The study was conducted by San Diego State University and Cornell University.

The researchers looked at nationwide public health surveys from 1990 through 2012.

In states that allow medical marijuana, obesity rates were 2 percent to 6 percent lower than had been projected.

Researchers cited two possible reasons for the unexpected correlation between weight loss and medical marijuana availability:

  • Zero-calorie marijuana use has replaced alcohol consumption for many adults.
  • Some older adults become more active when using marijuana as an effective pain medication.

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At KidChella, an event inspired by Coachella, kids will be invited to dance while museum staff play a curated playlist of popular kids' songs. The inaugural event is at Children's Museum of Atlanta on April 26. (Courtesy of Children's Museum of Atlanta)

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U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff speaks to constituents during a Town Hall his office held on Friday, April 25, 2025, in Atlanta, at Cobb County Civic Center. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution/Jason Allen)

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