How Marijuana Helps with Depression

Daily and weekly recreational users of marijuana report in surveys they are less depressed. Cannabis users with medical conditions report having symptoms of depression that may be related to there condition.(Source) Studies have found no correlation to marijuana causing depression.(Source)

Medical marijuana and recreational marijuana are increasingly becoming legal state by state. Statistics of states that have legalized show sharp decreases in suicide rates. States that legalize marijuana have an eleven percent decrease in suicide rate for males 20-29 years old. Research has shown that there is a correlation of suicide and alcohol abuse. Studies have also concluded that the availability of marijuana reduces alcohol consumption. It is still unclear if this drop is from marijuana, or from decrease use of alcohol.(Source)

The Arizona Department of Health took surveys of their patients that dealt with debilitating medical conditions. The patients describe cannabis helping to diminish symptoms and alter there mood to reduce depression. George McMahon suffering from illness said “The elevated mood associated with cannabis definitely affected my health in a positive manner. I was more engaged with life. I took walks and rode my bike, things I never considered doing before in my depressed state, even if I had been physically capable. I ate regular meals and I slept better at night. All of these individual factors contributed to a better overall sense of well-being." (Source)

Patients with bipolar describe notable improvement to stabilizing their moods with medical cannabis. They report a slow down to the cycle of manic to depression states improving overall mood. The amount of time feeling depressed is reduced significantly. (Source)

Many have used cannabis to treat mood disorders such as anxiety, PMS, depression and bipolar disorder. Early writings in the 19^th century report using cannabis to improve depression and mood. Reducing pain and other uncomfortable conditions with cannabis can also improve mood.(Source)

Source:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/expert-answers/marijuana-and-depression/faq-20058060

http://www.iza.org/en/webcontent/publications/papers/viewAbstract?dp_id=6280

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15964704

http://www.azdhs.gov/medicalmarijuana/documents/debilitating/DepressionComments.pdf

http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=000226

http://www.420magazine.com/forums/medical-marijuana-facts-information/67789-marijuana-psychological-conditions.html

Cannabis use Lowers Alcohol Consumption

With the recent legalization of marijuana as a recreation use, alcohol consumption has gone down. This result was first theorized and studied in the late 1960's and 70's. DUI arrests, driving fatalities under alcohol influence, and drug overdose has gone down in Colorado and Washington where recreational marijuana use has become legal.

In 1968, Alfred R. Lindesmith, a sociologist talked about how pot smokers have an aversion to alcohol, much like how Hindus in India regard alcohol as taboo, while incorporating ganja as part of their ritual. John Kaplan from Stanford University in 1970 wrote, Marijuana, the New Prohibition states that a large percentage of marijuana users cut down alcohol use after starting use of marijuana. Richard Blum's data in the book showed that 54% of weekly marijuana users reduced alcohol use, while 89% of daily users reduced their consumption. (Source)

An online study in Australia surveyed 1,994 people broken up into groups of marijuana users, alcohol users and stimulant drugs such as ecstasy. The research purpose was to find if use of other drugs encourages people to drink more alcohol. With the three groups, ecstacy and alcohol users binged with excessive alcohol use, while marijuana users did not. (Source)

A study published in the Journal of Law and Economics showed that there is a 8-11% drop in traffic fatalities associated with legalizing medical marijuana. The findings were the same amount in alcohol related accidents which concluded that legalizing marijuana resulted in less drinking. (Source) This study has been put into practice in Colorado where as the miles driven goes up yearly, driving fatalities as legalization of marijuana takes effect has gone down by 9 percent. The study went on to report that after the legalization beer sales were down in the state by 5 percent. (Source) In Washington state, drunk driving arrests went down 11% after legalizing marijuana. (Source)

With a reduction of alcohol usage, one can infer that alcohol intoxication leading to overdose death will go down, but studies aren't out yet. Studies do show a reduction in opioid drug overdose deaths with the legalization of marijuana. (Source) The DEA has been pressured to remove marijuana as a schedule 1 drug, which would allow for more research regarding cannabis use and it's effects on society.(Source)

Source:

http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/library/studies/cu/cu58.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24975774

http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.1086/668812?uid=2&uid=4&sid=21103919484243

http://www.iza.org/en/webcontent/publications/papers/viewAbstract?dp_id=6112

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacobsullum/2014/04/03/more-pot-safer-roads-marijuana-legalization-could-bring-unexpected-benefits/

http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1898878