Study links access to legal cannabis with lower opioid use in cancer patients.
A large national study found that when cannabis dispensaries open to cancer patients, opioid prescriptions decrease. These findings suggest that greater access to cannabis may be influenced by both patient choice and physician habits, which may contribute to this decline, particularly in states where medical or recreational cannabis is legal.
The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Georgia and is published in JAMA Health Forumexamined prescription data from more than three hundred thousand adults with cancer in the United States between 2007 and 2020. The researchers focused on people with commercial insurance and at least one opioid prescription. They compared opioid prescribing patterns in states before and after the opening of both medical and recreational cannabis dispensaries.
After the cannabis dispensary opened, three different measures of opioid use decreased significantly. Fewer people received opioid prescriptions, the number of prescriptions per person decreased, and the average number of prescriptions per day increased less. The decline was greater in states that provide access to medical cannabis than in those that legalize recreational use.
Lead researcher and nurse scientist Victoria Bethel said the findings indicate a possible substitution effect. In other words, some patients are replacing opioids with cannabis for pain relief. Bethel noted that cancer patients often need stronger pain management options, but opioids carry serious risks such as tolerance, dependence, and side effects such as nausea or confusion. For some people, cannabis can offer partial relief without the same level of risk. Still, he stressed that more studies are needed to fully understand both the benefits and harms of cannabis for pain.
Opioids remain the standard treatment for severe cancer-related pain, but their use has long raised concerns. In addition to the dangers of addiction, long-term opioid use can cause sleep problems, mood changes, and digestive problems. The possibility that cannabis may fill some of this role has resulted in increased interest among both patients and clinicians.
Currently, 39 states and the District of Columbia allow medical cannabis, and nearly half of US states also allow recreational use. Cannabis products and synthetic cannabinoids have been used for years to treat chemotherapy side effects such as nausea and loss of appetite, but solid evidence for pain management is hard to come by.
While some trials have shown that medical cannabis can help lower pain scores, others have found only limited results or unwanted side effects such as dizziness and lightheadedness. Bethel’s team sought to fill this research gap by examining whether state-level legalization made a measurable difference in real-world opioid use. The drop in prescription rates that followed the dispensary openings suggests that the availability of cannabis could change how pain is managed for many cancer patients.
The researchers acknowledged that while the reduction in opioid use appears to be positive, their study has limitations. They used data from commercially insured patients, which means the results may not apply to those covered by Medicaid or Medicare. Other new laws were passed around the same time as cannabis legislation trends can also be influenced. Despite these caveats, the link between cannabis access and reduced opioid use is strong enough to warrant the attention of policymakers and clinicians.
The growing popularity of cannabis raises another concern: accidental exposure in children. A separate study by the same research team found that after the opening of medical dispensaries, there was a sharp increase in cannabis-related poisoning calls involving young children. Its findings point to the importance of education, child-safe packaging, and careful regulation even as states seek to expand legal access. They move.
Experts emphasize that open communication between patients and providers is key. Patients may be more willing to disclose cannabis use when they feel safe from judgment, helping doctors make informed decisions and avoid dangerous drug combinations. Bethel said the long-term goal should be to build a health care environment where research, integrity and safety can all coexist as cannabis becomes a common part of pain management.
Sources:
Access to cannabis for cancer pain may reduce opioid use
Cannabis reduces the use of opioids by cancer patients
