New national analysis links teen cannabis use with lower academic success

Cannabis use during adolescence and young adulthood was linked to lower academic performance, a systematic review and meta-analysis suggested (Source: “Cannabis Use in Teens, Young Adults Linked to Lower Academic Success,” MedPage Today, Oct. 7).

Among 63 studies that comprised 438,329 participants, moderate-certainty evidence indicated that cannabis use among individuals ages 24 years and younger was likely associated with lower school grades  as well as less likelihood of high school completion, university enrollment, and postsecondary degree attainment, according to the new analysis, published in JAMA Pediatrics.

"Although our findings support a negative association between cannabis use and academic achievement, the mechanism of action is uncertain," the researchers wrote. "Cannabis-induced impairment of cognitive function and motivation may play a role; however, whether cannabis use is a cause, correlate, or consequence of these factors is inconclusive." 

In their introduction, the researchers said that, in 2019, 37% of U.S. high school students reported lifetime cannabis use and 22% reported using in the past month. They also noted that the potency of cannabis has increased over time in the U.S., from approximately 4% tetrahydrocannabinol in 1995 to 14% in 2019.