Cannabis use and later life outcomes

ABSTRACT Aim To examine the associations between the extent of cannabis use during adolescence and young adulthood and later education, economic, employment, relationship satisfaction and life satisfaction outcomes. Design A longitudinal study of a New Zealand birth cohort studied to age 25 years. Measurements Measures of: cannabis use at ages 14–25; university degree attainment to age 25; income at age 25; welfare dependence during the period 21–25 years; unemployment 21–25 years; relationship quality; life satisfaction. Also, measures of childhood socio‐economic disadvantage, family adversity, childhood and early adolescent behavioural adjustment and cognitive ability and adolescent and young adult mental health and substance use. Findings There were statistically significant bivariate associations between increasing levels of cannabis use at ages 14–21 and: lower levels of degree attainment by age 25 (P