Decline in IQ linked to frequent or dependent use of cannabis use in youth • Hacker News Board

Re: Decline in IQ linked to frequent or dependent use of cannabis use in youth

#11

Post by johnea » Sat, Jun 27, 2026, 9:31 PM UTC

The fear surrounding cannabis is astrological, and also astronomical.

Compared to either alcohol or tobacco, the risks are minimal.

The petro mafia is preventing a transition away from oil, the alcohol and tobacco mafia are fighting the use of cannabis.

Anyone who doesn't like the effects, or has any other reason, shouldn't use it.

It certainly does much less damage to the teenage brain than instagram and the other faceplant products.

All through the 60's and 70's when cannabis use was increasing, we were still seeing a steady increase in US educational outcomes.

Ever since the iPhone and friends, and associated online shitpost websites, proliferated, we've seen a steady decline in education.

Re: Decline in IQ linked to frequent or dependent use of cannabis use in youth

#12

Post by hnhn34 » Sat, Jun 27, 2026, 10:26 PM UTC

youdonow wrote: post #10

u1hcw9nx wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IQ as measured correlates positively with all talents. There is moderate correlation with arts, sports and athletic talents (weak for basic athleticism, moderate to strong for elite levels.) With music and writing the correlation is even better, from moderate to strong. High IQ increases the ability for inner expression, or expression of any kind. People seem to forget that IQ is a factor as in factor analysis. It do…

That's why all of your favorite, and history's greatest, visual artists, writers, athletes, musicians and aesthetes stay far away from any mind altering substances! Erdos famously stayed far away from amphetamines to preserve those precious 2 IQ points.

This is a false equivalence. There is no known correlation between amphetamines and a decline in IQ. If anything, they are nootropics (they don't make you smarter but improve your short-term memory, focus, etc.). Psilocybin stimulates neuroplasticity and adult neurogenesis. Cannabis, as far as we know, does no such thing.

Re: Decline in IQ linked to frequent or dependent use of cannabis use in youth

#13

Post by tsol » Sun, Jun 28, 2026, 12:11 AM UTC

johnea wrote: post #11

The fear surrounding cannabis is astrological, and also astronomical. Compared to either alcohol or tobacco, the risks are minimal. The petro mafia is preventing a transition away from oil, the alcohol and tobacco mafia are fighting the use of cannabis. Anyone who doesn't like the effects, or has any other reason, shouldn't use it. It certainly does much less damage to the teenage brain than instagram and the other f…

I'm curious what kind of effect alcohol has on IQ. Alcohol is very well established to be pretty bad for brain health even if you don't always feel it.

Re: Decline in IQ linked to frequent or dependent use of cannabis use in youth

#14

Post by solumunus » Sun, Jun 28, 2026, 5:34 AM UTC

youdonow wrote: post #9

solumunus wrote: post #2

I feel it.

You feel 2 IQ points? Even proponents of IQ tests admit they have a margin of error 3-5 points. Meaning you can swing on IQ tests beyond this threshold on the same day. I'm guessing bad sleep or missing a meal the night before will swing your IQ significantly more than 2 points.

Well I’m being glib. But I do feel that smoking weed from an early age for decades has not been a cognitive benefit.