The American Public Health Association has released findings that show, yet again, how cannabis can have an effect on the opioid crisis that is currently sweeping the nation.

While the study acknowledges these are only initial results, it does call for additional follow-ups as more and more states adopt recreational cannabis laws.

The study is entitled “Recreational Cannabis Legalization and Opioid-Related Deaths in Colorado, 2000–2015” and can be found on their website here: http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.2017.304059

“After Colorado’s legalization of recreational cannabis sale and use, opioid-related deaths decreased more than 6% in the following 2 years. These findings extend Bachhuber et al.’s results on the potential protective effect of medical cannabis legalization on opioid-related deaths. Available data provide only an assessment of the short-term effects of Colorado’s recreational cannabis legalization. However, these initial results clearly show that continuing research is warranted as data become available, involving longer follow-ups and additional states that have legalized recreational cannabis.”

Reduction in Opioid-Related Deaths

Reduction in Opioid-Related Deaths

Following up on previous findings that showed a 25% decrease in opioid overdose mortality in states with medical marijuana laws, this study shines a beacon of hope on the crisis that kills dozens per day.

While the United States continues to figure out ways to tackle this deadly intrusion into the lives of everyday citizens, the cannabis community has been calling out for a reproducible and provable solution to at least help provide some relief.

“States and the US federal government continue to consider modifying cannabis policies, and more research is warranted to assess health effects of these policies across a diverse set of outcomes.”

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