Couples who smoke pot together are less likely to experience domestic violence, says a new study published in the online journal Psychology of Addictive Behaviors.

The lowest rate of domestic violence was recorded in heterosexual couples who both smoked pot more than once a week.

The research was conducted using 634 married couples. All the couples were recruited as they were obtaining their marriage licenses. Questions in the survey given to the couples asked about the frequency of acts of intimate partner violence (IPV) in the last year as well as how often each person smoked marijuana. A six point Likert scale was used that ranged from “not at all” to “more than once a week.” Following the initial assessment, couples were asked to participate in follow-up surveys that took place on their first, second, fourth, seventh and ninth anniversaries.

Though researchers are cautious to assert any definite conclusions from the outcome, when controlling for the rate of marijuana usage within the couples, they found that fewer incidents of IPV occurred in those who smoked regularly.

“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,” said lead author, Philip H. Smith, PhD, associate research scientist for the Department of Psychiatry at Yale.

Reduction in the number of IPV incidents among the couples was present in those who smoked pot more than a couple of times a month. However, the greatest reduction in these rates was found among those who smoked with the greatest frequency.

Women who had a history of committing acts of domestic violence and who smoked pot frequently did not follow that trend. Instead, they appeared to be more prone to violent acts against their spouses.

Smith finds the results of the study both limited and fascinating. “We 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,” he said.

Limitations in the study include the use of only heterosexual couples who were starting their first marriage and managed to stay married the entire duration of the follow ups. The study did not consider how marijuana use could affect daily life or reduce violent incidences on a daily level.