While the recreational use of marijuana is usually associated with a more peaceful mental state, scientists just a made a surprising discovery. As detailed in a meta analysis of cannabis-related studies published last month in the journal Psychological Medicine, a team of scientists in the UK discovered a significant link between cannabis use and an “increased risk of violence.”
The headline finding was that they found cannabis users were statistically more likely to be the perpetrators of violent acts. They also found that the use of the drug — particularly among women and mixed-gender cohorts — was “significantly associated with an increased risk of becoming a victim of violence” as well. While it’s a classic case of correlation, not causation — the researchers stop far short of suggesting the drug directly motivates users to be more violent as we’re far from reaching a scientific consensus on the matter — the findings “underscore the importance of addressing this issue at both a societal and clinical level,” according to the paper. In other words, it’s a highly nuanced and complex relationship with plenty of other factors at play.
