Cannabis use during adolescence is likely associated with lower grades, higher dropout rates, and decreased chances of completing high school or enrolling in university, according to a recent meta-analysis.
Researchers evaluated the association between cannabis use during adolescence and young adulthood and academic achievement. The analysis, published in JAMA Pediatrics, included 63 studies encompassing 438,329 individuals. Moderate-certainty evidence indicated that cannabis use in adolescence and young adulthood is associated with lower academic performance, including decreased likelihood of achieving higher school grades, completing high school, enrolling in university, and attaining postsecondary degrees.
Specifically, the odds ratio (OR) for achieving a grade of B or higher was 0.61 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.52-0.71). Cannabis use was also associated with reduced odds of completing high school (OR, 0.50 [95% CI, 0.33-0.76]), enrolling in university (OR, 0.72 [95% CI, 0.60-0.87]), and obtaining a postsecondary degree (OR, 0.69 [95% CI, 0.62-0.77]). Additionally, there was an increased likelihood of school absenteeism (OR, 2.31 [95% CI, 1.76-3.03]) and school dropout (OR, 2.19 [95% CI, 1.73-2.78]). Subgroup analyses suggested that frequent cannabis use and early initiation, particularly before age 16, were associated with worse academic outcomes.
Low-certainty evidence suggested a possible association between cannabis use and increased unemployment (OR, 1.50 [95% CI, 1.15-1.96]). Subgroup analyses indicated that individuals who used cannabis more frequently, on a weekly or daily basis, showed a stronger association with poorer academic outcomes compared to those who used cannabis less frequently. The OR for frequent users was 0.58 (95% CI, 0.53-0.64), compared to 0.72 (95% CI, 0.69-0.75) for less frequent users. Additionally, starting cannabis use before the age of 16 was linked to a lower likelihood of completing high school, with an OR of 0.42 (95% CI, 0.28-0.63), compared to 0.77 (95% CI, 0.53-1.10) for those who began using cannabis later.
Full disclosures can be found in the published study.
