Study Links Cannabis to Socio-economic Difficulties in Midlife

July 11, 2016

An international study led by Magdalena Cerdá from the University of California-Davis discovered a correlation between long-term cannabis use and several social and financial problems later in life.

The study team found that participants who smoked marijuana four or more days per week were not financially stable and experienced problems with personal relationships and behavior at work.

“Our research does not support arguments for or against cannabis legalization,” Cerdá said. “But it does show that cannabis was not safe for the long-term users tracked in our study.”

The study followed more than 1,000 New Zealanders during a 40-year period to measure marijuana use and dependence from ages 18 to 38.

Researchers collected data on 947 participants who completed at least three assessments on marijuana use. The study also found a relationship between marijuana and alcohol dependence.

Cannabis Dependence and Mid-Life Issues

To obtain a fair characterization of the socio-economic problems that may result from long-term marijuana use, the research team assessed the participants’ social mobility, financial difficulties, antisocial behavior at work, conflicts in relationships and traffic convictions.

The study found regular cannabis users had a decline in their socio-economic mobility compared to nonusers, meaning they moved to a lower social class or economic level over time.

Cerdá explained that individuals with a marijuana addiction faced financial issues such as debt and negative cash flow that their nonusing peers did not.

Researchers also found that regular marijuana users who tested positive during at least one assessment were less successful than their parents professionally. Study results showed 52 percent of middle-class participants who regularly used cannabis experienced a decline in social mobility compared to 14.4 percent of those who never consumed marijuana.

In addition, long-term cannabis users displayed antisocial behaviors in the workplace. They lied to receive employment and engaged in petty theft. They also had relationship problems such as domestic violence and controlling abuse.

The study mentions that the findings are independent of whether the users have a conviction record.

“Even among cannabis users who were never convicted for a cannabis offense, we found that persistent and regular cannabis use was linked to economic and social problems,” said Avshalom Caspi, a developmental psychologist who contributed to the study.

Relationship Between Alcohol and Marijuana Dependence

The research revealed 69.9 percent of study participants were dependent on alcohol and marijuana. Researchers also discovered that the length of dependence on cannabis was proportional to the duration of dependence on alcohol.

To discern the financial repercussions of long-term cannabis use, researchers compared alcohol dependence and cannabis dependence. The study noted a higher association between marijuana use and financial instability.

“Cannabis may be safer than alcohol for your health, but not for your finances,” said Terrie E. Moffitt, a psychologist from Duke University and the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London.

In a UC Davis press release on the study, Cerdá argued that alcohol is a bigger problem than marijuana because alcohol use is more widespread.

However, she is concerned about the growing popularity of cannabis around the world and believes the economic and social problems associated with cannabis use could grow along with it.

Pro-marijuana activists argue the study was biased. “I think [the study] was slanted, very slanted against cannabis users,” Capitol Cannabis Community member Ron Mullins said in an interview with KCRA News.

“One of the things in the study was that cannabis users have less money. Well, that’s because cannabis is so expensive because of prohibition,” he said.

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View Sources

• Cerdá M. et al. (2016, January 9). Persistent Cannabis Dependence and Alcohol Dependence Represent Risks for Midlife Economic and Social Problems: A Longitudinal Cohort Study. Retrieved from http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/newsroom/pdf/2016_APS_Persistent-cannabis-dependence.pdf
• Heise, S. (2016, March 23). UCD study finds cannabis ‘not safe’ for long-term users. Retrieved from http://www.kcra.com/news/local-news/news-sacramento/ucd-study-finds-cannabis-not-safe-for-longterm-users/38652900
• UC Davis Health System. (2016, March 23). Heavy, persistent pot use linked to economic and social problems at midlife. Retrieved from https://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/publish/news/newsroom/10874

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