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The first “Scooby-Doo” movie remains both one of the greatest cinematic masterpieces of all time and one of my childhood favorites. Watching Shaggy and Scooby scarf down sandwiches in the back of the Mystery Machine was more entertaining to me than the parts where the gang was actually solving mysteries. In fact, I vividly remember wondering why Shaggy said Mary Jane was, “Like, his favorite name” after meeting his love interest on the way to Spooky Island.
Now that I’m older (and now that I can appreciate the film’s comedic genius), I’ve realized that Shaggy is not alone in his admiration — especially here at UW. It’s no mystery that outside of picking classes and majors, the decisions that college students make often intersect with the realm of substance use. Since booby traps aren’t enough to unmask the realities of a subject so complex and interconnected with student health and wellbeing, I decided to sniff around for clues right here at home.
“I used to be really commonly known as the stupid kid in school,” fourth-year psychology student Amy Bailey said. “Nobody would cheat off of my paper. I was always withdrawing from classes because I just would have failed them outright.”
Bailey recently increased her Dean’s List streak to three quarters in a row — a feat she attributed largely to the mental health benefits she has experienced from marijuana use.
“I think being able to regulate my own emotions and at-home life is really crucial for my academics, and I know smoking really helps me to do that,” Bailey said. “I probably would have been able to make the Dean’s List at one point without it, but much later than anytime, you know, soon.”
Bailey’s marijuana use began around six years ago, when she was just a budding 16-year-old. Before attending college, she struggled to pass many of her highschool classes. When faced with the rigor of UW’s academics, Bailey believed she is able to keep up through her marijuana use.
“It’s purely about mentally being able to regulate myself, take a step back, disconnect from outside sources, and just really focus on myself,” Bailey said. “Instead of being so overwhelmed with my course load, I’m able to take a breather.”
Bailey’s academic performance clearly contradicts the stereotypes that many people associate with individuals who use marijuana regularly. When asked about her firsthand experience with the stigma surrounding smoking weed, Bailey had no trouble being blunt about her past encounters with others on campus.
“People will view you in an entirely different way, whether you like it or not, no matter how cool you are and how accepting you are of other people,” Bailey said. “The second people get wind that you smoke weed daily or recreationally, and not just once in a while for fun, you’re different. It’s definitely like I have to prove myself. Like don’t worry — I’m still smart. Please, please don’t think I’m stupid.”
Second-year global studies student Mason Moore echoed similar sentiments regarding the use of marijuana as a way to manage the stress that college students often face. Like Bailey, Moore uses marijuana as a way to relax as a working, full-time student.
“I personally use marijuana as a way to kind of de-stress at the end of my day,” Moore said. “In that aspect, I feel like it’s a positive outlet, but at the same time, I feel like it has messed with my motivation.”
According to Moore, when it comes to navigating this balance between staying productive and blazing it up, it is important for students to be wary of their limits when it comes to smoking weed.
“The idea of everything in moderation is my opinion on it,” Moore said. “If it’s getting to a point where smoking weed often interferes with getting to class on time or makes you sleep in too much, you have to try to recognize that and strive to get back on track or seek help if you need it.”
After transferring from Western Washington University this past fall, Moore noticed more of his new peers disapproved of marijuana use overall. However, when encountering other green fiends like himself, Moore found that their use departed from the narrative that commonly surrounds college weed culture.
“Most of the time when I run into people who smoke weed, they use a quantity that’s healthy for them, which I think is really positive,” Moore said. “If you’re going to use it, that’s something you need to know —- when it becomes too much.”
So, how canHuskies see through the haze and make more informed decisions when it comes to not just marijuana use, but substance use overall? How can students be empowered to seek the science that underlies the smoke? Where can they look to for the latest findings on student health and wellbeing in the context of marijuana use?
Enter the UW Center for Cannabis Research. The facility not only studies the green, but it rakes it in: With over $10 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health, the facility has worked to innovate interdisciplinary cannabis research since its creation in 2017.
According to associate professor Jason Kilmer, the adverse health effects of cannabis are best evaded by choosing not to use it in the first place –- the majority of students make this choice. However, when people do use marijuana or other products of cannabis often, they may not even fully notice its effects on the brain.
“The more that people use cannabis, the more that it can lead to decreases in attention, memory, and concentration. Of course, these are really important functions in a college setting,” Kilmer said. “Research shows that even 24 hours after use, decreases in these cognitive abilities can be seen, and the more often people use, the longer it could take to improve”.
Jinkies. Fortunately, Kilmer and his colleagues have contributed to work that has revealed that these adverse effects on the brain disappear with abstinence.
“Fortunately, promising research shows that after stopping daily use, these difficulties with attention, concentration, and memory generally go away after 28 days of abstinence,” Kilmer said. “A student who feels like they are struggling with attention, concentration, and memory, and who uses cannabis, can see noticeable improvements in those areas if they stop their use.”
So, when thinking about the highs and lows of smoking, it’s clear that finding the balance between knowing the science and ourselves is best. Without this, how can we blaze a trail toward more well informed, healthier student communities? When we actively choose to sleuth through the stigma and uncover the facts, we work toward fostering acceptance no matter how one chooses to use marijuana. Mystery solved.
Reach writer Aleia Hofschneider Santos at specials@dailyuw.com. Twitter: @acsantos
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”}]] The first “Scooby-Doo” movie remains both one of the greatest cinematic masterpieces of all time and one of my childhood favorites. Watching Shaggy and Scooby scarf down sandwiches in the Read More