In Theory, Marijuana Will Help

There has been a great deal of hype and media coverage over both the legalization of marijuana and the opioid crisis. The question is whether the more general acceptance of marijuana as a form of medical treatment will have an affect on the overuse and abuse of pain killing opioids. Marijuana has pain killing qualities, but is it enough to put a dent in the reliance so many people have to the powerful drugs? The NCBI says that some people are substituting marijuana for alcohol, prescription drugs, and illegal drugs. Cannabis as a substitute for alcohol and other drugs, Harm Reduct J. 2009 Dec 3;6:35. doi: 10.1186/1477-7517-6-35.

The Research May Not Agree

It appears that the research does not match the hypothesis. Sometimes appearances, or statistics, can be deceiving. Even though the increase in the use of medical marijuana may help people with many maladies, it may not be the answer to the opioid crisis. Here is an article that looks at this issue and references JAMA and PNAS studies to support their conclusion. Can Marijuana Help Cure the Opioid Crisis? Austin Frakt, New York Times Upshot 2019 June 17.

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