If You’re Still Smoking Weed at 30, Scientists Have Bad News
A recent study from The University of Queensland suggests that regular marijuana use in adults over 30 may be linked to lower success in areas like education, income, and relationships, though the study has limitations, such as outdated data and questionable success markers.
While occasional use isn’t necessarily harmful, excessive cannabis consumption can affect career, relationships, and overall stability. For adults, responsible use—setting limits, monitoring impact, and staying mindful of long-term goals—is key to ensuring marijuana doesn’t interfere with personal and professional growth.
The Study: What It Said
Researchers from the University of Queensland analyzed data on drug use at ages 21 and 30 in over 8,000 mothers and 2,000 children
They measured “life success” across nine indicators, including education, income, homeownership, relationship status, and overall happiness
Key finding: If individuals continued using cannabis at age 30, they tended to score lower on these measures. Early experimentation didn’t show the same effect—continued use
Important Caveats
Limited sample: The study focused on Australian mothers, with some data going back to the 1980s—so it may not apply broadly
Success markers are subjective: Metrics like owning a home or being in a relationship don’t necessarily reflect individual definitions of success in today’s world
Polydrug use concerns: The study didn’t fully account for using other substances (e.g., ecstasy, opiates), which may confound the results
What This Does Mean
Frequent, ongoing cannabis use into your 30s may correlate with reduced performance in education, career, finances, relationships, and life satisfaction
But causation isn’t proven—it could be that underlying factors (like personality traits or socioeconomic influences) contributed to both drug use and these outcomes.
So, Should You Just Quit at 30?
Not necessarily—occasional or socially-oriented use hasn’t been flagged negatively in this study.
However, if cannabis becomes frequent and interfering with your goals, work, relationships, or spending, it might be holding you back.
This study is a prompt for reflection, not a prescription—consider how weed aligns with your priorities and whether it’s supporting your growth or hindering it.
Broader Context
Other health research shows potential risks from cannabis, such as:
Cognitive effects: Heavy use, particularly in young adults, has been linked to memory and brain-function issues nypost.com+2rtglobalnews.com+2futurism.com+2nypost.com.
Mental health: High-potency THC is tied to anxiety, depression, and even psychosis in vulnerable individuals .
Physical health: Long-term use may raise cardiovascular risks, affecting blood vessel function nypost.com.
Final Takeaway
If you’re still smoking weed at 30 and find it’s becoming a regular part of life, it’s worth asking:
Is it helping or hindering your work, relationships, and well-being?
Are there signs of dependency or financial strain?
If you notice negative patterns, consider dialing it back or speaking with a healthcare professional. Balanced, mindful use can be fine—but it’s the ongoing, heavy use into adulthood that’s raising concerns.
