Study Shows Medical Marijuana States have Reduced Suicides
As study after study confirms the medicinal qualities of marijuana, we should probably stop being surprised. However, there are times when new benefits are discovered that are so groundbreaking, even advocates have to take a step back and breathe a sigh of relief.
While many medical marijuana advocates focus on physical pain relief from HIV/AIDS, cancer treatments, MS, Nausea, and chronic pain, the psyche also benefits greatly from cannabis. New research has demonstrated a link between PTSD relief and marijuana use as many returning soldiers say it is the only way they can relieve their symptoms. Now it appears another significant link between the psyche and marijuana has been discovered. According to a research paper entitled “High on Life? Medical Marijuana Laws and Suicide”, states that have legalized marijuana have seen a significant drop in suicides. The paper was written by D. Mark Anderson, Daniel I. Rees, and Joseph J. Sabia.
The paper analyzed data from 1990-2007 and found an overall reduction by 5% in overall suicides. Males aged 20-29 saw an 11% drop in suicides. In states that do not permit legalized marijuana, suicide rates actually rose during this time period. While suicide does not garner the attention of many other causes of death, it is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. The authors mentioned above believe that legalizing marijuana may “lead to an improvement in the psychological well-being of young adult males, an improvement that is reflected in fewer suicides.” They also went on to say “The strong association between alcohol consumption and suicide-related outcomes found by previous researchers raises the possibility that medical marijuana laws reduce the risk of suicide by decreasing alcohol consumption.”
While lawmakers still drag their feet and state that marijuana is extremely dangerous, advocates are concentrating on how we can treat the a top ten leading cause of death in the United States. While this may sound naïve in this day and age, we are expected to look up to our government officials. How can we do that? How can we seek help from those who will not even pass a congressional insider trading bill, or allow Super Pacs to influence an election. For the time being, both physical and mental relief are in direct violation of federal law.
For the full research paper including additional statistics from the study click here
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