Residents of legal marijuana states have lower rates of this disorder, new study results show

A federally funded study concluded that those living in legal weed states had lower rates of alcohol use disorders (AUD). The longitudinal study, which began in 2014 before weed was legal, was conducted by researchers from the University of Colorado and the University of Minnesota and published in the journal Psychological Medicine.

In all cases, one twin lived in a legal marijuana state and the other did not, presenting a unique case for researchers trying to understand the implications of legalization without having to worry about complex factors such as the subjects’ genetics and socialization . The study found that while alcohol consumption did not vary greatly between states, twins who lived in legal states were less likely to suffer harm from alcohol influence.

Photo by Taylor Brandon via Unsplash

“Recreational legalization was associated with increased cannabis use and decreased AUD symptoms, but was not associated with other maladjustments,” the researchers wrote. They also found that legal cannabis states did not have higher rates of psychosocial disorders, a concern for many who do not support marijuana legalization.

RELATED: Identical twins living in different states have conflicting marijuana habits — here’s why

Despite the promising evidence, the researchers made it clear that the study’s data is difficult to interpret and that it should be investigated further before jumping to conclusions and suggesting that legal marijuana is the cause of this change.

While cannabis may have a positive impact on alcohol use disorders, it may also impact other factors that have not been studied in research, including increased cannabis use, tobacco use, and other unhealthy behaviors that pose a risk to people’s health.

Photo by Gustavo Fring via Pexels

RELATED: Will Marijuana Legalization Increase Alcohol Use? A new study might surprise you

Government officials and researchers are interested in finding out as soon as possible the effects of legal cannabis, whether it leads to more tax revenue or whether it increases the likelihood of mental illness.

While these studies are unlikely to change much in the short term, their findings could impact the future of cannabis and help shape the way states use the drug and educate their communities.