The long-term use of cannabis may cause harm to the brain, including reduced cognitive performance. In particular, the heavy use of cannabis at young ages is associated with an increased risk of educational under-achievement (, , ). Cannabis were asked about perceived harmful effects from cannabis use in the last 12 months. This section focuses on specific cannabis-related harms to learning and productivity. Cannabis-related harms to learning and productivity occur at low levels Box 4: Harmful effects from cannabis use reported by cannabis in the last 12 months the total population of cannabis users, low rates of cannabis-related harms were reported. Six percent of cannabis users reported harmful effects on work, studies or employment; 4.9% reported difficulty learning; and 1.7% reported absence from work or school at least once in the last 12 months due to cannabis use (Box 4). Men and women experience harms from cannabis use differently percent of male and 4.5% of female cannabis users reported harmful effects on work, studies or employment opportunities in the last 12 months due to cannabis use. Five percent of women and 4.7% of men reported difficulty learning in the past year due to cannabis use, and 2.1% of men reported absence from work or school at least once in the last 12 months due to cannabis use (the sample size for women absence was small and is not reported here). Younger cannabis users more likely to report harmful effects from cannabis use Younger (aged 15–24 years) cannabis users reported harmful effects on work, studies or employment opportunities (9.0%) more frequently than older (aged 55+ years) cannabis users (3.1%). Māori cannabis users are more likely to report harmful effects of cannabis use on work, studies or employment opportunities Among cannabis users, 10% of Māori and 8.0% of Pacific people, compared with 5.0% of European/Others, reported harmful effects on work, studies or employment in the last 12 months due to cannabis use. Māori were 2.1 times more likely to report harmful effects on work, studies or employment opportunities from cannabis use than non-Māori, after adjusting for age and sex differences (Box 4).
The long-term use of cannabis may cause harm to the brain, including reduced cognitive performance. In particular, the heavy use of cannabis at young ages is associated with an increased risk of educational under-achievement (, , ). Cannabis were asked about perceived harmful effects from cannabis use in the last 12 months. This section focuses on specific cannabis-related harms to learning and productivity. Cannabis-related harms to learning and productivity occur at low levels Box 4: Harmful effects from cannabis use reported by cannabis in the last 12 months the total population of cannabis users, low rates of cannabis-related harms were reported. Six percent of cannabis users reported harmful effects on work, studies or employment; 4.9% reported difficulty learning; and 1.7% reported absence from work or school at least once in the last 12 months due to cannabis use (Box 4). Men and women experience harms from cannabis use differently percent of male and 4.5% of female cannabis users reported harmful effects on work, studies or employment opportunities in the last 12 months due to cannabis use. Five percent of women and 4.7% of men reported difficulty learning in the past year due to cannabis use, and 2.1% of men reported absence from work or school at least once in the last 12 months due to cannabis use (the sample size for women absence was small and is not reported here). Younger cannabis users more likely to report harmful effects from cannabis use Younger (aged 15–24 years) cannabis users reported harmful effects on work, studies or employment opportunities (9.0%) more frequently than older (aged 55+ years) cannabis users (3.1%). Māori cannabis users are more likely to report harmful effects of cannabis use on work, studies or employment opportunities Among cannabis users, 10% of Māori and 8.0% of Pacific people, compared with 5.0% of European/Others, reported harmful effects on work, studies or employment in the last 12 months due to cannabis use. Māori were 2.1 times more likely to report harmful effects on work, studies or employment opportunities from cannabis use than non-Māori, after adjusting for age and sex differences (Box 4).
cannabis-use-2012-13-nzhs-may15-v2.docx