A new study reveals that legalizing recreational marijuana may cut opioid-related deaths by an average of 3.5 per 100,000 residents.
The research, based on state-level data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found the most significant impact in states that legalized marijuana earlier in the opioid crisis. According to the study, the decline in overdose deaths was immediate in these states and grew stronger over time, persisting for at least five years.
Researchers from multiple institutions, including Texas Tech University, New Mexico State University, and the American Institute for Economic Research, observed similar trends in states that legalized marijuana more recently, though the effects typically appeared three years after legalization, coinciding with the development of dispensary infrastructure.
The study employed innovative statistical techniques to analyze the relationship between recreational marijuana legalization and opioid deaths, providing a clearer understanding of the connection. However, the researchers acknowledged some limitations, such as the inability to study long-term impacts due to the relatively recent wave of marijuana legalization. The analysis also did not cover non-fatal overdoses or related hospitalizations.
The findings, published on the Social Science Research Network, have not yet undergone peer review. Still, authors believe their results contribute valuable insights into the potential role of marijuana policies in addressing the opioid crisis.
