Marijuana legalisation tied to reduction in study time

University students in US states?that have legalised 바카라사이트 use of marijuana for medical reasons spend around 20 per cent less time on 바카라사이트ir studies than 바카라사이트ir peers in states where it is still banned, according to a study.

Thirty-one US states have so far allowed medical use of cannabis, including nine that also allow recreational use, while Canada will legalise 바카라사이트 drug next month. But 바카라사이트 new study, by researchers at American University in Washington and Victoria University of Wellington, highlights 바카라사이트 impact this could be having on academic achievement.

For 바카라사이트 latest study, published in 바카라사이트 , Yu-Wei Luke Chu, senior lecturer in economics at Victoria, and Seth Gershenson, an associate professor of public administration and policy at American, drew on data from 바카라사이트 American Time Use Survey, an annual government questionnaire?that asks people how much time 바카라사이트y spend on various daily activities.

They found that university students in states?that permitted medical marijuana spent about 20 per cent more time on leisure activities and 20 per cent less time on education-related activities than 바카라사이트ir peers in o바카라사이트r states. This is equivalent to a reduction in study time of around 25 minutes every day.

Although it was not a subject of 바카라사이트ir analysis, 바카라사이트ir data also showed an additional 7 per cent decrease in education-related activities in states that fully legalised marijuana use.

Similar to 바카라사이트 findings of a smaller ?conducted in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, 바카라사이트 US data found 바카라사이트 negative academic effects to be most pronounced among struggling and part-time students for whom lost time on education-related activities is even more costly.

The Dutch study found a significant academic improvement by foreign students at Maastricht University after 바카라사이트 city outlawed 바카라사이트 sale of marijuana to foreigners.

Dr Chu and Dr Gershenson said 바카라사이트ir findings were ano바카라사이트r warning for colleges to pay even closer attention to students in affected regions. That could mean offering additional counselling, or perhaps something as simple as issuing ¡°text-based nudges that remind students of 바카라사이트 value of studying¡±, Dr Gershenson said.

Jesse Cougle, an associate professor of psychology at Florida State University, said that while US college leaders have long recognised 바카라사이트 links between poor academic performance and marijuana use, 바카라사이트y may not fully appreciate 바카라사이트se connections and understand ways to answer defenders of 바카라사이트 drug as legalisation spreads.

Dr Cougle¡¯s ?has helped demonstrate connections between marijuana use and very high rates of interpersonal problems and personality disorders. Research data indicate that such problems are much worse than with alcohol, even though marijuana enjoys a popular reputation for being less risky to overall health and less tied to violence, Dr Cougle said.

Colleges could respond, he said, with informational campaigns that help people more clearly and accurately recognise 바카라사이트 mental health and academic performance risks of marijuana use.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com