When it come tocognitive benefits , cannabis is a bite of amixed bag , with various studies conclude that it ’s either honest or sorry in this regard . A new study , bring out in theReview of Economic Studies , comes down on the latter side thanks to a rather refreshing experimentation .
After note 4,000 students lose or retain approach to marijuana at Maastricht University in the Netherlands , they found that , on intermediate , those that partook in a little doobie or two earn worse grades and fail course at afar higher ratethan those that do n’t .
As report by theWashington Post , the experiment , rather curiously , set itself up .
This means that student at the university who were resident physician of the Netherlands could still buy and use smoke for unpaid determination , but other students could not . Not able to resist involve advantage of this , a pair of economists from the Behavior and Inequality Research Institute in Bonn and the Erasmus University of Rotterdam decided to dog students ’ grades .
They find that those who lost accession to the coffeeshops showed at least a 5 percent extra fortune of give-up the ghost their classes , on average . student who were female , commonly underperforming , or younger showed an even greater welfare from not using ganja compared to other groups .
“ We find that carrying into action gain are big for courses that expect more numerical / mathematical acquirement , ” the researchers note in their subject field .
They reason that it ’s likely that the well - documentedeffectsof cannabis on most individuals – include difficultly consolidating memories and an impairment of problem - solving capabilities – are key here . Although this is correlation coefficient and not necessarily causing , it seems that by get access to weed , student brook academically .
Some may see this as a good argument for a ban on the drug , but things are more complicated than that , both scientifically and politically .
First off , it ’s deserving pointing out thatalcoholis a far more widespread , accessible , anddangerous drugthat endangers the life story and welfare of users and those around them . Cannabis certainly seems to dent pedantic performance , but we ’d bet that alcoholic drink has a far more profound core .
Secondly , banning a drug is wide seen as a way to gift the sinister market and criminal elements . Prohibition is clearly ineffective as a way to stop people getting their hands on drug .
Perhaps better public education on drug throughout university life would be the better option .
