Medical Marijuana May Prevent Suicides, study shows

Medical marijuana may be lowering suicide rates in men, according to a new study.

Analysis of data taken from the National Vital Statistics System's Mortality Detail Files indicated that between 1990 and 2007, the growing legalization of medical marijuana in U.S. states resulted in a reduction in suicide rates among men ranging from 9-11 percent.

While data for women remained inconclusive, the analysis concluded that suicides among men aged 20 through 39 years of age fell following the legalization of medical marijuana in some states. Data also indicated that suicide rates remained constant or dropped less significantly in states that did not legalize the drug in comparison with those that did.

Still, much remains unanswered due to the fact man external influences very possibly skewed the data. Instances where even when using medicinal marijuana as a coping mechanism mortality rates increased were also found. The authors of the study admit that this data too could have been influenced by other detrimental habits among depressed individuals.

"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 researchers wrote.

Currently, 20 of the 50 states have legalized medicinal marijuana, in most cases with some restrictions. According to study co-author Daniel I. Rees Department of Economics, University of Colorado Denver, the effects the legalization of marijuana has on suicide rates among you men remains a topic open for future study.

The study was published in the American Journal of Public Health.