A recent study found that the legalization of recreational cannabis significantly reduces intimate partner violence (IPV). The research highlights that legal recreational marijuana affects the link between heavy alcohol consumption and IPV, likely because people are choosing cannabis over alcohol.
The study was written by Georgetown University master student Samantha Gene Baldwin, who described the findings as surprising.
“Given that cannabis use is an established IPV-risk factor, and that legalization typically leads to increased usage, one might expect RML to elevate IPV rates,” Baldwin explained. “RML may lessen its negative effects on IPV, though, if marijuana takes the place of alcohol, which is more likely to cause IPV.”
Baldwin’s research used data from the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) spanning from 2013 to 2019, excluding the COVID-19 pandemic period. The analysis revealed that the legalization of adult-use cannabis led to 56.6 fewer reported IPV incidents per 100,000 individuals.
Despite previous studies linking cannabis and substance use with higher IPV rates, Baldwin pointed out that the replacement of alcohol with marijuana, which is less strongly associated with IPV, resulted in an overall reduction in violence.
Historical cannabis prohibition may also have influenced trends. Baldwin suggested that when marijuana was illegal, its users might have been more prone to impulsive and risky behaviors. This context provides a different perspective on the implications of legalization.
Interestingly, the study found that in states without legal marijuana, IPV rates decreased as the number of heavy drinkers increased. Baldwin stated that lower rates of IPV are correlated with higher rates of excessive drinking in states where marijuana use is not permitted for recreational purposes. In particular, there were 5.6 fewer IPV instances for every percentage point increase in heavy drinkers.
On the other hand, eight additional IPV instances occurred for every percentage point rise in heavy drinkers in states with RML.
Baldwin’s thesis emphasizes the need for further research on state-specific trends and the impact of retail marijuana accessibility on violence. “Future studies should examine how different cannabis policies, ranging from full illegality to decriminalization, medical cannabis legalization and RML, affect IPV,” Baldwin noted.
Previous research has also suggested a decline in domestic violence with cannabis legalization. For instance, a 2019 study found that states reducing penalties for simple marijuana possession saw a marked drop in domestic violence incidents resulting in serious injuries. Moreover, another study in 2021 concluded that the reduction in overall crime following cannabis legalization was significantly underestimated due to inconsistencies in FBI data and voluntary participation by local agencies.
These studies suggest that there are more benefits to cannabis legalization and allowing licensed companies such as Curaleaf Holdings Inc. (CSE: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) to operate. As more research is done, those less-than-obvious benefits could increasingly come to light.
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