Let’s cut through the smoke: We’ve all seen the memes – the stoned gamer surrounded by empty Doritos bags, Mountain Dew bottles, and a haze of weed smoke. But according to a massive new review in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions, science says that stereotype is about as accurate as a Call of Duty sniper with the munchies.
After crunching 25 studies from the past quarter-century, researchers found the cannabis-gaming connection is all over the map:
Positive Correlation
Most studies found gaming and ganja go together like Mario and mushrooms. Cozy up on the couch, fire up the console, and pass the joint.
Negative Correlation
Some research showed gamers actually smoke less. Maybe because you can’t hit a bong when you’re clutching the controller in a boss fight.
No Connection
A solid chunk found zero relationship. Because sometimes you just want to game sober, and sometimes you just want to get high and stare at the ceiling.
Why Can’t Science Get Its Story Straight?
Turns out researchers can’t agree on what they’re even studying. The review calls out three major problems plaguing this field:
“Video games” means everything from Candy Crush to Call of Duty – some studies include mobile games, others only consoles, and some don’t specify at all.
“Cannabis use” ranges from “tried it once in college” to “daily wake-and-bake” – with no standard for measuring consumption frequency or patterns.
Research focuses almost exclusively on college kids – ignoring that low-SES folks face higher risks of problematic use.
As the study diplomatically puts it: “An inability to draw clear conclusions is, in part, due to a lack of consistency.” Translation: Scientists need to put down the bong and get organized.
The Gaming Platforms Wars
Researchers can’t even agree what counts as “gaming” – so we made this handy chart showing what different studies include:
Most studies
Most studies
Some studies
Rarely included
Too many studies
Meanwhile, the DEA thinks video games are the solution to drug use. Their 2023 campaign actually told kids to “play video games instead of doing drugs” – which feels like replacing Cheetos with Doritos.
Real World vs. Research World
Meanwhile, Outside the Lab…
While academics argue over definitions, real people are living the connection:
- NHL players increasingly choose weed + gaming over alcohol + partying
- Steam’s top-selling game was “Schedule I” – a drug-dealing sim that trolls the War on Drugs
- From 80s “Drug Wars” to modern “Grand Theft Auto” – gamers love virtual drug economies
The study admits research is in its “infancy” – which explains why science feels lightyears behind culture.
Where Do We Go From Here?
The researchers proposed a four-point plan to improve future studies:
Define “gaming” consistently – Is Candy Crush the same as competitive eSports?
Explore non-linear relationships – Maybe moderate gaming + moderate weed = chill, but extremes = problems?
Study non-college adults – Shocking concept: research people who aren’t undergrads!
More qualitative research – Actually talk to gamers about why they mix these activities.
Bottom line: Next time someone claims “gamers are all stoners,” tell them science says it’s complicated. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with my Xbox and this perfectly legal pre-roll.
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