Marijuana and the Mind: Correlation is not Causation!

I think you bring up a very good point only emphasizing the gaps found within the media's argument against marijuana. The "correlation does not mean causation" principle definitely applies well to this situation and should be looked at carefully. I agree that there are many other variables that could attribute to marijuana use such as peer pressure, at home life or maybe even some chemical imbalances. But what I find interesting about this all is that this "3rd variable" idea applies directly to the nature vs. nurture debate. The depression that is said to be the cause of weed smoking teens could be the product of nature and their individual biological structures, or perhaps it is the environment that the teens are brought up in (reinforcing the nurture side of the debate) that causes teens to look for an outlet in their lives. I agree that the media often confuses correlation and causation but I would also go to say that it ignores other possible hypotheses and causes altogether resulting in a very misinformed society.

I agree very much with both of the arguments above. I think both of you have said about everything there has to be said regarding the correlation does not mean causation fallacy, but I would like to point out a few more examples. I grew up in a rather diverse and poor neighborhood and schooling system, so I've seen a lot of good people, friends of mine from a young age, turn to marijuana as an outlet later in their lives for their frustrations, poverty, and family issues. Many studies say poverty and lack of schooling is caused by smoking marijuana but what I've seen is because of poverty and the lack of, or subpar, schooling systems it seems to lead to smoking. Again this is all correlation and doesn't prove any causation, but it just shows how easily wrong the media can get by saying correlation MEANS causation.

The media often will state things have a causation relationship, however this needs to be ignored, especially in this matter. There is definitely a third factor in the marijuana and depression correlation. I think that the environment that the teen smokers grow up in is what affects their mood, not the drug itself. It seems that teens who have access to the drug are surrounded by "role models" who are giving marijuana to them. They will continue to grow up with these negative influences and probably won't break free from the societal role they fall into as teens. This role may cause them to have low self esteem, low-skilled jobs, etc. therefore causing depression. While the depression is caused by some influencing factor, I don't believe that it is the drug itself. The media needs to stop portraying that causation is the reason for depression, but rather that their is a correlation between the two items.

I agree with the above comments in that there definitely has to be at least a third factor in this causation vs correlation. As the original post stated they need to do more studies into this topic. Just because they say it is so doesn't mean it is. Not only is there the nature vs nurture aspect but many others. For all we know there could be something in marijuana that does lead to depression but without further studies and definitive proof we won't really know for sure.

I agree with the above comments in that there definitely has to be at least a third factor in this causation vs correlation. As the original post stated they need to do more studies into this topic. Just because they say it is so doesn't mean it is. Not only is there the nature vs nurture aspect but many others. For all we know there could be something in marijuana that does lead to depression but without further studies and definitive proof we won't really know for sure.

I completely agree with this argument. It actually makes more sense the other way around than what the media says. Marijuana causes a euphoric/happy feeling which is exactly the opposite of depression is. It makes much more sense that because teens are depressed, they turn to weed to give them that "high". This of course is only one theory and I'm sure that this is not the case every time, but it is the simples argument which fits with the law of parsimony.