Recreational Marijuana Laws and suicide deaths in the US

IF 4.2 2区医学 Q1 PSYCHIATRY

Psychiatry Research Pub Date : 2025-02-04 DOI:10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116386

Nawar Nayeem , Erick Messias , Ping-I Lin

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objectives

This study aimed to examine the association between Recreational Marijuana Laws (RMLs) and age-adjusted suicide rates in the U.S. population from 2000 to 2022.

Methods

Suicide rate data were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Multiple Cause of Death Files at the state and year level. Information on RML status and years of legalization was sourced from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). Using a staggered difference-in-differences (DiD) framework, we assessed the relationship between RMLs and age-adjusted suicide rates.

Results

RMLs were associated with an increase of 0.68 suicide deaths per 100,000 population (p-value < 0.05). This increase was primarily driven by states that implemented RMLs in 2018 (Maine, Vermont, and Michigan) and 2019 (Illinois). In contrast, states that enacted RMLs in 2015 (Alaska, Oregon, and Washington, D.C.) experienced a decline in suicide deaths post-legalization.

Conclusion

This study adds to the growing body of literature on RMLs and suicidality by underscoring the potential role of state-specific factors—such as demographic characteristics, implementation strategies, or contextual differences—in shaping the direction and magnitude of this association. These findings highlight the need for further research to better understand the mechanisms underlying these divergent outcomes.

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来源期刊

Psychiatry Research 医学-精神病学

CiteScore

17.40

自引率

1.80%

发文量

527

审稿时长

57 days

期刊介绍： Psychiatry Research offers swift publication of comprehensive research reports and reviews within the field of psychiatry. The scope of the journal encompasses: Biochemical, physiological, neuroanatomic, genetic, neurocognitive, and psychosocial determinants of psychiatric disorders. Diagnostic assessments of psychiatric disorders. Evaluations that pursue hypotheses about the cause or causes of psychiatric diseases. Evaluations of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic psychiatric treatments. Basic neuroscience studies related to animal or neurochemical models for psychiatric disorders. Methodological advances, such as instrumentation, clinical scales, and assays directly applicable to psychiatric research.