Study #1: Health of Long-Term Cannabis Smokers No Worse Than Non-Users

A long-term study (published in JAMA Psychiatry) of nearly 1,000 New Zealanders (from birth to age 38) found no significant differences in overall health between cannabis smokers (who smoked for up to 20 years) and non-users, with one exception: gum disease.

Key Findings:

• The international research team assessed a dozen measures of physical health, including lung function, systemic inflammation and several measures of metabolic syndrome, including waist circumference, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, glucose control and body mass index.
• In contrast, the study found tobacco users not only had more gum disease, but reduced lung function, systemic inflammation and indicators of poorer metabolic health.

Read the study.

Cannabis Study #2: Clinical Cannabis Legalization Associated With Decline In Illness-Related Workplace Absences

Analyzing data from the Current Population Survey (a survey of ~60,000 U.S. households conducted by the Census Bureau), researchers published a study -- The Effect of Medical Marijuana on Sickness Absence -- in Health Economics that looked at absences due to illness finding workplace absences declined following the legalization of medical marijuana.

Key Findings:

• Workplace absences due to sickness decline following legalization of medical cannabis.
• The effect is stronger in states with ‘lax’ medical marijuana regulations, for full-time workers, and for middle-aged males, which is the group most likely to hold medical marijuana cards.

The study was partially motivated by a previous study which found that alcohol consumption declined following medical marijuana legalization. Because many individuals claim cannabis helps relieve symptoms often associated with workplace absences, researchers hypothesized that states with legal clinical cannabis would see a decrease in workplace absences, a hypothesis that appears to be confirmed by the study. The findings run contrary to the popular mythology that easy access to cannabis will turn people into lazy stoners more likely to miss work.

Read the study.

Study #3: Despite Expansion of Legal Cannabis, Teen Use Has Not Increased

With a majority of states now having legal clinical cannabis programs, and more states allowing adult-use recreational consumption, teen cannabis use is not increasing. Moreover, alcohol and illicit drug use is at a new low.

Key Findings:

• According to the annual Monitoring the Future survey, a survey of ~45,000 U.S. teens, found that the use of cannabis, alcohol, and other illicit substances either held steady or decreased in 2016 compared to 2015.
• Cannabis use declined among 8th and 10th graders, and remained steady among 12th graders, in 2016.

The findings are notable given the dire predictions of anti-cannabis activists who’ve argued legalization will lead to increased use among teens.

According to Dr. Nora Volkow (who is not an anti-cannabis activist, but the head of the National Institute of Drug Abuse), was surprised by the findings: “I don’t have an explanation. This is somewhat surprising.”

Read the press release.

Study #4: Medical Marijuana Saves Medicare $165.2 million

According to a University of Georgia study published in Health Affairs -- Medical Marijuana Laws Reduce Prescription Medication Use In Medicare Part D -- the “availability of medical marijuana has a significant effect on prescribing patterns and spending in Medicare Part D.” To the tune of $165.2 million! Given ballooning costs for Medicare, policymakers may want to take note (as clearly clinical cannabis laws may not only help our growing population of seniors, but save taxpayers a lot of money in the process).

Key Findings:

• National overall reductions in Medicare program and enrollee spending when states implemented medical marijuana laws were estimated to be $165.2 million per year in 2013.
• Using data on all prescriptions filled by Medicare Part D enrollees from 2010 to 2013, we found that the use of prescription drugs for which marijuana could serve as a clinical alternative fell significantly, once a medical marijuana law was implemented.
• Medicare prescriptions for conditions sometimes treated with clinical cannabis (e.g. chronic pain, anxiety, depression, nausea, pain, psychosis, seizures, sleep disorders and spasticity) declined significantly in states where medical marijuana is legal.
• Prescriptions for drugs used to treat other conditions did not decline.

Read the study.

Study #5: Cannabis Reduces Aggression

According to a study published in Psychopharmacology, Subjective Aggression During Alcohol and Cannabis Intoxication Before and After Aggression Exposure, subjective aggression decreased following cannabis exposure.

Key Findings:

• Subjective aggression significantly increased following aggression exposure in all groups while being sober.
• Alcohol intoxication increased subjective aggression; cannabis decreased the subjective aggression following aggression exposure.
• Aggressive responses increased following alcohol and decreased following cannabis relative to placebo.

Conclusions:

Alcohol facilitates feelings of aggression. Cannabis diminishes aggressive feelings in both heavy alcohol and regular cannabis users.

Read the study.