Patients authorized to legally use medical cannabis frequently substitute it in place of benzodiazepines, according to a pair of new studies published this week. According to data compiled by the US Centers for Disease Control, the use of benzodiazepines were attributed to over 11,500 overdose deaths in 2017.
Category: opioids
Survey: Three Of Four Military Veterans Would Consider Using Medical Cannabis
Seventy-five percent of military veterans say that they would consider using either “cannabis or cannabinoid products as a treatment option,” according to member survey data compiled by the group Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). Available data documents that cannabis is effective in the treatment of chronic pain and may potentially mitigate symptoms of post-traumatic stress, along with other conditions commonly facing veterans.
Weekly Legislative Roundup 1/25/19
Welcome to the latest edition of NORML’s Weekly Legislative Roundup!
2018 Year In Review: NORML’s Top Ten Events In Marijuana Policy
Read the ten biggest stories that shaped marijuana policy in 2018.
Weekly Legislative Roundup 12/21/18
Welcome to the latest edition of NORML’s Weekly Legislative Roundup!
Access to Marijuana Shows Promise in Combating America’s Opioid Crisis
Today is International Overdose Awareness Day! Data proves the enactment of marijuana laws is playing a positive role in combating America’s opioid crisis by reducing opioid overdose fatalities, misuse, dependency, and opioid-related hospitalizations. Help us spread the word and contact your lawmakers today!
Nevada’s Opioid Task Force Continues to Explore Options
After establishing the Governor’s Opioid State Action Accountability Task Force and requesting federal assistance to address Nevada’s opioid crisis, Governor Sandoval is exploring all options to combat the issue. Study after study has concluded that access to marijuana can reduce or eliminate the use of opioids in patients struggling with chronic pain.
Study: Medical Cannabis Access Laws Associated With Fewer Workplace Fatalities
Medical cannabis access programs are associated with year-over-year declines in fatal workplace accidents, according to data published online ahead of print in The International Journal of Drug Policy. Authors concluded, “This reduction may be the result of workers substituting marijuana in place of alcohol and other substances that can impair cognitive function and motor skills.”
Colorado Lawmakers Explore Solutions for Opioid Epidemic
Colorado’s Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Study Committee was established to explore what other states are doing to address substance use disorders, explore harm reduction, treatment, and recovery option, and of course identify possible legislative solutions.
Study: Patients Report Herbal Cannabis Provides Insomnia Relief
The use of herbal cannabis is associated with reductions in self-perceived insomnia severity, according to data published in the online, open-access journal Medicines. Authors concluded, “The widespread apparent use of cannabis as a sleep aid underscores the importance of further medical research regarding its risk-benefit profile and the effectiveness of cannabis as a substitute for other substances.”