FAQs: Pot and Learning

How can marijuana use impact a teen's academic success and ability to learn?

Parents and teens need to understand that marijuana use can potentially affect a teen's academic success. Research shows that students who use marijuana don't do as well in school, as compared to their non-using counterparts. A teen user's odds of dropping out are more than twice that of non-users. Marijuana use affects memory, judgment and perception. Teens with an average grade of “D” or below are more than four times as likely to have used marijuana in the past year as teens who reported an average grade of “A.” A lack of motivation (amotivational syndrome) is also associated with long-term marijuana use. Problems include not caring about what happens in their lives and a lack of concern about the future. As a result of these symptoms, some users tend to perform poorly in school.

Why should parents be concerned about marijuana use in high school as kids prepare to take their college preparatory exams?

High school is a critical point in teen development. Teens are learning life skills and building an academic foundation for the rest of their lives. A teen's performance in high school has long-term implications—grade point averages and test scores can dictate where they go to college, and their success in high school is often an indicator of how they will perform later in an institution of higher learning.

Why are the short-term effects of marijuana use of particular concern for students?

The short-term effects of marijuana use can include problems with:

• Memory and learning;
• Problem solving and thinking;
• Distorted sensory perceptions such as sight, sound and time; and
• Motor coordination.

These effects could have a negative impact for a student learning new information and skills, or taking a test in school.

What does marijuana use do to the brain?

Teens who begin marijuana use at an early age when the brain is still developing may be more vulnerable to neuropsychological deficits, especially with respect to verbal abilities. Smoking marijuana causes some changes in the brain that are like those caused by cocaine, heroin and alcohol.  Studies have also shown that when people have smoked large amounts of marijuana for years, the drug takes its toll on mental functions and can affect parts of the brain that control memory, attention and learning.

Isn't trying marijuana and alcohol just a rite of passage for teens?

Many parents still believe that marijuana is harmless and that underage drinking is a rite of passage. But studies show otherwise. Don't let marijuana and drinking compromise your child's ability to learn and their future success. Stay active and be present in your teen's life even as he or she grows more independent during the high school years. Share the facts about drug use. The rules you set and enforce today will make all the difference in your teen’s life tomorrow.

For more advice on talking to your teens about marijuana and learning, check out these tips for success.

• Signs and symptoms of marijuana use
• What to say if your teen is using marijuana
• Where to go for help