Study: Cannabis Use Reduces Daily Use of Prescription Opioids in Chronic Pain Patients

Washington, DC —

The use of medical cannabis products is associated with substantial long-term decreases in the daily use of prescription opioids among patients suffering from chronic pain, according to data published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open.

Researchers affiliated with the State University of New York at Albany and with the New York State Department of Health assessed the impact of medical cannabis on opioid use patterns in a cohort of over 8,000 chronic pain patients receiving long-term opioid therapy (LOT). Subjects were studied for a period of eight months.

Investigators reported that patients’ daily MME (morphine milligram intake) diminished following cannabis therapy and that this decline grew more significantly over time.

“In this cohort study of patients receiving LOT, receiving MC [medical cannabis] for a longer duration was associated with reductions in opioid dosages,” they concluded. “These findings contribute robust evidence for clinicians regarding the potential benefits of MC in reducing the opioid burden for patients receiving LOT and possibly reduce their risk for overdose.”

The findings are consistent with numerous other studies documenting that patients frequently use cannabis for pain mitigation, and that many patients either reduce or eliminate their consumption of opioids and other medications following the initiation of cannabis therapy.

“The relationship between cannabis and opioid use is among of the best-documented aspects of marijuana policy,” NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano said. “In short, the science demonstrates that marijuana is a relatively safe and effective pain reliever — and that patients with legal access to it consistently reduce their use of prescription opioid medications.”

Data published earlier this month in the same journal reported that nearly one in three patients with chronic pain use cannabis as an analgesic agent, and many of those who do substitute in place of opioids.

In clinical trials, the co-administration of either smoked cannabis or oral cannabinoids has been documented to augment the pain-relieving effects of opioids. In one study, vaporized herbal cannabis was demonstrated to enhance the pain-relieving activity of morphine and oxycodone in chronic pain subjects, therefore potentially allowing “for opioid treatment at lower doses with fewer side effects.” Another study reported similarly enhanced analgesic efficacy when low doses of oral THC were combined with hydromorphone (aka Dilaudid). Authors reported, “These data … are indicative of [the] possible opioid-sparing effects” of cannabinoids. These synergistic effects have also been documented in settings where subjects were provided with only sub-therapeutic doses of cannabis and opioids.

Full text of the study, “Changes in prescribed opioid dosages among patients receiving medical cannabis for chronic pain, New York State, 2017-2019,” is available from the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open. Additional information is available from the NORML Fact Sheet, ‘Relationship Between Marijuana and Opioids.’

NORML advocates for changes in public policy so that the responsible possession and use of marijuana by adults is no longer subject to criminal penalties. NORML further advocates for a regulated commercial cannabis market so that activities involving the for-profit production and retail sale of cannabis and cannabis products are safe, transparent, consumer-friendly, and are subject to state and/or local licensure. Finally, NORML advocates for additional changes in legal and regulatory policies so that those who use marijuana responsibly no longer face either social stigma or workplace discrimination, and so that those with past criminal records for marijuana-related violations have the opportunity to have their records automatically expunged.

Find out more at norml.org and read the NORML Fact Sheets on the most common misconceptions and myths regarding cannabis and cannabis policies.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

8 Breeders and Seed Banks with Desirable Strains for 2024

Every cannabis grower hopes to have a plentiful harvest full of top-shelf buds. One of the best ways to meet that goal is by planting quality genetics . But with so many breeders out there, it may be difficult to determine the best cannabis seed banks for your needs. Cannabis seeds are technically legal across the United States since they contain less than 0.3 percent THC, according to the 2018 Farm Bill. In the last six years, dozens of online seed banks have popped up vying for market share. Offering feminized cannabis seeds and autoflowering seeds in many of the most popular strains , there are endless genetics from which to choose. The best cannabis seeds for an operator may vary depending on whether a grow is indoors or outdoors, their preferred growing medium, and the ultimate goal for the crop. For example, are you hoping to extract rosin or sell smokable buds? These questions must be considered prior to selecting marijuana strains and, by proxy, a source for those genetics....
Read more

Audacious Awarded New Jersey Adult Use Licenses

LAS VEGAS – Australis Capital Inc. (CSE: AUSA) (OTC: AUSAF) “AUSA”, “AUDACIOUS”, or the “Company), today announced the Company was awarded a provisional Cultivation license, as well as a provisional Manufacturing license in the state of New Jersey. With a population close to 9 million people, New Jersey officially announced on Thursday that adult-use marijuana sales will start on April 21. Residents in the Garden State voted to legalize recreational cannabis in 2020. Market insiders estimate the total New Jersey opportunity to approach U.S.$2 billion[1]. To date, the state has awarded 37 conditional cultivation licenses and 70 conditional manufacturing licenses, in addition to allowing 6 of the incumbent 12 medical use operators to participate. The limited number of licenses awarded and the limited availability of municipalities that have opted in provides AUDACIOUS with a significant early mover advantage. Terry Booth, CEO, commented, “AUDACIOUS’ new team, just o...
Read more

Will This Be Our Year?

In 1919, a ban on alcohol exposed a cultural divide between urban and rural America and led to a spike in organized crime. Federal, state, and local governments struggled to adapt to the abrupt change in reality that came to be known as Prohibition. The task of enforcing new regulations initially fell to the Internal Revenue Service (thus the term “revenuers” for federal agents who hunted moonshiners) before being passed to the Department of Justice (DOJ). While enforcement was concentrated in rural areas and small towns—where some folks made decent livings by operating homemade stills—urban dwellers continued to enjoy alcohol courtesy of bootleggers and speakeasies. With the end of Prohibition in 1933, after the broken bottles, blood, and dust finally settled, an article in The United States News (now U.S. News & World Report) attempted to give the citizenry an idea of how the path forward might look. The open season for liquor-control laws is at hand. With repeal on December ...
Read more