--- title: "If You’re Still Smoking Weed at 30, Scientists Have Bad News" description: "Scientists say that smoking weed as a teen ain't no thang, but if you're still using it into adulthood, it's probably not great." date: "2022-03-11" modified: "2022-03-11" authors: - name: "Noor Al-Sibai" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/nooralsibai" url: "https://futurism.com/neoscope/weed-adulthood-outcomes-scientists" categories: - "Health & Medicine" - "Studies" tags: - "cannabis" - "drugs" - "methamphetamine" --- # If You’re Still Smoking Weed at 30, Scientists Have Bad News ![Scientists say that smoking weed as a teen ain't no thang, but if you're still using it into adulthood, it's probably not great.]() *\Image: Getty Images/Futurism\* Scientists say that smoking weed in your youth isn't a big deal — but if you're still using it well into adulthood, your mileage may vary. In a [new study]() published in the journal *Addiction Research & Theory*, a team of researchers from the University of Queensland in Australia examined success outcomes for both cannabis and amphetamine users. Using data from over 8,000 mothers and 2,000 children about drug use at ages 21 and 30, the team found that both substances were associated with lower success rates based on nine specific criteria, including education, income, home ownership, relationship status, and reported happiness, but only if they continued into adulthood. For any offended stoners out there, the study does have likely shortcomings. For one thing, that dataset about mothers and children in Australia is strange and highly local — some of its data, fact, hearkens back to 1981 — and by no means guaranteed to represent a broader or more contemporary global population. For another, home ownership and relationship status aren't necessarily the strongest measures of success. Another substantial issue that the researchers acknowledged is that the data didn't reflect whether the cannabis users in question were also dabbling in other drugs *besides* amphetamines, leaving a huge question of correlation hovering over the weed findings. "We do not have adequate data on other illicit drugs that may be being used, for example, ecstasy, opiates and even synthetic drugs," the scientists wrote in the study. "A subset of those using cannabis as well as amphetamines may also be using a range of other drugs and it may be that our findings reflect polydrug use generally rather than the specific use of cannabis and amphetamines." Still, the results are intriguing, at least as a jumping off point for further study. Basically, the researchers found, people who dabbled in drugs when they were younger tended to do well in life — as long as they sobered up before too long. After 30, however, all bets were off. "We found people who used cannabis and amphetamines at 30 had substantially lower levels of life success," Najman said in [a press release](). In addition to the choppy data, it's worth remembering that cannabis can mess up your life in ways that aren't directly related to the drug at all. People who get caught with it can get enmeshed into the criminal justice system, for instance, kicking off a self-fulfilling spiral of poor outcomes. The new research, for its part, seems to circle around that point without quite grasping its implications. "Antisocial behavior and contact with the criminal justice system are the strongest predictors of continued drug use, along with problems at school and aggressive or delinquent behavior early in life," Najman argued in the statement, adding that the findings "raise the possibility that targeted interventions for children who show early signs of antisocial behavior or poor school performance may reduce drug use and lead to improved life success." It's worth noting, by the way, that Australia has been a [notable exception]() to the broader global trend of cannabis legalization, which may well flavor both the data and conclusions of this particular study. At the end of the day, we [still don't fully understand]() the relationship between between marijuana use and social outcomes. In fact, [some research]() has found that occasionally sparking up is associated with *better* quality of life. That said, we all could benefit from reassessing our drug use from time to time — and to recognize that policy interventions [don't make a drug any more or less damaging](). **READ MORE:** [Do cannabis and amphetamine use in adolescence predict adult life success: a longitudinal study]() \[*Addiction Research & Theory*\] **More on (legal) drugs:** *[Just One Alcoholic Drink a Day Appears to Shrink Your Brain, Scientists Say]()* ## Author At Futurism, I've often been drawn to unpacking the narratives that underlie technological, scientific and medical progress, with a special interest in areas of conflict and ambiguity that end up setting agendas and steering the fates of both elites and the hoi polloi. I'm a committed generalist, but I often find myself returning to work involving NASA and the private space sector, the effects of AI on media and society, and the mechanics of the pharmaceutical industry, with a specific focus on the spread of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Prior to Futurism, I worked for publications ranging from Media Matters and Truthdig to Raw Story and Bustle. I'm also the author of "Myspace Scene Queens," a 2024 title in Instar Books' acclaimed "Remember the Internet" series. My work at Futurism has been cited by outlets including the New Yorker, Slate, Nieman Lab, the Verge, the MIT Technology Review, the Sunday Times, and the Daily Beast. I grew up in North Carolina, attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and now live in Brooklyn, New York. In my free time, I'm an avid reader and music fan; you can probably find me at a local poetry reading, concert, underground rave, or DJ set. I'm the proud parent of an ineffable orange cat named Mee-Mow. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()