High on Life? Medical Marijuana Laws and Suicide

D. Mark Anderson (), Daniel Rees and Joseph J. Sabia ()
Additional contact information
D. Mark Anderson: Montana State University
Joseph J. Sabia: San Diego State University

No 6280, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Using state-level data for the period 1990 through 2007, we estimate the effect of legalizing medical marijuana on suicide rates. Our results suggest that the passage of a medical marijuana law is associated with an almost 5 percent reduction in the total suicide rate, an 11 percent reduction in the suicide rate of 20- through 29-year-old males, and a 9 percent reduction in the suicide rate of 30- through 39-year-old males. Estimates of the relationship between legalization and female suicides are less precise and are sensitive to functional form.

Keywords: medical marijuana laws; marijuana; alcohol; suicide (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I10 I18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 51 pages
Date: 2012-01
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Published - published as 'Medical Marijuana Laws and Suicides by Gender and Age' in: American Journal of Public Health, 2014, 104 (12), 2369-2376

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