Opioids and Cannabis

KY NORML is passionate about education. And with the opioid epidemic consuming our state, we feel that it is our duty to share valuable information regarding the relationship between cannabis and opioids. Cannabis access is associated with reduced rates of opioid use and abuse, opioid-related hospitalizations, traffic fatalities, drug treatment admissions, and overdose deaths. We strongly believe, based on research, first-hand accounts, and testimonials that cannabis is truly the answer to combating this crisis that is killing thousands of Kentuckians each year.

According to a study by the Journal of Headache and Pain, "the most common prescription medications replaced by medicinal cannabis in this study were opiates/opioids in a large percentage within every pain group, up to 72.8% of patients in the chronic pain as primary illness group. ... This is notable given the well-described "opioid-sparing effect" of cannabinoids and growing abundance of literature suggesting that cannabis may help in weaning from these medications and perhaps providing a means of combating the opioid epidemic."

Investigators assessed opioid use patterns in patients registered with Health Canada to access medical cannabis products. Among those patients who acknowledged using opioids upon enrollment in the trial, 51 percent reported ceasing their opiate use within six-months. "The high rate of cannabis use for the treatment of chronic pain — and subsequent substitution for opioids — suggests that cannabis may play a harm-reduction role in the ongoing opioid dependence and overdose crisis. While the cannabis substitution effect for prescription drugs has been identified and assessed via cross-sectional and population-level research, this study provides... individual-level perspective of cannabis substitution for prescription drugs and associated improvement in quality of life over time."

Cannabis access is associated with reductions in overall prescription drug spending. JAMA Internal Medicine “found that prescriptions filled for all opioids decreased by 2.11 million daily doses per year from an average of 23.08 million daily doses per year when a state instituted any medical cannabis law. Prescriptions for all opioids decreased by 3.742 million daily doses per year when medical cannabis dispensaries opened. ... Combined with previously published studies suggesting cannabis laws are associated with lower opioid mortality, these findings further strengthen arguments in favor of considering medical applications of cannabis as one tool in the policy arsenal that can be used to diminish the harm of prescription opioids."

The Mental Health Clinician “investigated medical cannabis' effectiveness in patients suffering from chronic pain associated with qualifying conditions for MC in New York State. ... After 3 months treatment, MC improved quality of life, reduced pain and opioid use, and lead to cost savings. ... These results are consistent with previous reports demonstrating MC's effectiveness in neuropathic pain."

There is a plethora of information on this topic and the research mentioned here barely scratches the surface. We encourage you to research this critical issue further and arm yourself with the facts. Knowledge is power and the better armed we are with that knowledge the more effective we can be in getting dynamic, inclusive legislation passed.

The opioid crisis that is plaguing our state has been detrimental to our families, our economy, and our collective health. It is up to us to teach our legislators that cannabis is the answer and that the best thing for our state is a comprehensive cannabis bill so that we can begin to heal.

High Regards,
Matthew Bratcher
Executive Director, KY NORML

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