A policy analysis conducted by Weill Cornell Medicine researchers found legalization of medical cannabis use did not reduce opioid prescriptions or other therapies for chronic pain. The results of previous studies suggested medical cannabis laws might reduce opioid prescribing. However, the findings of this study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine offer an alternative perspective on the association between medical cannabis access and opioid use.
The researchers used commercial insurance claims data to analyze opioid prescribing in 12 states with medical cannabis laws and 17 states with no legal medical cannabis program. The 583,820 participants included commercially insured patients. They also examined the delivery of chronic pain procedures like physical therapy. Statistical adjustments corrected any pre-law differences between pain treatment outcomes in medical cannabis states and comparison states. This approach allowed the researchers to simulate a clinical trial as closely as possible.
The study also found results were consistent across states with medical cannabis laws. Although previous studies indicated an association between medical cannabis laws and opioid prescription reduction, this study did not find a significant impact on the number of patients with chronic non-cancer pain receiving any prescription opioid, any non-opioid prescription pain medication, or on procedures used to relieve chronic pain. According to study author Dr. Ginty, “Medical cannabis laws do not appear to be associated with changes in the prescription opioid or other non-cannabis, non-opioid treatments for chronic non-cancer pain.” The researchers reported that results were consistent across states with medical cannabis laws.
Many policymakers and medical professionals believe that medical cannabis offers an alternative with a significantly lower risk of overdose than opioids. The study provides valuable analysis that can help identify more effective ways of reducing opioid prescribing and overdoses.
Sources: Annals of Internal Medicine, Eureka News Alert
