Suicide among some youths higher in states with legalized marijuana

Marijuana legalization may be associated with higher rates of suicide among adolescents and young adults, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

Using data from the 2000-2019 National Vital Statistics System Multiple Cause of Death files for those aged 12 to 13 years, 14 to 16 years, 17 to 19 years, 20 to 22 years, and 23 to 25 years, Christopher J. Hammond, MD, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, and colleagues analyzed suicide deaths in relation to cannabis law status to determine associations between medical marijuana legalization, recreational marijuana legalization and suicide rates.

The researchers found that female youth had higher suicide rates in states with both medical marijuana legalization and recreational marijuana legalization compared with states without marijuana legalization (95% CI, 1.06-1.27). Adolescents aged 14 to 16 years had higher suicide rates in states with recreational marijuana legalization compared with those in states with medical marijuana legalization (95% CI, 1-1.2).

“MML and RML were associated with increased suicide-related mortality in female youth and 14-to-16-year-olds of both sexes,” Hammond and colleagues wrote. “Mechanisms through which cannabis policies are related to increased youth suicide warrant further study and should inform legislative reform.”