St. Louis, MO: Male twins who smoke marijuana show no significant health or socio-demographic differences than their non-using siblings, according to the findings of a recent study published in the medical journal Addiction.
Fifty-six pairs of twins participated in the study. The mean number of days for which the marijuana user twin used pot was 1,085. Non-marijuana users were defined as having tried the drug five times or less.
Authors reported, “No significant differences were found between the former marijuana user twins and their siblings for current socio-demographic characteristics; current nicotine or alcohol use; lifetime nicotine or alcohol/dependence; past 5-year out-patient or hospitalizations; or health-related quality of life.”
They concluded, “Previous heavy marijuana use … does not appear to be associated with adverse socio-demographic, physical or mental adverse health effects.”
For more information, please contact either Allen St. Pierre or Paul Armentano of The NORML Foundation at (202) 483-8751. Full text of the study appears in Volume 97, Issue 9 (September) of Addiction.