States that legalized medical marijuana saw reduced opioid use among cancer patients
Medical marijuana legalization was associated with lower rates of opioid dispensing and fewer pain-related hospital visits among some adults being treated for newly diagnosed cancer.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
In a difference-in-differences analysis of 58,195 cancer patients across 34 states, medical marijuana legalization was associated with a 5.6 percentage point reduction in opioid dispensing among breast cancer patients with recent opioid use and a 6.3 percentage point reduction in pain-related hospital events among lung cancer patients.
Key Numbers
38,189 breast cancer patients; 12,816 colorectal cancer patients; 7,190 lung cancer patients; 5.6 percentage point reduction in opioid days for breast cancer (P=.001); 6.3 percentage point reduction in pain-related hospital events for lung cancer (P=.03)
How They Did This
Cross-sectional study using 2012-2017 national commercial claims data with a difference-in-differences design. Examined privately insured patients aged 18-64 newly diagnosed with breast, colorectal, or lung cancer across 34 states.
Why This Research Matters
Published in JAMA Oncology, this study provides large-scale evidence that medical marijuana legalization may offer cancer patients alternatives to opioids for pain management, at a time when opioid prescribing in cancer care has been declining rapidly.
The Bigger Picture
As states continue to expand cannabis legalization, understanding its effects on opioid prescribing patterns in cancer care could inform both policy decisions and clinical pain management strategies.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Limited to privately insured patients aged 18-64, excluding Medicare and Medicaid populations. Cannot confirm patients actually used marijuana. Observational design cannot establish causation.
Questions This Raises
- ?Do these patterns hold for older cancer patients on Medicare?
- ?Are patients substituting cannabis for opioids, or are other factors driving the reduction?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 5.6 percentage point reduction in opioid dispensing among breast cancer patients with prior opioid use
- Evidence Grade:
- Large-scale difference-in-differences analysis published in a top-tier journal, though observational design limits causal inference.
- Study Age:
- Published 2023 using 2012-2017 data
- Original Title:
- Medical Marijuana Legalization and Opioid- and Pain-Related Outcomes Among Patients Newly Diagnosed With Cancer Receiving Anticancer Treatment.
- Published In:
- JAMA oncology, 9(2), 206-214 (2023)
- Authors:
- Bao, Yuhua(2), Zhang, Hao(3), Bruera, Eduardo(2), Portenoy, Russell, Rosa, William E, Reid, M Carrington, Wen, Hefei
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04400
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Did medical marijuana legalization reduce opioid use in cancer patients?
Yes. The study found significant reductions in opioid dispensing among breast cancer patients with prior opioid use (5.6 percentage points) and lung cancer patients without prior opioid use (6.5 percentage points).
Were there fewer pain-related hospital visits?
Among lung cancer patients with recent opioid use, medical marijuana legalization was associated with a 6.3 percentage point reduction in pain-related emergency department visits or hospitalizations.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04400APA
Bao, Yuhua; Zhang, Hao; Bruera, Eduardo; Portenoy, Russell; Rosa, William E; Reid, M Carrington; Wen, Hefei. (2023). Medical Marijuana Legalization and Opioid- and Pain-Related Outcomes Among Patients Newly Diagnosed With Cancer Receiving Anticancer Treatment.. JAMA oncology, 9(2), 206-214. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoncol.2022.5623
MLA
Bao, Yuhua, et al. "Medical Marijuana Legalization and Opioid- and Pain-Related Outcomes Among Patients Newly Diagnosed With Cancer Receiving Anticancer Treatment.." JAMA oncology, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoncol.2022.5623
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Medical Marijuana Legalization and Opioid- and Pain-Related ..." RTHC-04400. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/bao-2023-medical-marijuana-legalization-and
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.