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Originally seen on Cannabis Culture| A study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, examined whether marijuana lowered intelligence levels in users. The study was largely ignored by US media, while within Canada, the results seemed to depend on which newspaper headline you read.

Most headlines about the study said something like “Potheads become dopes” (Toronto Sun) or “Pot does rot your brain” (Edmonton Sun). Yet a few papers reported the opposite, announcing that “Marijuana Doesn’t Make You A Dope” (Calgary Herald) or “Smoking Pot No Risk To IQ” (Globe & Mail).

That a single study could produce such conflicting headlines says more about the integrity of the media than it does about the study itself.

Here’s how the study was done: A group of young, middle-class adults was assembled, consisting of non-tokers, light pot smokers, and heavy users. Light users were those who smoked less than five joints a week, heavy users toked an average of 33 joints each week. Researchers used urine samples to confirm marijuana use or abstinence.

Everyone in the study had been subjected to IQ tests between the ages of nine and twelve. They subjected this crew to follow-up IQ tests to see how their lifetime use of marijuana might have affected their IQ. They found that the non-smokers IQ’s stayed the same or went up slightly. The light smokers had an average IQ increase of five points, more than the non-smokers. That’s right.  People who smoked weed moderately experience and increase in their IQ scores by 5 points compared to people who didn’t smoke weed.  The heavy users had suffered an IQ loss of about four points.

Now this is interesting finding because it shows that if you smoke under 5 joints a week (lets say maybe 1 or 2 for example), then you would be a part of the study population that would display an increase in IQ scores compared to non-smokers.

As the study concluded:

“Current marijuana use had a negative effect on global IQ score only in subjects who smoked 5 or more joints per week. A negative effect was not observed among subjects who had previously been heavy users but were no longer using the substance. We conclude that marijuana does not have a long-term negative impact on global intelligence.”

The study further found that after abstaining from weed for three months the differences between the three groups’ IQ levels disappeared. The study was led by Dr Paul Fried at Carleton University in Ottawa, who told the media that they needed to be “very cautious” about the results.

What this study would seem to show is that moderate use of cannabis produces an increase in IQ, while heavy use produces a decrease. Further, the study shows that even heavy, long term use of cannabis produces no permanent harm to IQ scores.

This study refutes most of the prohibitionist propaganda about youth and cannabis use. That the “light users” who smoke less than 5 joints per week actually saw an increase in IQ scores indicates that cannabis may have enhancing effects on synthesizing information, comprehension, abstract thinking, insightfulness, creativity, and outside the box thinking.

I'm sure there's probably lots more studies that actually say the opposite too. Not sure I can take anything coming from a site called spiritscienceandmetaphysics.com seriously though as well  ;D.

I smoked pot sociably in my late teens and early twenties with friends. I enjoyed it at first when it made us laugh but found towards the end it just made me paranoid and lazy even for the next few days after. Stopping smoking it was one of the best things I ever did. My personality changed back to the active, sociable, outgoing person I was and am now, not the shy, nervous, paranoid, lazy wreck I had become.

Fair play to anyone that can operate as normal with pot in their system, I know I couldn't. Some of my friends still smoke it on a regular even daily basis 20 years on and have families, jobs etc. it hasn't affected them the way it did me but everyone's different I suppose.

I agree that cannabis is best used medicinally, in moderation.  Smoke when it benefits your well being, not when its that time to smoke.  Anxiety can become present depending on different variables such as if youre smoking sativa vs indica, or if the weed is organic or not.  I used it for anxiety and it helped but weed is not something to use indefinitely for your issues, its something to be used at moments its needed.  After extensive use, it can bring back your anxiety.

I personally enjoy being sober these days with an occasional smoke, but I cannot say I regret ever smoking cannabis.  I probably would have killed myself (or tried) as a teen if Mary Jane didnt give me guidance and a fresh perspective on life.

The best thing about not smoking is the vividness of dreams.  But I cannot deny cannabis helped my mental and physical health tremendously.

I find that weed grounds you to an extent.  Smoke when she brings you up, not when youre already flying.

Moderation is key.

There is to much conflicting information.


There was just a report like 2 weeks ago that said it made you dumber.

Depends what their agenda is. People who are pro-pot will spin it one way and people who are anti-will try it the other. There's a lot of misinformation from both sides and fear-mongering from the anti-camp. Cannabis isn't a magic medicine for everything, but it has it's uses. I don't think it cures cancer as some claim, but it definitely helps with the pain and sickness of chemo.

www.spiritscienceandmetaphysics.com/study-finds-marijuana-increases-your-iq

From my experience, cannabis allows you to use a fuller spectrum of your mind than simply the logical left half of your brain that we are conditioned to use through adolescence.  It opened my mind to a new perspective that brought way for a higher understanding and integration of new information.

In school, I performed better when exercising the right half, creative side, of my brain in classes such as english.  I found a much higher understanding of my own studies outside of school.

The only thing that painted the full picture better, was the use of psychedelics that allowed me to access the Akashic records, a collective consciousness of all knowledge and wisdom.

How has cannabis effected the way you see life?

I'm pro-Cannabis even though I don't use it.  From a past life, I can say without a doubt that it definitely didn't increase my IQ, and learning was more of a struggle.  I do believe in it's medicinal properties, and as you've stated it's great for fighting pain and the sickness of chemo.

i dont think the claims are true, sorry to burst the bubble.

If this was true, then the article will be super viral.. and cnn would be covering the story.

The only thing that painted the full picture better, was the use of psychedelics that allowed me to access the Akashic records, a collective consciousness of all knowledge and wisdom.

Really so you think you have surfed the astral plane, and what did you bring back besides bullshit?

I surf it all the time and do it with nothing but Ommm and meditation, drugs destroy your mind.

That's why I bought back 30 Mod prime algorithm, HelixQ (90 bit/byte OS for AI) and PDF what NASA uses to find new planets.

So astral surfer who is full of bs, what have you bought back from your drug induced trips?

NOTHING

You're destroying your brain

DRUGS ARE FOR LOSERS

the authenticity and validity of that article and website is highly questionable.

Really so you think you have surfed the astral plane, and what did you bring back besides bullshit?

I surf it all the time and do it with nothing but Ommm and meditation, drugs destroy your mind.

That's why I bought back 30 Mod prime algorithm, HelixQ (90 bit/byte OS for AI) and PDF what NASA uses to find new planets.

So astral surfer who is full of bs, what have you bought back from your drug induced trips?

NOTHING

You're destroying your brain

DRUGS ARE FOR LOSERS

Outside of what maybe some med mj growers make that is well cared for cani

Most weed is destroyed with cancer causing chemicals to do huge growth, so not knowing the grow source is the problem with all weed

What you buy on the street is often laced with poison, I have a ton of friends that smoke weed, none are successful, some of the successful guys I know drink or do some blow, some do nothing. The stoners are all broke, sure a few well off guys blow a tree here and there, but they are very rare users. The guys smoking weed everyday are all losers. Go try to get a real job with a major company and when they piss test you see how that screen gets you nothing.

Is it still possible to buy real marijuana and not this shit they sell on every street?

That's relly interesting to know but undoubtedly the excessive usage is harmful.

how would this be even possible? lol.