A new study published in BMJ Open suggests that kids with high scores on academic exams were almost twice as likely to use cannabis from ages 18 to 20. In addition, the smart kids were less likely than low scorers to smoke cigarettes, but more likely to drink alcohol.
The researchers tracked 6000 students divided into three groups depending on test scores, surveying them over the years on their cigarette, alcohol, and cannabis use. High-scoring students were 50% more likely to smoke weed occasionally, and 91% more likely to smoke it continuously from ages 18 and onward.
That said, before you encourage teens to blaze it (please don’t do that), the researchers caution against using this study to assume that weed helps students perform. Rather, they use these findings to contradict the assumption that teens with poor academic performance are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol.
“Reducing harmful substance use in this age group is important, no matter the level of academic ability, given the immediate risks to health and the longer term consequences,” researchers James Williams and Gareth Hagger-Johnson wrote in their article.
Article Appeared @http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/news/a53430/smart-teens-weed/