It is well known that the United States is experiencing an opoid epidemic, and around 40,000 die every year. With the many states which have legalized medical marijuana use we now have an opportunity to evaluate any effects on opioid use and health care expenditures.
This study evaluated state level opioid prescription records for 1993-2014 from Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data. They analyzed Medicaid spending on opioid prescriptions for Schedule II (eg. hydrocodone, oxycodone) and Schedule III (eg. codeine) against the primary variable of statewide medical marijuana legalization.
Medical cannabis (marijuana) legalization was associated with a 29% reduction in the number of Schedule III prescriptions, a 29% reduction in Schedule III dosage, and a 28% reduction in related Medicaid spending. No effect was found on Schedule II.
The authors state that if all states had legalized medical cannabis by 2014, Medicaid annual spending on opoid prescriptions would be reduced by 17.8 million dollars!
