analysis included up to 3800 youths in Australia and New Zealand who used Marijuana before age 17 and were followed until ages 27-30. Even use of less than once a month was associated with lower educational attainment, suicide attempts, and use of other illicit drugs.
Outcomes worsened as cannabis use increased: daily use was associated with roughly a 60% reduced likelihood of graduating high school or earning a college degree, as well as nearly an 18-fold increased risk for later cannabis dependence, 8-fold risk for use of other drugs, and 7-fold risk for suicide attempt.
Debate continues about the consequences of adolescent cannabis use. Existing data are limited in statistical power to examine rarer outcomes and less common, heavier patterns of cannabis use than those already investigated; furthermore, evidence has a piecemeal approach to reporting of young adult sequelae. We aimed to provide a broad picture of the psychosocial sequelae of adolescent cannabis use.
I believe this paper puts to rest the question of “Is Marijuana safe?” The answer is obviously not.
Make sure you and your spouse are setting a good example for your family and make your house a smoke free zone. And pray that our state and yours are not foolish enough to sell the well being of your kids and their friends for 30 more pieces of tax dollars. Life is too precious for that!
Prevention or delay of cannabis use in adolescence is likely to have broad health and social benefits. Efforts to reform cannabis legislation should be carefully assessed to ensure they reduce adolescent cannabis use and prevent potentially adverse developmental effects.