{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/iq/","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_2693-markdown","title":"Is It Really True That Marijuana Makes You Dumb?","slug":"is-it-really-true-that-marijuana-makes-you-dumb","content":"From _Fast Times at Ridgemont High_ to _Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle_, the stereotype of the stupid stoner has featured prominently in the media over the past several decades. But is there any truth to this portrayal? Does consuming marijuana make you dumb? The short answer is: no, not really.\n\nIn a study published last month in _JAMA Psychiatry_, University of Pennsylvania researchers found that a small reduction in cognitive functioning occurred in individuals who reported frequent marijuana use. However, those who abstained from cannabis for more than three days registered no significant change in memory, judgment or rational thinking.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\nThe study’s findings are based on a comprehensive review and meta-analysis of 69 studies conducted over the past 45 or so years involving adolescents and young adults. These cross-sectional studies included 2,152 frequent or heavy cannabis consumers along with 6,575 control subjects.\n\n### Previous Studies Showing Decline in IQ Due to Cannabis Are Off the Mark\n\nIn regard to the small reduction in cognitive functioning, researchers noted that it “may be of questionable clinical importance for most individuals. [R]esults indicate that previous studies of cannabis youth may have overstated the magnitude and persistence of cognitive deficits associated with marijuana use.”\n\nThose previous studies include a 2012 Duke University study comparing the IQs of individuals spanning the ages between 13 and 38; it concluded that heavy cannabis intake during adolescence and early adulthood was to blame for lowered IQs. That study has since been debunked as it didn’t take into account other key factors such as existence of trauma or abuse.\n\nRELATED: [DOES SMOKING MARIJUANA MAKE YOU STUPID?](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56d69af2a6d8a5000c00002c/does-smoking-marijuana-make-you-stupid)\n\n### Why Does Abstinence Bring the Cognitive Loss From Heavy Cannabis Intake to Zero?\n\nHelloMD’s Chief Medical Officer [Perry Solomon](https://www.hellomd.com/people/54cc02df6465320003000000/Perry%20Solomon,%20MD), M.D., echoes the researchers’ conclusions, by saying, “It’s interesting that, in fact, the study did show a small but significant overall decline in cognitive function, though this may not bear much weight. The more interesting part of the study is that abstinence lasting longer than 72 hours brings the loss [in cognitive function] to zero.”\n\nHe adds, “We need further studies to figure out why cognitive decline is negligible with abstinence. Does the effect of cannabis wear off, or is it due to some regenerative healing that results in no cognitive loss?”\n\nIndeed, additional research is needed to better understand exactly how cannabis interacts with and influences multiple systems in the body, including in the brain. So far, the preliminary research is proving to be promising. When it comes to marijuana’s therapeutic effects, they’re varied and abundant—from that of anti-inflammatory and analgesic to neuroprotectant and more.\n\nPhoto credit: [Sharon McCutcheon](https://unsplash.com/@sharonmccutcheon)\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56201c206430320006bb0000/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.  ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3605442176870748,"src":"/static/09be1a5d44728b404cb836945b718c01/14b42/6513a60c00e0042e0e2cf4c9e5cebf20.jpg","srcSet":"/static/09be1a5d44728b404cb836945b718c01/f836f/6513a60c00e0042e0e2cf4c9e5cebf20.jpg 200w,\n/static/09be1a5d44728b404cb836945b718c01/2244e/6513a60c00e0042e0e2cf4c9e5cebf20.jpg 400w,\n/static/09be1a5d44728b404cb836945b718c01/14b42/6513a60c00e0042e0e2cf4c9e5cebf20.jpg 800w,\n/static/09be1a5d44728b404cb836945b718c01/47498/6513a60c00e0042e0e2cf4c9e5cebf20.jpg 1200w,\n/static/09be1a5d44728b404cb836945b718c01/0e329/6513a60c00e0042e0e2cf4c9e5cebf20.jpg 1600w,\n/static/09be1a5d44728b404cb836945b718c01/921b0/6513a60c00e0042e0e2cf4c9e5cebf20.jpg 3593w","srcWebp":"/static/09be1a5d44728b404cb836945b718c01/58556/6513a60c00e0042e0e2cf4c9e5cebf20.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/09be1a5d44728b404cb836945b718c01/61e93/6513a60c00e0042e0e2cf4c9e5cebf20.webp 200w,\n/static/09be1a5d44728b404cb836945b718c01/1f5c5/6513a60c00e0042e0e2cf4c9e5cebf20.webp 400w,\n/static/09be1a5d44728b404cb836945b718c01/58556/6513a60c00e0042e0e2cf4c9e5cebf20.webp 800w,\n/static/09be1a5d44728b404cb836945b718c01/99238/6513a60c00e0042e0e2cf4c9e5cebf20.webp 1200w,\n/static/09be1a5d44728b404cb836945b718c01/7c22d/6513a60c00e0042e0e2cf4c9e5cebf20.webp 1600w,\n/static/09be1a5d44728b404cb836945b718c01/f9cbb/6513a60c00e0042e0e2cf4c9e5cebf20.webp 3593w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2061-markdown","title":"Does Smoking Marijuana Make You Stupid?","slug":"does-smoking-marijuana-make-you-stupid","content":"It's a misconception that smoking marijuana makes you stupid or, in\nother words, that marijuana causes your IQ to decline. While this\nmisconception has been around for a long time, studies from prestigious\ninstitutions such as [Duke\nUniversity](http://www.pnas.org/content/109/40/E2657.abstract) that\npoint out a correlation only serve to further scare off people who could\nbenefit from marijuana. The reality is that reputable studies show\nlittle likelihood of a connection between smoking marijuana and a\ndecreased IQ, although they indicate other possible links to IQ\ndeclines.\n\n**Recent Studies**\n\nFlaws in the Duke University study quickly came to light. For example,\nthe study's findings were too preliminary to indicate a general truth,\nas only 38 of the 1,037 study participants used marijuana to the point\nthat they were diagnosed as addicted. The study also did not account for\nother [possible\nconnections](http://healthland.time.com/2012/08/28/does-weekly-marijuana-use-by-teens-really-cause-a-drop-in-iq/)\nto IQ declines such as trauma, abuse, and healthy or unhealthy family\nrelationships. In fact, a [follow-up\nstudy](http://www.pnas.org/content/110/11/4251.abstract) in 2012 pointed\nout that the Duke University study made no attempt whatsoever to look at\nthe implications of factors such as socioeconomic status, alcohol use\nand mental issues on IQ decline.\n\nTwo studies published in January 2016 indicate that there's no\nconnection between IQ and smoking marijuana. One study examined [2,235\nBritish children, aged 8 to\n16](http://jop.sagepub.com/content/30/2/159), while the other study\ncompared pairs of teenage American identical twins. One twin in each\npair smoked marijuana, while the other did not.\n\nThe twins study, which is actually a combination of [two twins\nstudies](http://www.pnas.org/content/113/5/E500.abstract), showed that\nthere was no noticeably different cognitive level between one twin and\nthe other. This held true no matter how heavy a cannabis smoker one twin\nwas. In order to qualify as a marijuana user, a twin had to have used\nmarijuana at least 30 times to date or every day for more than six\nmonths. Both types of siblings, smokers and nonsmokers, lost an average\nof four IQ points during the study. These results are powerful because\nthe DNA and similar upbringings of twins are a control for factors such\nas socioeconomic status. Interestingly, the study points toward the\nconclusion that middle-school children who are intellectually\nunder-challenged may be more likely to seek out marijuana. However, it's\nimportant to keep in mind that the twins self-reported their marijuana\nuse and IQ scores.\n\nThe study of British children controlled for extraneous factors and\nshowed that marijuana use prior to age 15 had no predictive effect on IQ\nor educational performance. In this study, about 25 percent of the\nchildren said they had tried marijuana at least one time, and almost 3.5\npercent had used it 50 times or more. Those who used marijuana heavily\ndemonstrated lower IQ scores and poorer educational performance, but\nafter researchers controlled for other variables, the marijuana\nassociation went away.\n\n**Positive Effects of Marijuana**\n\nThese study results are good news because marijuana has proven to be\nextremely helpful. For instance, it helps people better cope with pain\nranging from [chronic pain to menstrual\ncramps](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56cc9cf4bcf7810008000018/consuming-marijuana-every-day-the-pros-and-cons).\nIt also helps control blood sugar and weight gain, and sparks creativity\nin many people. It helps with [anxiety and\nstress](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-for-anxiety-and-stress-disorders)\nand even with PTSD. In cancer patients, marijuana not only alleviates\npain, it [increases\nappetite](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55b14a863330370006050000/loss-of-appetite-from-cancer)\nand [combats\nnausea](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55a5842c6636300006510000/marijuana-shows-promise-as-a-treatment-for-chemotherapy-induced-nausea).\n\n**Negative Effects of Marijuana**\n\nAs with any substance, marijuana does come with some negative effects.\nPeople who smoke it may have respiratory issues such as wheezing and\nchronic bronchitis. Marijuana smoke may also damage the lungs, and for\nthe above two reasons, many people who use marijuana every day choose\nvaporizers or edibles.\n\n**Perception of Marijuana and IQ: Then vs. Now**\n\nIn the United States in the 1980s and 1990s, anti-drug ads pointed to\nso-called negative effects of marijuana: laziness, stupidity and lack of\ngood judgment. Whenever marijuana smokers were shown in movies, they\ncommonly took the form of incoherent stoners with endless appetites.\nPerceptions are now changing, as marijuana gains legal and social\nacceptance. For example, nearly 70 percent of Americans believe [that\nalcohol is more\nharmful](http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/04/14/6-facts-about-marijuana/)\nto a person than marijuana is, and more Americans support widespread\nlegalization than are against it. [Medical\nmarijuana](http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/state-medical-marijuana-laws.aspx)\nis legal in about half of U.S. states, and marijuana use is legal to a\ncertain non-medical extent in several states as well. And, of course,\nstudy after study shows that people need not worry about hurting their\nIQ if they smoke marijuana.\n\n**What Does Lead to IQ Decline?**\n\nSo, if marijuana doesn't lead to IQ decline, what does? One answer may\ncome in the form of a mix of factors, such as socioeconomic status,\nmental illness, alcohol, hard drugs and other influences touched on by\nmarijuana studies. For example, the British study indicated that teenage\nmarijuana users are more likely to have had problems in childhood and to\nbe cigarette and alcohol users.\n\nRather than decrease IQ, marijuana use for many people helps them\nstretch their mental and physical muscles. For example, it makes them\nhappier and less anxious, putting them in a more creative mood. It\ndecreases their pain levels, enabling them to exercise when they\npreviously wouldn't have been able to. In turn, that exercise promotes\nblood circulation, and that's great news for a healthy brain and a\nhealthy body. So, from one perspective, marijuana actually boosts\nintelligence, albeit in an indirect way.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3157894736842106,"src":"/static/0f91e8baf2720305a2c709d7949b5c02/ee604/3f42c7f3a77cb78da51efd1583bad40d.png","srcSet":"/static/0f91e8baf2720305a2c709d7949b5c02/69585/3f42c7f3a77cb78da51efd1583bad40d.png 200w,\n/static/0f91e8baf2720305a2c709d7949b5c02/497c6/3f42c7f3a77cb78da51efd1583bad40d.png 400w,\n/static/0f91e8baf2720305a2c709d7949b5c02/ee604/3f42c7f3a77cb78da51efd1583bad40d.png 800w,\n/static/0f91e8baf2720305a2c709d7949b5c02/ea5e2/3f42c7f3a77cb78da51efd1583bad40d.png 986w","srcWebp":"/static/0f91e8baf2720305a2c709d7949b5c02/58556/3f42c7f3a77cb78da51efd1583bad40d.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/0f91e8baf2720305a2c709d7949b5c02/61e93/3f42c7f3a77cb78da51efd1583bad40d.webp 200w,\n/static/0f91e8baf2720305a2c709d7949b5c02/1f5c5/3f42c7f3a77cb78da51efd1583bad40d.webp 400w,\n/static/0f91e8baf2720305a2c709d7949b5c02/58556/3f42c7f3a77cb78da51efd1583bad40d.webp 800w,\n/static/0f91e8baf2720305a2c709d7949b5c02/457e0/3f42c7f3a77cb78da51efd1583bad40d.webp 986w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":0,"numPages":1,"currentPage":1,"id":5393,"name":"Iq","slug":"iq","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}