Legal cannabis leads to drop in obesity as fewer people drink alcohol

Anti-drug activists might not like to hear this, but it seems legalising marijuana for medical use is good for people’s health.

Or at least, it’s having a big impact on obesity, according to Cornell University and San Diego State University researchers.

One of the reasons for this is that young people aren’t drinking as much alcohol – and it’s good for their waistlines.

The researchers reviewed 12 years of data – and found that overall, states which legalised marijuana for medical purposes had a 2% to 6% drop in the probability of obesity.

The researchers believe that, in older patients, medical marijuana also leads to an increase in mobility, by helping them deal with aches and pains – helping to combat obesity.

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The researchers write, ‘These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that medical marijuana laws may be more likely to induce marijuana use for health-related reasons among older individuals, and cause substitution toward lower-calorie recreational ‘highs’ among younger individuals.

‘The enforcement of MMLs (medical marijuana laws) is associated with a 2% to 6% decline in the probability of obesity. Our estimates suggest that MMLs induce a $58 to $115 per-person annual reduction in obesity-related medical costs.’

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