A study in the American Journal of Health analyzed suicide trends in states following their legalization of medical marijuana. It found that marijuana legalization was associated with, though not necessarily caused by, a nearly 5% reduction in total suicide rates. These findings support assertions that the drug can be used to effectively treat bipolarism, depression, and other mood disorders, and can allow patients reduce their use of painkillers, tranquilizers, and psychiatric medicines. This may be somewhat attributable to the tendency for young adults to substitute alchool for marijuana.

Are these reductions among medical marijuana patients or among the total populations of each state? I would be curious to see the rates of suicide for people that are diagnosed with depression or other related conditions in states without medical compared to those receiving medical as a treatment to such conditions in states where it has been legalized.