A recent study examining the effects of recreational marijuana legalization (RML) on opioid overdose deaths has found a consistent negative correlation, suggesting that broader access to cannabis may help address the opioid epidemic.
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Published on the Social Science Research Network (SSRN) by researchers from multiple universities and the American Institute for Economic Research, the study estimates that RML is associated with a reduction of approximately 3.5 opioid overdose deaths per 100,000 individuals. The impact was more pronounced in states that legalized cannabis earlier in the opioid crisis.
The report highlights that prior research focused primarily on medical marijuana's role in reducing opioid prescriptions. However, this study extends the findings to show that recreational legalization may also significantly reduce overdose deaths. Researchers observed that the positive effects were stronger and more sustained over time in states that implemented RML policies earlier.
Utilizing a difference-in-differences statistical approach, referred to as the “C&S approach,” the researchers analyzed opioid mortality rates and marijuana legalization across multiple time periods. Their methodology enabled them to draw a plausible causal link between RML adoption and declining opioid-related deaths.
States that legalized recreational cannabis earlier showed immediate declines in overdose rates, which persisted and grew stronger over five years. For states that adopted RML later, short-term trends were consistent, but longer-term data is still emerging.
The study relied on opioid overdose data from the Kaiser Family Foundation’s State Health Facts database and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, it acknowledged limitations, including the exclusion of hospitalization and nonfatal overdose data.
Researchers emphasized that while RML policies are relatively recent, with most implementations occurring in the past 11 years, their findings strongly suggest that recreational marijuana legalization could mitigate opioid-related public health challenges.
The report calls for further research to explore the broader impacts of marijuana legalization on opioid-related health metrics and other pharmacological advancements.
Additional studies have also supported the link between cannabis availability and reduced opioid dependency. For example, a recent study in Utah found that medical marijuana legalization contributed to lower opioid use among chronic pain patients and fewer prescription overdose deaths statewide.
Similarly, research published by the American Medical Association (AMA) indicated that chronic pain patients who used medical cannabis reported reduced opioid use and dependency.
These findings suggest that marijuana legalization policies, both medical and recreational, may offer safer pain management alternatives and potentially reduce reliance on opioids. As more states consider implementing or expanding marijuana access, the study provides valuable insights into its role in addressing the ongoing opioid crisis.
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