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Links between cannabis, negative emotional states and suicide have, for some time now, been fuel for prohibitionists who believe marijuana causes chaos in society and misleads the youth. Researchers began studying the link between marijuana and suicide but, when it comes to supporting evidence, the researchers came up short. They can point to the amotivational and antisocial aspects of cannabis, but then there are some scientists out there who would argue cannabis is an effective antidepressant, especially when it comes to depression associated with anxiety. Regarding suicide, it becomes difficult to discuss just one factor, like drug use, since so many factors play a part in suicidal behavior. For example, suicidal behavior is closely tied to family history, low socio-economic status, and unbearable psychological distress. Since there has been growing acceptance of the use of medical cannabis, there has been a lot more research done on the pharmacological and pharmaceutical implications of the plant. Irit Akirav, member of the National Research Council of Italy, commented that cannabis may actually improve negative and aversive emotional states. According to Dr. Stanley Zammit of Cardiff University, psychological and behavioral problems typically lead to self-medication (which can include cannabis and other narcotics), instead of cannabis leading to psychoses. In the United States, research conducted on cannabis is largely skewed by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, or NIDA. The NIDA is a federal government research institute that is not too keen on funding research that could contradict their stance on cannabis, or anything for that matter. And so, unbiased research that doesn’t seek to outright condemn cannabis rarely receives any funding by the NIDA. Instead, it appears that NIDA puts more effort into propaganda; assuring Americans that marijuana use can worsen depression, as well as lead to schizophrenic anxiety and suicide. However, there is evidence that points to the contrary. Recently, American scientists gathered in Germany to perform research on the link between medical cannabis and suicide. The study, titled High on Life? Medical Marijuana Laws and Suicide, found that states with medical marijuana laws in place saw a 5 percent drop in suicide rates, while states without any MMJ laws saw a slight increase. And, although it is unclear how medical cannabis affected these rates, there is no doubt it did have some effect on them. Studies on medical cannabis, conducted outside the United States, are consistently publicizing the potential medical benefits of cannabis. Many activists and medical marijuana patients wait for the federal government to just wake up and smell the ganja, so to speak. It appears that a shift in mainstream consciousness is more likely to occur first, with Washington state and Colorado pushing for legalization. To read more about the benefits of medical marijuana, please see my other articles. Medical cannabis should only be used by the patient it is prescribed to. Medical marijuana products should always be backed up with more than one lab test to ensure proper dosing, and to check for any contaminants. MMJ testing is available at CannLabs, a trusted medical marijuana testing lab located in Denver, Colorado.
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