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Teens: Smoke Pot Now, See IQ Take Hit Later

Effect only apparent in those who used frequently before age 18

By Kate Seamons,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 27, 2012 3:26 PM CDT

(Newser) – If you're going to smoke pot frequently, you might want to hold off until you're at least 18. A new study finds that teens who are regular marijuana users may end up with a long-term drop in their IQ—but the trend was only spotted in those who toked often before age 18. The implication, per the AP: Pot takes a bigger toll on the developing brain.

The study's findings aren't exactly being reported as ironclad, but experts say the methods used get around criticisms that have dogged some earlier research. In this case, researchers tracked how IQ scores changed between ages 13 and 38 in participants from New Zealand. Stateside, 23% of high schoolers copped to recently smoking pot, according to a government report released in June.

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 53 comments
YetAnotherCollegeKid
Aug 28, 2012 6:14 PM CDT
I had my first hit at 22. I don't even remember why I waited so long, but apparently it was a pretty good call.
VolOtog
Aug 28, 2012 3:57 PM CDT
Well, I guess it's a good thing I didn't start until I turned 18. According to this article-- my IQ is fine. (: On a serious note, I call BS on this article. Some of the smartest people I know smoke pot frequently and they all started smoking sometime in their teens. Some of them are intellectual geniuses-- proved with an IQ test.
Tology
Aug 28, 2012 12:06 PM CDT
We're in big trouble people, have you talked to a teenager lately?  I think some of them will be sitting in a corner drooling if they lose just one more brain cell.
 

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