POTHEADS ARE LESS INTELLIGENT, STUDY FINDS

TORONTO (CP) -- It seems Hollywood isn't wrong when it portrays stoners as
dumb. Heavy marijuana use does seem to drive down the IQ, by an average of
four points, researchers from Carleton University report in the latest
issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

The decline appears to right itself after the dope smoker quits the habit.

"A negative effect was not observed among subjects who had previously been
heavy users but were no longer using the substance," the researchers wrote.

"We conclude that marijuana does not have a long-term negative impact on
global intelligence."

While the results are positive news for recreational marijuana users, he
cautioned the findings are preliminary. His team is still studying the
subjects to see if there is any impact on attention, memory or other mental
functions.

As well, it's not clear the findings can be generalized across the full
spectrum of marijuana users. These subjects are middle class with
above-average intelligence, kids who don't regularly use other drugs and
who are well nourished. The drug's long-term impact might not be the same
on someone with a riskier lifestyle.

"In the real world out there, of course, the heavy users probably are
poly-drug users, etc.," said the study's lead author, Peter Fried of
Carleton's psycholgy department. "And they may be at a greater risk and
their IQ may not recover."