After surveying 10,896 adults, this 2012 cross-sectional study came to the conclusion that marijuana users were less likely to develop diabetes than non-marijuana users. The researchers adjusted for any other potentially confounding variables and discovered that it as the marijuana use itself, and not some other trait that the participants had in common, that was linked with lower rates of diabetes.
The authors were quick to point out that this is an association, and that studies in animals and humans need to be done to show the causal link. However, they did hypothesis that this was because cannabinoids have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects on the body.
