Study: Cannabis Use Inversely Associated With Fatty Liver Disease

(Sonya Yruel/Drug Policy Alliance) Paul Armentano | October 20, 2017 Adults with a history of cannabis use are less likely to suffer from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) than are those who have not used the substance, according to data published online in the journal PLoS One. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is the most prevalent form of liver disease, affecting …

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 …

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 …