How regular cannabis users descend into mid-life failure

NZ Herald 27 March 2016
Young people who smoke cannabis regularly slide further down the social ladder than their parents, a study has revealed.
Those who use the Class B drug at least four times a week over several years end up in less skilled jobs than their family, researchers found – meaning they earn less money.
They could also see their ambition hampered by fellow cannabis smokers who do not aspire to material wealth, and face more social issues.
Scientists followed 947 young adults in New Zealand from the age of 18 to 38 – and were surprised at the extent to which cannabis is linked with reduced appetite to get ahead. The results showed that on many indicators of social mobility, by mid-life the effect of heavy marijuana use was worse than that of heavy drinking.
Lead researcher Magdalena Cerda, of the University of California, Davis, said: “We found that regular cannabis users experienced downward social mobility and more financial problems – such as troubles with debt – than those who did not report such persistent use.
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