After the controversial release of a Duke University study that linked persistent cannabis use and neuropsychological decline, the University College of London filled us with joy providing stronger evidences that they were wrong.
In this new study researchers examined more than 2.500 children born in 1991 and 1992 and tested their IQ at age 8 and again at age 15. The results? They found “no relationship between cannabis use and lower IQ at age 15,”. Even heavy marijuana users showed no IQ decline.
The study also considered other factors, such as alcohol use, cigarette use, maternal education and others. Surprisingly – or not – they found that Alcohol use is strongly associate with IQ decline. The other ones showed no relevant linked between one thing and another.
The message, as lead author Claire Mokrysz said, is very clear and important: The use of cannabis is not a problem itself. “The belief that cannabis is particularly harmful may detract focus from the awareness of other potentially harmful behaviours”.
These facts make the prohibition of cannabis in so many places look more hypocrite than ever. Legalizing or descriminalizing marijuana seems to be the key to promote improvements. For example, after California decriminalized it, teen arrest, overdose and dropout rates fell.
We hope this kind of study keep coming over and over and we can focus on the facts that really matter in order to give our kids the best environment and education we can.
