Couples who get 'high' on pot together engage less in domestic violence

A new study has revealed that couples who smoked pot together engaged less in domestic violence.

According to the study conducted by researchers in the University at Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions and Research Institute on Addictions (RIA) on 634 couples, frequent marijuana use by husbands and wives (two-to-three times per month or more often) predicted less frequent intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration by husbands, while husbands' marijuana use also predicted less frequent IPV perpetration by wives.

The study also found that couples in which both spouses used marijuana frequently reported the least frequent IPV perpetration and the relationship between marijuana use and reduced partner violence was most evident among women who did not have histories of prior antisocial behavior.

Study's lead investigator Kenneth Leonard said that these findings suggest that marijuana use is predictive of lower levels of aggression towards one's partner in the following year and their study examines patterns of marijuana use and the occurrence of violence within a year period. However, it does not examine whether using marijuana on a given day reduces the likelihood of violence at that time.

The researchers also said that it is possible, for example, that - similar to a drinking partnership - couples who use marijuana together may share similar values and social circles, and it is this similarity that is responsible for reducing the likelihood of conflict.

The scientists added that although this study supports the perspective that marijuana does not increase and may decrease aggressive conflict, they would like to see research replicating these findings, and research examining day-to-day marijuana and alcohol use and the likelihood to IPV on the same day before drawing stronger conclusions.

The study was published online in the Psychology of Addictive Behaviors.