A study published in *JAMA Network Open* found that marijuana legalization, both for medical and recreational use, is linked to a reduction in benzodiazepine prescriptions. Researchers from Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia discovered a 12.4% decline in benzodiazepine use after medical cannabis laws and a 15.2% decline with adult-use legalization. While the study also noted slight increases in antidepressant and antipsychotic prescriptions, the researchers highlighted cannabis as a potentially safer alternative to benzodiazepines. They called for further research into the health impacts of these changes.
