Medical Cannabis Patients Stopped Using Dangerous Prescription Drugs at High Rates
After enrolling in New Mexico's medical cannabis program, 34% of chronic pain patients completely stopped using all scheduled prescription medications, compared to only 2% in a comparison group.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
28 of 83 MCP patients (34%) ceased all scheduled prescription medications by the end of the observation period, versus only 1 of 42 comparison patients (2%). MCP patients showed statistically significant monthly decreases in number of prescriptions, distinct drug classes, prescription fill dates, and prescribing providers.
Key Numbers
34% of MCP patients stopped all scheduled drugs vs 2% of comparisons. Significant monthly decreases in all 4 measures (counts of -0.02 to -0.04, P values <.001 to .017). Differences were significant by 10 months post-enrollment.
How They Did This
Pragmatic historical cohort study comparing 83 chronic pain patients who enrolled in New Mexico's Medical Cannabis Program with 42 non-enrolled patients over 24 months using Prescription Monitoring Program data.
Why This Research Matters
Co-prescribing of controlled substances (Schedule II-V) is a major safety concern and healthcare burden. This study provides some of the first Prescription Monitoring Program data showing medical cannabis enrollment is associated with significant reductions in dangerous prescription drug use.
The Bigger Picture
If medical cannabis can reduce reliance on dangerous prescription medications, particularly opioids, it could address two crises simultaneously: the opioid epidemic and the broader problem of polypharmacy with controlled substances.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Observational study with non-randomized groups. Comparison group was small (n=42). Cannot confirm patients actually used cannabis or that cannabis caused the prescription changes. New Mexico-specific results.
Questions This Raises
- ?Which specific drug classes were most reduced?
- ?Did patients maintain symptom control after stopping prescriptions?
- ?Would these results replicate in states with different medical cannabis program structures?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 34% of medical cannabis patients stopped all scheduled prescription medications vs 2% of comparison patients.
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate - uses objective Prescription Monitoring Program data, but observational with non-randomized comparison group.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2018. Data from 2010-2015.
- Original Title:
- Effects of Legal Access to Cannabis on Scheduled II-V Drug Prescriptions.
- Published In:
- Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 19(1), 59-64.e1 (2018)
- Authors:
- Stith, Sarah S(3), Vigil, Jacob M(3), Adams, Ian Marshall, Reeve, Anthony P
- Database ID:
- RTHC-01842
Evidence Hierarchy
Looks back at existing records to find patterns.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Can medical cannabis replace prescription drugs?
In this study, 34% of chronic pain patients who enrolled in New Mexico's medical cannabis program completely stopped using all scheduled prescription medications within 18 months, compared to only 2% of similar patients who did not enroll.
Does medical cannabis reduce opioid use?
This study showed significant reductions in all scheduled drug prescriptions (including opioids) after medical cannabis enrollment, with decreases becoming statistically significant by 10 months. However, it could not determine which specific drug classes were most affected.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-01842APA
Stith, Sarah S; Vigil, Jacob M; Adams, Ian Marshall; Reeve, Anthony P. (2018). Effects of Legal Access to Cannabis on Scheduled II-V Drug Prescriptions.. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 19(1), 59-64.e1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2017.07.017
MLA
Stith, Sarah S, et al. "Effects of Legal Access to Cannabis on Scheduled II-V Drug Prescriptions.." Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2017.07.017
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Effects of Legal Access to Cannabis on Scheduled II-V Drug P..." RTHC-01842. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/stith-2018-effects-of-legal-access
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.