Moderate Marijuana Use Not Associated With Altered Cognitive Skills, Study Says

December 17, 2009 – Munich, Germany

Munich, Germany: The moderate use of cannabis and other psychoactive substances is not associated with impaired cognitive functioning, according to clinical trial data published online by the journal Human Psychopharmacology.

Researchers at the Ludwig Maximillian University in Munich investigated the association between moderate substance use and cognition in a population-based sample of 284 young adults. Subjects completed a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests, including assessments of executive functions, working memory and impulsivity. (Executive function is defined as “the cognitive process that regulates an individual’s ability to organize thoughts and activities, prioritize tasks, manage time efficiently, and make decisions.”)

Researchers determined, “More frequent cannabis use and more extensive alcohol consumption were associated with a higher degree of impulsiveness.” They concluded, “Based on mild to moderate substance use, little indication of differences in executive functioning was found.”

For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive Director, at (202) 483-5500, or Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director, at: paul@norml.org. Full text of the study, “Is moderate substance use associated with altered executive functioning in a population-based sample of young adults,” will appear in Human Psychopharmacology. Additional information on cannabis use and cognition is available from NORML online at: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6812.