Cannabis use lowers IQ claim scientific dudes.

Bummer.

Tell me again how a sample of a thousand people, only fifty of whom became long-term users, is statistically significant in a population of six billion?

While you're at it, explain why that should be the basis - as was proposed on the radio this morning - for governments the world over to change the law?

And how does any government rationalise banning cannabis while permitting both tobacco and alcohol? (Actually, one for the conspiracists: surely Big Bizness[tm] and/or The Gummint[tm] would want lots of happy smiley low-IQ consumers and workers, to keep the elite in power and comfort?)

Pah. Think of it the same was as alcohol and nicotine: evolution in action.

I don't think there's ever been a good medical argument for cannabis not being legal and this study, arguably, adds weight to the argument for legalisation (as it's far easier to regulate sale of a legal product than a legal one).

I haven't seen the data used to reach the conclusion, so I can't really comment, but it does seem like a larger sample is required. It would also be interesting to see how they've made the decision it is a causal factor, rather than than a correlative one.

IQ tests are always debatable as a measure of anything other than how well a person does IQ tests and it could easily be argued that long-term cannabis use correlates with a 'slacker' attitude that means that the user is less able to transition from IQ tests intended for children to IQ tests intended for adults.

Well, I'll try ...

The statistically relevant figures are just how many of the fifty displayed a drop in IQ, against a backdrop of what happened to the remainder of the 50. The 1,000 and six billion aren't relevant.

I'm guessing that you still have quite a stash to get through, then

Just imagine where you could have been, Andrew if you never used it lol only kidn mate.

The claim made by the team leader on t'radio this morning was that *all* the fifty exhibited a drop, measured against the thousand.

Fair enough as far as it goes, and to be honest, nothing I wouldn't expect - though why any sentient being would *ever* want to bugger around with their brain chemistry I don't know - but this is over a forty year survey.

With that small a cohort, over that time period, it strikes me that there's an awful lot of other possible causes which require analysis and explanation. Which is cause and which is effect? I don't think that's a big enough sample size to ensure that the other environmental factors could be excluded or accounted for.

BUT I have not read the paper. I'm only discussing what's been general dumbed-down public knowledge.

what % of this age group do you think have tried it?

From the talking head I heard on the radio, the sample came down to 50 because they'd already stripped out all those affected by other/external factors.

It's also worth remembering that the people in this sample are now 38 years old. The grade of cannabis they were taking 24 years ago is not the same as the skunk being taken today.

Duuude.

Newspaper 'Cannabis gets stronger' stories are to be treated cautiously, as the figures tell a different story

I wonder how many people on here would admit to trying during your teens?

I first tried it when I was 17, and I've tried it on quite a few occasions since - most recently about 2 years ago. I've never been anything close to a regular user, though.

I would never have guessed that in a million years, top honesty.

At 16 I done it! It made me laugh and eat my food thats all and got paranoid when it wore off didnt like it not for me.

We may not agree on certain things Andrew but honesty is a virtue I regard highly.

I don't see it as anything to be secretive about - I'd imagine that quite a lot of people of my age have at least tried cannabis, probably while they were reasonably young.

Personally I think that cannabis is a very nice drug, certainly better than the others I've tried (only speed and ecstasy, to be fair), but as I've grown older I've found being high too annoying to be really enjoyable.

Anyway, it's hard to think of a good argument against full legalisation ... but perhaps that's just because I've smoked too much

Wow! my 'inital book cover' of you is very different to my original assumption.

Nothing in Andrew's liberal, intellectual demeanour, age group or social preferences suggested he might have tried smoking weed... or did they?

I'd have put money on him being a meth-head personally...

LOL I just goes to show never judge a book by the cover which we all do.

I doubt a meth-head could type on a pc ? lol

You've got money on you? <Puts on balaclava> Heh, this should support my habit for another couple of days.

Nah, I think I've probably tried all of the drugs I'm likely to ... although I do still have a lingering urge to try LSD. Maybe once I've retired, although it hardly seems to be the drug of choice these days, have hallucinogenics gone out of fashion?

I manage it...

What is meth anyway? I watch 'dog the bounty hunter' they talk about ICE is that the same?

Thanks for that as i wasnt sure what it was.

I watch dog the bounty hunter dont laugh its good lol over their ice is the main factor to crime etc.

Cooool thread dudes...........

Anybody fancy sending out for pizza?

That's worrying. I started smoking weed daily from the age of 15 and stopped to join the RAF at 18. So that's why I'm thick as pig poo

I tried acid once at Uni - when I was about 20. Pretty significant and extremely interesting experience, but I was too scared to repeat it, as I ended up with a bad trip coming down. The damage has been done, though, I fear.

Cannabis has never agreed with me (no-one does!). I tried some a few years ago out in the sticks of Denbigh, but it deposited me in a psychotic state with split consciousness and the memory span of a goldfish, which I feared I was never going to escape. So hardly a nice drug for me. I probably got hold of some skunk, or the likes of it.

Yes they do.

Personally I thought Andrew was more the Bottle-of-Bucky and yelling at Pigeons type, so nice to have that myth busted.

Just say no, kids!

Wait a minute - If you say 'yes they do', then that implies that they don't .. and then if ..

Dohh!



You got me!