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Legal Cannabis Sales Linked to Lower Suicide Rates in Older Adults

Study finds states with legal recreational marijuana stores see lower suicide rates in older adults. Analysis covers 20+ years of U.S. data, linking cannabis sales to mental health benefits.

This news matters because it connects cannabis legalization to tangible public health benefits, specifically reduced suicide rates among older adults—a demographic often overlooked in drug policy discussions. For policymakers, it provides evidence-based arguments for considering mental health outcomes in legalization debates. For the cannabis industry, it highlights potential social value beyond economic gains, which could influence public perception and regulatory approaches. For individuals, especially seniors or their families, it suggests that access to legal cannabis might offer mental health support, though more research is needed to understand causality and safe usage. This adds a critical dimension to the ongoing conversation about drug reform, emphasizing health impacts over purely criminal or economic factors.