Think weed munchies will take a toll on your waistline? It's not that simple. According to the results of a study published in the journal Heath Economics on Nov. 25, states that implemented laws allowing medical marijuana saw a reduction in the likelihood of being overweight.
"The enforcement of [medical marijuana laws is] associated
with a 2% to 6% decline in the probability of obesity," researchers from
the San Diego State University and Cornell wrote.
"These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that MMLs
may be more likely to induce marijuana use for health-related reasons
among older individuals," they wrote, "and cause substitution toward
lower-calorie recreational 'highs' among younger individuals."
The findings also showed places that embraced medical weed
had a roughly $58 to $115 reduction in per-person costs of
obesity-related medical expenses. "What we know, and have strong
evidence for, is that these policies do have significant effects on
health outcomes," study co-author Jeffrey Swigert told Mic.
The big surprise: Swigert, a Ph.D. student in Economics at Cornell University, told Mic that the good news came with one significant caveat. It has very little to do with weed itself.
The reason we get the munchies when we're high is that weed
can be an appetite stimulant. Naturally, consuming more calories than we
burn will make us gain weight. But the benefits occurred in this study
because marijuana acted as a substitute for a considerably more
dangerous and calorie-rich drug.
That'd be alcohol.
It came a surprise to researchers: Legalizing weed in any
capacity tended to replace alcohol in both younger and older
populations. Among young people, who are most prone to binge-drinking,
the effects could be particularly significant.
"If you think about our ability to cut down on
binge-drinking, five beers, that's a lot of calories," said
Swigert. Marijuana therapy also caused "increased physical activity"
among older cohorts, which was credited with weight reduction in that
demographic.
The numbers, however, looked at populations as a whole, and as Swigert pointed out to Mic,
any individual who didn't drink would likely pack on the pounds if they
developed a sudden appetite for grass. "It very well could be that
among some people, those who don't drink, their weight could go up" due
to smoking weed, he said.
The good news on the calorie front was also coupled with
some of the most potentially significant scientific findings on the
drawbacks of marijuana use. According to a study
published in Psychological Medicine just two days later, a number of
potent weed varietals legally available in some U.S. markets could
potentially cause neurologic damage and psychosis later in life.
As weed continues to become more available, and scientific
studies become easier to perform legally, it is likely that the
industry — and the product — will face increased and more rigorous
scientific scrutiny going forward.
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