States that allowed recreational marijuana stores to open experienced a drop in suicide rates among older residents, according to a recent analysis that reviewed more than twenty years of data from across the U.S. The findings suggest a clear association between the start of legal cannabis sales and a measurable decline in suicides among adults later in life.
The study analyzed monthly suicide figures from all 50 states. The goal was to examine whether expanded access to cannabis, specifically through regulated retail outlets, had any observable connection to mental health.
The researchers found that suicide rates fell among people aged 45 and over in states with recreational marijuana stores. The decline was most noticeable among men, a group that has long had higher rates of suicide than women. Men in this age range are also likely to report using cannabis to cope with chronic pain, which is a known contributor to depression and suicide risk.
The analysis did not show similar changes among younger people. It also found no reduction in suicide rates in states that legalized adult-use marijuana but had yet to open retail locations. According to the authors, this distinction points to access rather than cannabis legalization on paper as the key factor.
The study found no evidence that expanded marijuana availability led to an increase in suicides. This runs counter to concerns raised by critics of legalization, who have warned that broader cannabis use could worsen mental health, particularly among younger adults.
The paper also addressed the broader factors that contribute to suicide risk, pointing to pain management as an area that has received limited attention in previous research. They argue that understanding how cannabis may alleviate underlying physical discomfort adds a new dimension to debates over marijuana policy.
To rule out other explanations, the researchers accounted for a range of additional policies and economic factors. Their analysis included alcohol and tobacco taxes, as well as several opioid-related measures such as prescription limits, pill mill regulations, and drug monitoring programs. None of these factors explained the decline they observed.
The findings come amid ongoing concern over the rate of suicide in the United States, which remains close to record levels, particularly among senior and middle-aged adults. While the reduction associated with cannabis dispensaries was relatively small, the researchers emphasize that even incremental improvements can translate into lives saved when applied across large populations.
The authors cautioned that more research is needed to understand why the association exists and how cannabis use may influence mental health in different groups. Entities like TerrAscend Corp. (TSX: TSND) (OTCQX: TSNDF) operating licensed marijuana outlets will be glad that their products could be having such unintended positive effects on their users and potentially saving lives.
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