Science says cannabis can make us healthier

As it becomes available to more people, there is a positive health change, according to the data.

Cannabis is becoming more mainstream and the side effects are even greater than expected. It appears that the availability of legal marijuana benefits the health of the population. Studies in California, Canada and what is now New Zealand have shown the benefits of legalization. While cannabis has been used for health purposes for millions of years, reducing more harmful intoxicants is another important wellness trend.

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Alcohol consumption is associated with significant health risks, including liver damage, cardiovascular problems and certain types of cancer. In contrast, marijuana has not been linked to such severe physical health consequences. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that over 36,000 annual deaths in the United States are attributed to chronic alcohol consumption There is no comparable category for marijuana-related deaths. Alcohol is also much more addictive than marijuana and causes long-term physical and mental problems.

A New Zealand study has found some interesting trends regarding the connection between marijuana legalization and the use of alcohol and opioids.

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After marijuana was legalized in New Zealand, researchers observed a significant decrease in alcohol consumption:

• There was a 6-9% decrease in the frequency of binge drinking among adults aged 21 and older.
• The study found no significant impact on underage drinking rates among ages 12 to 20.

This suggests that marijuana may serve as a substitute for alcohol in some cases for adults, particularly when episodes of heavy drinking occur.

The connection between marijuana legalization and opioid use appears to be more complex:

• There was no clear evidence that marijuana legalization directly reduced opioid use or abuse.
• However, some research suggests that people who use cannabis are more likely to start using opioids compared to non-cannabis users, with an odds ratio of 2.76.
• Cannabis users were found to be 2.52 times more likely to transition from opioid use to opioid use disorders than non-cannabis users.

The study also revealed some additional insights into substance use patterns:

• After legalization, marijuana use among adults 21 and older increased by 16%.
• There was a 5% to 6% increase in initiation of marijuana use among adolescents and young adults aged 12 to 20 years. This would fall in line with the larger North American trend of California becoming sober and Generation Z moving away from alcohol and turning more to marijuana.
• No significant changes were observed in any age group in the use of hard drugs such as cocaine or heroin.

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These results suggest that while marijuana legalization may lead to lower alcohol consumption among adults, it does not necessarily lead to lower use of other substances, particularly opioids. The connection between cannabis use and other substance use behaviors is complex and multifaceted. Time and more research should bring more benefits.