Cannabis and Witness Accounts: What the Study Says

A new study looked at how people who smoke weed remember a crime video. The researchers used a special interview called the Sketch‑Cognitive Interview (Sketch‑CI). This method helps witnesses rebuild the scene in their mind. They wanted to see if being high when watching the video or when answering questions would mess up memory. Four groups of 131 adults took part. One group smoked weed before and after watching the video, a second group only before answering questions, a third stayed sober all the time, and the last group never used weed. After watching an online clip that showed a mock crime, each participant went through the Sketch‑CI interview. Then they tried three lineups that did not include the culprit.The results were surprising. How many details each person remembered – correct, wrong or made‑up – was almost the same across all groups. Confidence in picking the right person from a lineup also did not differ much, except for those who felt very high. Those with stronger intoxication had more trouble recalling facts and were more sure about wrong choices. The study suggests that the Sketch‑CI can be useful even when witnesses are under the influence of cannabis. However, it also shows that how a person reacts to weed matters. Some people may still have trouble remembering accurately, especially if they feel very intoxicated. Future research could try other interview techniques and include a group that receives no extra help in remembering the scene. That would show whether the Sketch‑CI is truly the best tool for weed‑using witnesses.