Published in the magazine Health Economics, one study, which analyzed data from 10 US states, highlighted that the legalization of cannabis would decrease the treatments healthcare related to mental health.
“The findings indicate that shortly after a state adopts an RML (Recreational Marijuana Legalization) a decrease of the average number of hospitalizations for mental health treatments - the researchers declared, underlining that: “The results are robust to alternative specifications and sensitivity analysis”.
According to the same Alberto Ortega, an Indiana University professor who led the study, recreational cannabis laws "led to a decrease of about 37% of total hospitalizations for mental health treatment or approximately 92 fewer hospitalizations per 10,000 individuals in a state.”
Cannabis and mental health treatments: the results
Ortega admitted, however, that “Due to data limitations, it is difficult to identify the mechanisms leading to the decrease in mental health treatment described above - One possibility is that (the laws) increase the use of marijuana and that this improves mental health.” Or “that people who need mental health treatment can replace more easily or self-medicate with marijuana."
In fact, the study concluded by specifying that: "My findings speak specifically to hospitalizations for treatment and should not be confused with improvement or decline in mental health as the evidence on the effects of RML on mental health remains conflicting."
| For further information: “Can cannabis cause psychosis?”
