Medical marijuana is having a positive impact on the bottom line of Medicare’s prescription drug benefit program in states that have legalized its use for medicinal purposes that according to University of Georgia researchers in a study published in the July issue of Health Affairs

Medical Marijuana is often recommended for symptoms like chronic pain, anxiety and depression. The study found there were declines in the number of Medicare prescriptions for drugs used to treat those conditions

That’s Kate Bell, who is a Legislative Council with the Marijuana Policy Project. She says the study also found a dip in spending in Medicare Part D

According to the study, Medical Marijuana saved Medicare about $165 million dollars in 2013. The study estimates that if Medical Marijuana were available nationwide, Medicare Part D spending would have declined $470 million that same year.

Bell says the savings for each state is another positive of legalization

Earlier this year, a ballot initiative by “New Approach South Dakota” that would have created a medical marijuana program in the state fell short of collecting the required signatures. Backers say they will make another attempt to get on the ballot in 2018.