Pot Use Linked to Worse Verbal Memory in Middle Age

The Globe and Mail reports that a long-term study has linked use of marijuana to poor verbal memory in middle age. This is relevant to sexual minorities because we are vulnerable to engaging in substance abuse. This is the case for two reasons:

(1) Some might turn to it as a response to discrimination. Promoting substance abuse as a response to emotional stress has a long history in our culture, unfortunately. 

(2) The political left includes both advocates for the rights of sexual minorities and advocates for acceptance and/or legalization of drug use. This might cause gay or transgender people mistakenly to associate substance abuse with acceptance and love. 

Both of these are minor catastrophes. Damaging your body or brain because someone rejects you is a terrible idea. Damaging your body or brain because someone accepts you is a different terrible idea.