The Positive Results of Medical Marijuana

Medical marijuana break troughs are making the drug more and more popular for medicinal purposes. A recent study shows that medical marijuana is an antidote for the nation’s scourge of fatal overdoses. This only adds to the medical debate of whether marijuana should be used in the medical community and so widely available to patients.

The Legalization of Medical Marijuana Has Dropped Opiate Overdose Death Rates

According to new research finding published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, in the 13 states that have legalized marijuana use have seen a drastic reduction in the number of deaths due to opiate drugs. When compared to states where Marijuana is still illegal, those who have legalized the drug for treatment of various medical conditions have seen over a 33% drop in opiate overdose deaths since its legalization.

Marijuana Enhances the Pain-killing Effects of Opiate Drugs

Recent research suggests marijuana’s psychoactive ingredients may enhance the pain-killing effects of opiate drugs. This allows patients to take lower doses of the opiate drugs for pain relief, preventing the dangers associated with taking high doses.

Studies Show Proof of Marijuana’s Effectiveness When Apart of a Pain Relief Regimen

Dr. Donald Abrams, a UC San Francisco oncologist, published a small study in 2011 which found that cancer patients taking morphine and oxycodone experienced greater pain relief at lower opiate blood concentrations when a vaporized form of marijuana was apart of their drug regimen. He is continuing his studies to see if marijuana can offer better pain relief when used with opiate doses in patients suffering from sickle-cell disease.

The Legalization of Marijuana Continues

Currently 23 states and the District of Columbia offer patients prescription for medical marijuana. Chronic pain is the leading cause for medical marijuana to be prescribed to a patient.  As legalization continues, both Colorado and Washington,  allow recreational use of the drug. It is believed that in the near future all U.S. states will legalize the medical use of marijuana, many going a step further to legalize its recreational use.