A new study has shown that a significant decline in deaths related to opioids is linked to improved access to cannabis dispensaries. The study, which was reported in the “British Medical Association” journal, concluded that higher counts of recreational and medical dispensary stores were connected with decreased opioid-related mortality rates, particularly deaths linked to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. The study adds that the discovery holds for both recreational and medical dispensaries.
The researchers examined the prevalence of marijuana dispensaries and opioid death rates in 23 states between the years of 2014 and 2018. The researchers discovered that, in general, counties where the number of legal cannabis shops increased from one to two experienced a 17% decline in fatalities related to opioids. Growth in the number of dispensaries from two to three was associated with an additional 8.5% reduction in opioid deaths.
The study also discovered that the trend was especially strong for deaths linked to synthetic opioids, aside from methadone, with approximately a 21% decline in death rates linked to an increase in the number of dispensaries from one to two.
The researchers wrote that while the reported links aren’t assumed to be causal, they do suggest a possible connection between a decline in opioid-related death rates and an increased prevalence of recreational and medical marijuana dispensaries.
This is not the first study that has found a link between the decreased harms from opioids and legal marijuana access. Various research studies have discovered that cannabis can effectively treat conditions such as chronic pain, with surveys showing that many patients have opted to switch from addictive painkillers, such as opioids, which are commonly prescribed for pain management, to marijuana.
The new study adds that marijuana is considered to be a less-addictive substance as compared to opioids, stating that marijuana has substantial public support and could be used to manage pain.
The study’s findings demonstrate that increasing legal marijuana accessibility is linked to a decline in deaths related to opioids from the T40.4 class, such as fentanyl. This, the researchers say, is particularly important as deaths related to fentanyl are the most common causes of opioid-related deaths.
A separate study, which was conducted earlier this month, has also found that the use of medical marijuana is linked to an increased quality of life and significant declines in the dependence of an individual on prescription drugs, such as opioids.
These studies contain valuable information that could be used by U.S. federal health agencies to learn whether kratom and cannabis, which cause fewer side effects as compared to other prescription drugs, could be used to treat chronic pain.
In related news, RYAH Group Inc. has a popular app called PotBot App, an app that leverages AI to deliver education about medical marijuana. With more than 300,000 downloads under its belts, this app is the most popular in its class within the country.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to RYAH Group Inc. are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/RYAH
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