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Studies Back Cannabis as a Way Out of the Opioid Crisis

As has been addressed numerous times on HelloMD, cannabis can be a viable replacement or supplement to opioids, and there are studies to support this: HelloMD and UC Berkeley released a study in 2017 that found 97% of respondents were able to decrease their opioid use with cannabis, and 81% believed that cannabis was more effective on its own for chronic pain.

These findings, while striking, already confirm what many folks involved in the medical marijuana community intuitively know: that cannabisโ€™s pain-fighting properties may be able to curb the opioid epidemic by helping folks reduce or stop their opioid intake.

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Opioid Use Declines With the Introduction of Cannabis

This phenomenon isnโ€™t new: A 2016 survey of patients at a medical marijuana dispensary in Michigan found similar results. Researchers used an online questionnaire to survey 244 medical marijuana patients with chronic pain from November 2013 to February 2015.

Almost two-thirds (64%) of study participants were able to decrease their opioid use; they also saw a decrease in the number of medications taken and side effects associated with medications. Meanwhile, 45% said that cannabis had improved their quality of life.

Researchers also noted a decrease in nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antidepressant use, possibly due to the pain-sparing effects of cannabis. โ€œOne theory as to why this occurs is that cannabis has a synergistic effect with opioids, so patients need to take fewer opioids to get the same amount of pain relief,โ€ says HelloMDโ€™s Chief Medical Officer Perry Solomon, M.D.

RELATED: HOW CANNABIS CAN BREAK THE CYCLE OF OPIOID ABUSE

Chronic Pain Sufferers Find Relief With Cannabis

The Michigan study draws similar conclusions to that of the HelloMD-UC Berkeley study: Chronic pain patients are finding that by substituting or supplementing their intake of opioids with cannabis, theyโ€™re able to achieve similar or better benefits with fewer side effects.

โ€œThe obvious conclusion with these types of studies is that with a decreased amount of opioid intake, the chance of an overdose is minimized,โ€ says Dr. Solomon.

Studies are already starting to corroborate this connection: A 2015 study found that the legalization of cannabis in Colorado was associated with a short-term decrease in opioid-related deaths. As the opioid epidemic rages on, itโ€™s vital that more research be conducted to validate these findings.

Photo credit: e-Magine Art

If youโ€™re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101]https://www.hellomd.com/articles/cannabis-101-what-you-need-to-know-about-marijuana) post. HelloMD can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it’s easy, private and 100% online.

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