Medical Cannabis Laws Were Linked to Fewer Opioid Deaths and Lower Healthcare Costs
A systematic review of 10 studies found that medical cannabis laws were associated with decreased prescription opioid use, fewer opioid-related hospitalizations, lower overdose death rates, and reduced healthcare expenditures.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
The 10 included studies collectively suggest medical cannabis laws could be associated with decreased prescription opioid use, fewer POM-related hospitalizations, lower rates of opioid overdose, and reduced national healthcare expenditures related to opioid overdose and misuse. Four studies examined individual-level cannabis-for-opioid substitution; six examined state-level opioid outcomes.
Key Numbers
11,513 records identified, 10 met criteria. Four cross-sectional surveys on individual substitution. Six secondary analyses on state-level outcomes (overdose fatalities, hospitalizations, Medicare/Medicaid costs).
How They Did This
Systematic literature review of Medline, PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases for peer-reviewed articles published 2010-2017. 11,513 records identified, 789 abstracts reviewed, 134 full-text screened, 10 met inclusion criteria.
Why This Research Matters
The opioid crisis kills tens of thousands of Americans annually. This review presents converging evidence from multiple study designs that medical cannabis access may reduce opioid-related harms, suggesting cannabis policy could be one component of addressing the epidemic.
The Bigger Picture
While no single study is conclusive, the convergence of individual-level and state-level evidence from multiple research groups strengthens the case that medical cannabis access may reduce opioid harms. This has significant policy implications.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Sparse literature with notable limitations across studies. Ecological studies cannot prove individual-level causation. Cross-sectional surveys rely on self-report. Federal policy restrictions constrain cannabis research. Confounding by other state-level changes possible.
Questions This Raises
- ?Does recreational cannabis legalization have the same opioid-reduction effect as medical cannabis?
- ?Which components of medical cannabis programs are most important for reducing opioid harms?
- ?Could expanding medical cannabis access be more effective than restricting opioid prescribing?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- All four outcome categories improved in states with medical cannabis laws: lower opioid use, fewer hospitalizations, fewer overdose deaths, and reduced healthcare costs.
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate - systematic review methodology is rigorous, but the evidence base is sparse with significant limitations in individual studies.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2018. The opioid-cannabis substitution evidence has continued to evolve.
- Original Title:
- The use of cannabis in response to the opioid crisis: A review of the literature.
- Published In:
- Nursing outlook, 66(1), 56-65 (2018)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-01869
Evidence Hierarchy
Analyzes all available research on a topic using a structured method.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does medical cannabis reduce opioid deaths?
This systematic review found that states with medical cannabis laws had lower rates of opioid overdose deaths, fewer opioid-related hospitalizations, and reduced opioid prescribing. However, the evidence is still limited and cannot prove causation.
Can cannabis replace opioids for pain?
Individual-level studies in this review found many patients reported substituting cannabis for prescription opioids. State-level data showed corresponding decreases in opioid prescriptions and related harms in states with medical cannabis access.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-01869APA
Vyas, Marianne Beare; LeBaron, Virginia T; Gilson, Aaron M. (2018). The use of cannabis in response to the opioid crisis: A review of the literature.. Nursing outlook, 66(1), 56-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2017.08.012
MLA
Vyas, Marianne Beare, et al. "The use of cannabis in response to the opioid crisis: A review of the literature.." Nursing outlook, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2017.08.012
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "The use of cannabis in response to the opioid crisis: A revi..." RTHC-01869. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/vyas-2018-the-use-of-cannabis
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.