States that list opioid use disorder as a cannabis qualifying condition had 39% more dispensaries claiming cannabis treats OUD | Research

The takeaway

A JAMA study found that in states where OUD qualifies for medical cannabis, 39% more dispensaries claimed cannabis can treat OUD, 28% more suggested it as adjunctive therapy, and 14% more recommended replacing FDA-approved medications.

Addiction policymakers, cannabis regulators, and opioid crisis response officials.

39% more dispensaries claiming cannabis treats OUD in policy-exposed states

What the researchers found

Across 167 dispensary brands in 7 states, those in states where OUD is a qualifying condition had 39% more brands claiming cannabis treats OUD (p<0.001), 28% more claiming adjunctive therapy potential (p<0.001), 14% more recommending replacing FDA-approved OUD medications (p=0.002), and 25% more suggesting cannabis as an opioid substitute for pain (p=0.002) compared to adjacent states without this policy.

Why it matters

Published in JAMA Network Open, this study shows that well-intentioned policies can have unintended consequences. Dispensaries marketing cannabis as OUD treatment may divert patients from evidence-based medications (methadone, buprenorphine, naltrexone) that actually save lives.

The numbers in context

167 dispensary brands; 7 states; 39% more OUD treatment claims in policy states (p<0.001); 28% more adjunctive therapy claims (p<0.001); 14% more medication replacement claims (p=0.002).

How the study worked

Cross-sectional mixed-methods study of 167 medical dispensary brands in 7 states (2019), analyzing online content for claims about cannabis treating OUD. Compared 3 policy-exposed states (NJ, NY, PA) to 4 comparison states.

What this study cannot tell us

Online content only (may not reflect in-store recommendations); cross-sectional (cannot prove policy caused marketing changes); limited to 7 states; dispensary marketing does not equal patient behavior; some claims may be accurate for pain management.

How to read the evidence

Strong: published in JAMA Network Open with systematic methodology across 7 states.

When this study was published

Published 2020.

The bigger picture

If patients with opioid use disorder choose cannabis over proven medications because dispensaries market it as treatment, this could increase overdose deaths. The lack of regulation on medical claims by dispensaries creates a public health risk.

Questions still open

Should dispensary medical claims be regulated like pharmaceutical advertising? Do patients with OUD actually forego evidence-based treatment based on dispensary marketing?

Common questions

Are dispensaries claiming cannabis can treat opioid addiction?

Yes, and more so in states that list OUD as a qualifying condition. This study found 39% more dispensaries made such claims in those states. This is concerning because FDA-approved medications for OUD (methadone, buprenorphine) have much stronger evidence.

Can cannabis actually treat opioid use disorder?

Evidence for cannabis as an OUD treatment is limited and does not support replacing FDA-approved medications. The authors warn that dispensary marketing making these claims could harm patients by diverting them from proven treatments.

Read the original research

Association of State Policies Allowing Medical Cannabis for Opioid Use Disorder With Dispensary Marketing for This Indication.

JAMA network open, 3(7), e2010001

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Shover, Chelsea L; Vest, Noel A; Chen, Derek; Stueber, Amanda; Falasinnu, Titilola O; Hah, Jennifer M; Kim, Jinhee; Mackey, Ian; Weber, Kenneth A; Ziadni, Maisa; Humphreys, Keith. (2020). Association of State Policies Allowing Medical Cannabis for Opioid Use Disorder With Dispensary Marketing for This Indication.. JAMA network open, 3(7), e2010001. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.10001