A new study has found that states with legalized medical marijuana have seen a decline in the use of nonmedical prescription opioids. The study, which was published in the journal Pain Medicine, looked at data from all 50 states between 2000 and 2018. The researchers found that the decline in opioid use was most pronounced in states that had legalized medical marijuana early on. The research you described is a recent and significant development in the field of medical cannabis. It suggests that medical cannabis legalization may contribute to a reduction in non-medical use of dangerous and addictive opioids. While the exact reason for the decline needs further investigation, it could be connected to patients using cannabis to manage pain and thus reducing their reliance on prescription opioids.

Here are some key takeaways from the study:

• States with legalized medical marijuana saw a decrease in non-medical prescription opioid use.
• The decline was most significant in states that had legalized medical marijuana early on.
• This suggests that medical cannabis legalization may be a promising tool in combatting the opioid crisis.

However, it’s important to remember that:

• This is just one study, and more research is needed to confirm these findings.
• The study doesn’t prove that medical marijuana directly caused the decrease in opioid use.
• Other factors may also be at play, such as increased awareness of the dangers of opioid addiction and greater access to addiction treatment.

Despite these limitations, the study provides encouraging evidence that medical cannabis may offer a safer alternative for pain management and potentially help in reducing dependence on opioids. Further research is necessary to fully understand the relationship between medical cannabis and opioid use, but this study offers a promising starting point for further investigation.

Here are some additional resources you may find helpful:

• The study itself: Medical Marijuana Legalization and Nonmedical Prescription Opioid Use in the United States: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5332546/
• News article on the study: States with legal medical marijuana see decline in nonmedical opioid use: https://www.cannabisequipmentnews.com/news/news/22879363/states-with-legalized-medical-marijuana-see-decline-in-nonmedical-opioid-use
• Information on medical cannabis and opioid use: Medical Cannabis and Opioids: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2022/09/28/medical-cannabis-could-replace-addictive-opioids-for-pain-relief-study-suggests/

• Medical cannabis legalization is associated with a decrease in the frequency of nonmedical prescription opioid use, according to a Rutgers study¹. The study looked at data from all 50 states between 2000 and 2018 and found that states that legalized medical marijuana early on had the largest decline in opioid prescriptions¹.
• In a recent study that could revolutionize dental pain management, Rutgers researchers have found that cannabidiol (CBD)—the non-addictive marijuana derivative—alleviates acute dental pain². CBD is one of the many cannabinoids found in cannabis plants, which can interact with the endocannabinoid system in the body and modulate pain signals³.
• Ohio became the 24th state to legalize recreational use of marijuana after having a medical-only program in place⁴. Now all of Pennsylvania’s neighbors, except West Virginia, allow recreational marijuana use⁴. This could have implications for public health, as more people may access cannabis products for various purposes, including pain relief.
• Studies have shown that consuming cannabis allows people to lower their opioid use by 40% to 60%⁵. Research also shows that when low-dose THC is added to chronic pain treatment with opioids, people have better pain control and there’s less risk of opioid-related harm⁵.
• Access to medical marijuana reduces opioid prescriptions by an average of 20% across states where it is legal⁶. This means fewer people are prescribed opioids for chronic conditions such as cancer or arthritis, which can lead to addiction or overdose⁶.

Learn more:

1. medicalxpress.com2. medicalxpress.com3. newscientist.com4. triblive.com5. goodrx.com6. health.harvard.edu