{"id":25984,"date":"2012-07-30T20:51:00","date_gmt":"2012-07-31T01:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/?p=25984"},"modified":"2024-12-14T20:10:09","modified_gmt":"2024-12-15T02:10:09","slug":"marijuana-permanently-lowers-iq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/marijuana-permanently-lowers-iq\/","title":{"rendered":"Marijuana Permanently Lowers IQ"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t

Source<\/strong>: Stephen Adams, “Cannabis smoking ‘permanently lowers IQ’<\/a>,”\u00a0The Telegraph<\/em>, 27 July 2012.<\/p>\n

Source<\/strong>: Madeline Meier, et al, “Persistent cannabis users show neuropsychological decline from childhood to midlife<\/a>,”\u00a0Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)<\/em>, 30 July 2012.<\/p>\n

“Researchers found persistent users of the drug, [marijuana], who started smoking it at school, had lower IQ scores as adults. They were also significantly more likely to have attention and memory problems in later life, than their peers who abstained. Furthermore, those who started as teenagers and used it heavily, but quit as adults, did not regain their full mental powers …” [Adams]<\/p>\n

“Persistent cannabis use was associated with neuropsychological decline broadly across domains of functioning, even after controlling for years of education. Informants also reported noticing more cognitive problems for persistent cannabis users. Impairment was concentrated among adolescent-onset cannabis users, with more persistent use associated with greater decline. Further, cessation of cannabis use did not fully restore neuropsychological functioning among adolescent-onset cannabis users. Findings are suggestive of a neurotoxic effect of cannabis on the adolescent brain and highlight the importance of prevention and policy efforts targeting adolescents.” [Meier]<\/p>\n

“”For example, individuals who started using cannabis in adolescence and used it for years thereafter showed an average eight-point IQ decline. Quitting or reducing cannabis use did not appear to fully restore intellectual functioning among adolescent-onset former persistent cannabis users,” she said. Although eight points did not sound much, it was not trivial, she warned. It meant that an average person dropped far down the intelligence rankings, so that instead of 50 per cent of the population being more intelligent than them, 71 per cent were.” [Adams]<\/p>\n

“The cognitive abilities of the 10 per cent of people who started in their 20s – who could loosely be classed as college smokers – also suffered while they were still smoking. However, if they gave up at least a year before their IQ test at 38, their intelligence recovered, suggesting their brains were more resilient and bounced back. Prof. Moffitt said adolescent brains appeared “more vulnerable to damage and disruption” from cannabis than those of fully mature adults.” [Adams]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This study gives new meaning to Paul’s command, “Likewise exhort the young men to be sober-minded<\/em>” (Titus 2:9). “Sober-minded” translates the Greek word\u00a0sophroneo<\/em>. It literally means “safe mind.” It refers to someone who is rational, in the sense of being intellectually sound, and in their right mind. It is commonly connected with the idea of physical abstinence, as in the proverb “a sound mind in a sound body.” In classical Greek writings, Aristotle wrote, “By abstaining from pleasures we become sober [sophrones<\/em>].” He also stated, “He who abstains from physical pleasure, and in this very thing takes delight, is sober [sophron<\/em>].” The Jewish philosopher Philo defined the opposite of\u00a0sophrosune<\/em>, as\u00a0aphrosune<\/em>\u00a0— a person who “inflamed by wine drowns his whole life in ceaseless and unending drunkenness.” A person who uses marijuana is not sober-minded.<<\/p>\n

A long time ago, Moses warned, “and so it may not happen, when he hears the words of this curse, that he blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall have peace, even though I follow the dictates of my heart’ – as though the drunkard could be included with the sober<\/em>” (Deuteronomy 29:19). People who use drugs, such as alcohol, will deceive themselves into thinking that they are fine while doing what they wish. But soberness and drunkness are not compatible. You can’t be stoned and be following God.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Source: Stephen Adams, “Cannabis smoking ‘permanently lowers IQ’,”\u00a0The Telegraph, 27 July 2012. Source: Madeline Meier, et al, “Persistent cannabis users show neuropsychological decline from childhood to midlife,”\u00a0Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), 30 July 2012. “Researchers found persistent users of the drug, [marijuana], who started smoking it at school, had lower IQ scores…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[372,540],"class_list":["post-25984","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-issues","tag-drugs","tag-marijuana"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":54151,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/not-what-they-told-you-marijuana\/","url_meta":{"origin":25984,"position":0},"title":"Not What They Told You – Marijuana","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 9, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Jeremiah 5:21-31 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It sounds noble \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We need to legalize medical marijuana! \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0But instead of controlled studies where the effectiveness of a derivative drug is analyzed for its benefits versus its harm, the door is thrown wide open. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0There is an oil extract from marijuana\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":42282,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/marijuana-produces-persistent-cognitive-loss\/","url_meta":{"origin":25984,"position":1},"title":"Marijuana Produces Persistent Cognitive Loss","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 22, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Source: \"Cannabis Use Produces Persistent Cognitive Impairments,\" Neuroscience News, 20 January 2022. \"A systematic review published today in the scientific journal\u00a0Addiction has found that cannabis use leads to acute cognitive impairments that may continue beyond the period of intoxication.\" \"The study found that cannabis intoxication leads to small to moderate\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Issues"","block_context":{"text":"Issues","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/issues\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":57690,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/dangers-of-recreational-marijuana\/","url_meta":{"origin":25984,"position":2},"title":"Dangers of Recreational Marijuana","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 6, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Source:\u00a0Dr. Liji Thomas, MD, \"Dangers of recreational\/medical cannabis use,\"\u00a0News Medical and Life Sciences, 26 October 2022. More people are using marijuana and starting at a younger age. \"Now that many American states have legalized cannabis, the already high rate of cannabis usage is increasing from ages as young as 16\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Issues"","block_context":{"text":"Issues","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/issues\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2376,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/marijuana-and-mental-illness\/","url_meta":{"origin":25984,"position":3},"title":"Marijuana and Mental Illness","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 3, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Source:\u00a0Alex Berenson, \"Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence,\" Imprimis, vol. 48, no. 1, Jan 2019 \"They've told you marijuana has many different medical uses. In reality marijuana and THC, its active ingredient, have been shown to work only in a few narrow conditions. They are most commonly prescribed for pain relief.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Issues"","block_context":{"text":"Issues","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/issues\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":83761,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/marijuana-impacts-memory\/","url_meta":{"origin":25984,"position":4},"title":"Marijuana Impacts Memory","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 29, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Source:\u00a0Julia Milzer, \"Largest Study Ever Done on Cannabis and Brain Function Finds Impact on Working Memory,\" University of Colorado, 28 January 2025. \"The researchers found that 63% of heavy lifetime cannabis users exhibited reduced brain activity during a working memory task, while 68% of recent users also demonstrated a similar\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Issues"","block_context":{"text":"Issues","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/issues\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":55270,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/cannabis-use-increases-pain-after-surgery\/","url_meta":{"origin":25984,"position":5},"title":"Cannabis Use Increases Pain After Surgery","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 23, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Source: \"Cannabis Use Increases Pain After Surgery,\" Neuroscience News, 23 October 2022. One of the arguments for legalizing marijuana is that it can be used for pain management. This study shows that the claim may not be justified. \"Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Issues"","block_context":{"text":"Issues","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/issues\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25984","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25984"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25984\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25984"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25984"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25984"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}