New Study: Medical Cannabis Legalization Has Reduced Suicides
A new study published in the American Journal of Public Health – which is an update of a 2011 study – has found that states which have legalized medical cannabis have seen a significant
reduction in suicides, especially among young adults aged 20 to 29.
For the study, researchers “obtained state-level suicide data from the National Vital Statistics System’s Mortality Detail Files for 1990–2007. We used regression analysis [studying economic conditions, state policies, and state-specific linear time trends] to examine the association between medical marijuana legalization and suicides per 100 000 population.”
In doing so, researchers found that; “Legalization was associated with a 10.8% and 9.4% reduction in the suicide rate of men aged 20 through 29 years and 30 through 39 years, respectively.”
Researchers conclude that; “Suicides among men aged 20 through 39 years fell after medical marijuana legalization compared with those in states that did not legalize. The negative relationship between legalization and suicides among young men is consistent with the hypothesis that marijuana can be used to cope with stressful life events. However, this relationship may be explained by alcohol consumption. The mechanism through which legalizing medical marijuana reduces suicides among young men remains a topic for future study.”
The study can be found by clicking here.
– TheJointBlog
Ras Ible
I personally know three people who committed suicide where MMJ could have helped saved them.
Hope
I has certainly helped me when I was suicidal. I’m still here.
tinker87
I have used it for years. It has really helpd calm me down and makes me happyer with every puff!!
Gordon
Marijuana has been saving Veteran’s lives in the United States since VietNam. What do you think all those veterans were doing out in the woods of Northern California, Washington and Oregon from 1966 – 1996? They were growing pot! I grew up in Northern California and befriended many veteran growers. They all had the same reasons to grow and use pot. They could not keep a regulator job or work for companies they saw as destructive. They saw their friends die from heroine, alcohol and violent as well as silent suicides. The veterans I knew decided to live embrace nature and art and be a positive contributors in their communities. Since the VA at the time did not address PTSD as a disability they were forced to take care of themselves. So they could live a happy and productive lives. First they lived grid with their own gardens and alternative power sources many of these veterans help to develop ecotourism outdoor adventuress the sustainable living industry we know today. They are also the grandfathers of the medical Marijuana industry. Your freedom is never free. Freedom is often paid for by our veterans in more way than one.
walt stawicki
gordon. and still a vet (mostly young &from iraq afghan tours ) suicides every day! its far far from over. be strong.
Jim Geesman
Removal of another depressing trigger by removing most of the threat of incarceration likely contributes as well as the soothing effect of the chemicals from the plant mixing with the nearly identical chemicals produced by your brain.