This article analyses the relationship between cannabis use and
educational trajectories among 42 young drug users, recruited at
addiction treatment centres in Denmark. Quantitative research shows
regular cannabis use to be associated with poor school performance
and drop-out. However, these studies do not pay much attention
to differences between educational tracks or to the links between
the educational field and other fields. Drawing on a Bourdieusian
framework we analyse the interviewees’ involvement in four different
fields: the academic field, the field of vocational schools, the labour
market field and the artistic field. We contribute to the literature
on post-16 educational trajectories by showing how successful
‘investments’ in education depend not only on available resources
(capitals), but also on the ability to navigate in an increasingly complex
educational system. Furthermore, we show how regular cannabis
plays into the ‘illusio’ of different fields, challenging the interviewees’
playing of educational games.