Pubdate: Sat, 22 May 2010
Source: New Zealand Herald (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2010 New Zealand Herald
Contact:  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/300
Author: Jarrod Booker

SMOKE DOPE AND BECOME ONE, STUDY WARNS

New research suggests cannabis use is dumbing down young
people.

The study of more than 6000 New Zealanders and Australians found those
who used cannabis before the age of 18 ended up achieving less
academically those those who did not use the drug.

They were more likely to fail to complete high school, less likely to
enter university and less likely to attain a university degree - even
when socio-economic status, previous educational achievement and other
personal factors were taken into account.

Otago University researcher Professor David Fergusson said the study
showed a "robust association" between the early use of cannabis and
under-achievement.

The study findings also suggested that early use of cannabis had a
greater effect on the achievement of males than females.

The research was based on the combined findings of three Australasian
studies, including the University of Otago's long-running Christchurch
Health and Development Study, which has tracked more than 900 people
from childhood to age 30.

Norml, a group lobbying for cannabis law reform, said the study did
not prove cannabis use was the cause of lower achievement.

"A poor-performing student could be attracted to using cannabis, and a
bunch of other behaviours that we might not like, but that doesn't
mean one is the cause of the other," said Norml spokesman Chris Fowlie.

But his group did not want those under 18 using the
drug.

"The current law is not keeping cannabis out of the hands of
teenagers. We now have one of the highest rates of teenage cannabis
use in the world.

"And that's because we have got this lucrative black market controlled
by organised crime."

The illegal nature of cannabis also attracted teenagers as a form of
rebellion, Mr Fowlie said.

"We want to have regulated sales so that we can control the age of
purchase." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake