Want to Work Well Into Retirement? Try Marijuana

A study published in the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management suggests the passage of medical marijuana laws helps reduce pain levels and increase the number of hours worked by older adults, reports MarketWatch . The researchers observed that active state medical marijuana laws lead to lower pain and better self-assessed health among older men and women, as well as increases in the older adult labor supply. A third trend noted the effects of medical marijuana statutes are most significant among older adults with a health condition that would qualify for legal medical marijuana use under current state laws. Among persons whose health issues would qualify them for medical marijuana in their state, there was a 4.8 percent decrease in pain and a 6.6 percent increase in reported good or excellent health. A 7.3 percent gain in levels of full-time work among people who qualified for medical marijuana also was noticed. "Medical marijuana laws increased hours worked by those who were already working ... and increased the share of older adults who were working full-time versus not working or working part-time," reported Bloomberg School Professor Lauren Hersch Nicholas.