Many Medical Marijuana Patients Stop Using Opioids, Survey Finds

Paul Armentano | November 16, 2017 CHICAGO, IL — More than two out of three medical marijuana patients substitute cannabis in place of opioids, according to survey data compiled by Aclara Research, a Chicago-based consulting firm. Sixty-seven percent of respondents reported that they ceased their opioid use after initiating cannabis therapy. Twenty-nine percent of respondents said that cannabis allowed them to decrease their …

Legalizing Medical Marijuana Doesn't Increase Teen Use (Another) Study Finds

NORML | November 9, 2017 NEW YORK, NY — The enactment of medical marijuana laws is not associated with any increase in marijuana use by those ages 12 to 25, and is not associated with any increase in problematic cannabis use by any age groups, according to data published online ahead of print in the journal Prevention Science. Investigators at Columbia University assessed marijuana use …

Survey: More Than One in Five Military Vets Uses Marijuana Medicinally

NORML | November 11, 2017 INDIANAPOLIS, IN — More than one in five military veterans engage in the use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes, according to nationwide survey data conducted on behalf of The American Legion. The American Legion is the largest veterans’ advocacy organization in the United States. Twenty-two percent of respondents said they “use cannabis to treat a mental or physical condition.” Thirty-nine …

Study: Cannabis May Be Protective Against Liver Disease

A medical cannabis patient’s supply of medicine in their home. (Sonya Yruel/Drug Policy Alliance) NORML | October 12, 2017 MARSEILLE, FRANCE — Cannabis may be protective against liver disease in subjects infected with both the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), according to data published online ahead of print in the Journal of Viral Hepatitis. French investigators assessed the …

Congressman Earl Blumenauer: Medical Marijuana Is Safer Than Opioids

Justin Strekal | October 12, 2017 On Wednesday, October 11th, Congressional Cannabis Caucus Co-Chair Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) testified before the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health on how to deal with the opioid crisis in America. In his testimony, the Congressman makes the case for medical cannabis as a safer alternative to highly addictive opioids, especially for our veterans—as …

Marijuana Dispensaries Can Lead to Decrease in Painkiller Abuse: Study

NORML | October 6, 2017 ATHENS, GA — Cannabis dispensaries are associated with reduced levels of opioid-related treatment admissions and overall drug mortality, according to a study published online on SSRN.com. A University of Georgia economics professor assessed the relationship between the opening of medical cannabis dispensaries and drug treatment admissions. Dispensary openings are associated with “a 20 percentage point relative decrease in …

Medical Marijuana Patients Reduce Their Prescription Drug Use, Study Finds

NORML | October 6, 2017 CHICAGO, IL — Patients enrolled in a statewide medical cannabis program are likely to reduce their use of conventional prescription drugs over time, according to data published online ahead of print in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Care. Investigators from DePaul University and Rush University, College of Nursing assessed prescription drug use patterns in 34 patients registered to …