Legal Cannabis Linked to
Less Opioid Usage, Says Study.
The study can be found in the
'Journal of Health Economics.'.
In U.S. areas where marijuana
is legal on a recreational basis.
research says there is
approximately a 12 percent lower
rate of opioid prescriptions.
For areas where only medical cannabis is
legal, the rate is 4.2 percent lower.
The analysis comes as an opioid epidemic
is spreading across America.
On a daily basis, the CDC says
opioids are responsible for 130 deaths.
1.5 billion single prescriptions from 2011 to 2018
were observed for the study.
Despite the government making laws to
curb prescriptions to opioids.
the report's authors say that
may lead those dependent on them
to turn to street drugs such as heroin.
Policies that reduce opioid prescriptions without leading individuals to substitute more dangerous drugs may be preferable to policies that simply restrict opioid prescriptions, Researchers, via study.
Cannabis access laws could be a useful tool in combating the prescription opioid epidemic, Researchers, via study