Recreational Cannabis Laws Affected Opioid and Non-Opioid Pain Prescriptions Differently
Recreational cannabis legalization was associated with changes in pain prescriptions among privately insured adults, though effects varied between opioid and non-opioid medications.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Using nationally representative commercial insurance data, the study examined how two sequential recreational cannabis policies affected prescribing of opioids and other pain medications, providing evidence on whether cannabis substitutes for or complements prescription pain treatments.
Key Numbers
National sample of commercially insured adults. Two sequential recreational cannabis policies examined. Outcomes: opioid and non-opioid pain prescription fills.
How They Did This
Analysis of national commercially insured adult data examining the effect of recreational cannabis legalization (through two sequential policies) on prescribing of opioids and other pain medications.
Why This Research Matters
Whether cannabis substitutes for prescription pain medications has major implications for opioid policy. This study uses insurance claims data, which captures actual prescribing behavior rather than self-report.
The Bigger Picture
The substitution vs. complementarity question is central to cannabis policy debates. If cannabis replaces opioids, legalization could help address the opioid crisis. If it complements them, the benefits are less clear.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Commercially insured population may not represent uninsured or publicly insured individuals. Insurance claims may not capture all cannabis use. Cannot determine individual-level substitution. State-level variation in implementation.
Questions This Raises
- ?Does cannabis substitution vary by type of pain condition?
- ?Do uninsured populations show different substitution patterns?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- National claims data provides real-world prescribing evidence, but ecological design and inability to confirm individual cannabis use limit to moderate.
- Study Age:
- Uses national commercial insurance data spanning recreational legalization periods.
- Original Title:
- Recreational Cannabis Laws and Fills of Pain Prescriptions in the Privately Insured.
- Published In:
- Cannabis (Albuquerque, N.M.), 8(1), 121-138 (2025)
- Authors:
- Steuart, Shelby R(3), Lozano-Rojas, Felipe(3), Bethel, Victoria(3), Shone, Hailemichael Bekele, Abraham, Amanda J
- Database ID:
- RTHC-07726
Evidence Hierarchy
Watches what happens naturally without intervening.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does legal cannabis reduce opioid prescriptions?
This study examined this question using insurance claims data, finding differential effects on opioid vs. non-opioid pain medications following recreational legalization.
Are people replacing pain pills with cannabis?
The study cannot determine individual-level substitution but examined population-level prescription changes following legalization.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-07726APA
Steuart, Shelby R; Lozano-Rojas, Felipe; Bethel, Victoria; Shone, Hailemichael Bekele; Abraham, Amanda J. (2025). Recreational Cannabis Laws and Fills of Pain Prescriptions in the Privately Insured.. Cannabis (Albuquerque, N.M.), 8(1), 121-138. https://doi.org/10.26828/cannabis/2024/000268
MLA
Steuart, Shelby R, et al. "Recreational Cannabis Laws and Fills of Pain Prescriptions in the Privately Insured.." Cannabis (Albuquerque, 2025. https://doi.org/10.26828/cannabis/2024/000268
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Recreational Cannabis Laws and Fills of Pain Prescriptions i..." RTHC-07726. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/steuart-2025-recreational-cannabis-laws-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.