I am not sure how much longer medical cannabis prohibitionists can hold out. Evidence in support of medical cannabis continues to mount, including a recently published study confirming that turning to cannabis helps patients reduce their dependence on opioids. It is the latest in a growing number of studies supporting cannabis over opioids.
For the record, opioids were not the only type of medication researchers looked at. They also took a look at sleep medications, must relaxers, and NSAIDs. Study participants acknowledged that consuming cannabis medicinally helped them reduce their need for all the other medications.
How the Study Was Conducted
The study in question was conducted by a team of researchers at three universities: the University of Michigan, the University of Buffalo, and McGill University. Researchers solicited participants compiled from lists provided by the Arthritis Foundation and Arthritis Society Canada.
Researchers contacted potential participants and asked them to complete and submit a survey. Just over 1,700 completed the survey. Researchers divided respondents into three categories:
- Current cannabis users – 763 respondents.
- Never users – 655 respondents.
- Users who had since discontinued – 268 respondents.
Researchers focused their attention only on the current user group. Within that group, 62.5% acknowledge using medical cannabis as a substitute for other medications. Those other medications include:
- NSAIDs – 54.7%.
- Opioids – 48.6%.
- Sleep aids – 29.6%.
- Muscle relaxers – 25.2%.
It is fair to ask how many of the NSAID users were suffering from pain severe enough to be considered debilitating. The question is legitimate for the simple fact that pain management is the most frequently cited reason for obtaining a medical cannabis card. According to the Utahmarijuana.org website, medical cannabis is appropriate for both chronic and acute pain management.
Pain Was a Big Factor Here
When focusing on the types of drugs patients were replacing via medical cannabis, it becomes clear that pain was a very important factor in this most recent research. But we do not have to rely exclusively on those numbers. Why? Because the medical conditions reported by study participants included inflammatory rheumatic disease, osteoarthritis, mechanical spinal pain, and even fibromyalgia.
The study group was fairly typical in that pain was a common condition among those who used medical cannabis. More importantly, patient willingness to use cannabis as a substitute for both opioids and NSAIDs clearly demonstrates that the more traditional medications do not always work as advertised.
Such is the case for nearly every patient who applies for a state and medical cannabis card. Bear in mind that states only allow medical cannabis for a short list of qualifying conditions. And nearly all of them have the requirement that a patient try more traditional treatments before turning to cannabis.
The mere fact that they are applying for cards and being approved is a clear indication, but the traditional treatments are not working. That should tell us something. It tells us that we need to take a second and third look at some of our traditional treatments. If they are not working, continuing to push them as the most effective treatment for a given condition is a fool’s errand.
Medical Cannabis Works
Evidence in support of medical cannabis is mounting. To be as clear and concise as possible, it just works for a number of conditions. Cannabis is obviously not a miracle cure for every disease or injury under the sun. But we can no longer deny the fact that people are successfully relying on it to manage pain, relieve PTSD symptoms, and relieve the symptoms of cancer treatment. The studies are there for anyone who wants to see them.
