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Study: Medical marijuana laws associated with reductions in opioid prescriptions

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Illinois

* JAMA Internal Medicine study…

Question: What is the association between US state implementation of medical cannabis laws and opioid prescribing under Medicare Part D?

Findings: This longitudinal analysis of Medicare Part D found that prescriptions filled for all opioids decreased by 2.11 million daily doses per year from an average of 23.08 million daily doses per year when a state instituted any medical cannabis law. Prescriptions for all opioids decreased by 3.742 million daily doses per year when medical cannabis dispensaries opened. […]

Conclusions and Relevance: Medical cannabis laws are associated with significant reductions in opioid prescribing in the Medicare Part D population. This finding was particularly strong in states that permit dispensaries, and for reductions in hydrocodone and morphine prescriptions.

* Sun-Times…

As Illinois officials search for new ways to combat an opioid epidemic that continues to claim a growing number of lives, state Sen. Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, is pushing new legislation that would expand the state’s medical cannabis program to give people who have been prescribed opioids a different option for treating their pain. […]

Harmon’s bill, called the “Alternatives to Opioids Act,” would expand Illinois’ medical cannabis pilot program to give people who have been prescribed opioids the opportunity to obtain a medical cannabis card that would remain valid for 12 months.

Last month, the measure passed the Senate Executive Committee 16-1, and “the odds of it passing out of the [full] Senate are excellent,” said Harmon, who is confident the bill can also get through the Illinois House.

Harmon hopes the bill can “limit the problem” of opioid abuse in the state. However, he admits the Legislature hasn’t been proactive enough in reacting to the rising tide of the “calamitous” opioid problem.

* Meanwhile…

The main bank serving Illinois medical marijuana companies is pulling out of the industry, leaving operators with few options other than dealing in cash.

Bank of Springfield sent a letter to its cannabis clients late last month informing them that their accounts will be closed May 21. The decision is tied to the reversal of an Obama-era policy that discouraged prosecution of those operating under state marijuana laws.

The move is a setback for the industry, which remains a pilot program more than two years after medical cannabis became legal in Illinois. Strict regulations and other obstacles have added challenges to running cannabis companies and kept patient numbers too low for some operators to recoup their investments.

Taking away the bank accounts medical marijuana companies use to pay their employees, vendors and the government is another hurdle. It also eliminates some of the legitimacy and traceability of transactions that banking added to the industry, which had $8.5 million in retail sales statewide in February, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. […]

There are other financial institutions around the state that work with the cannabis industry, but not many. Companies that relied solely on Bank of Springfield or are unable to find another bank might have to start operating exclusively in cash.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 10:27 am

Comments

I don’t understand Republicans.

They have a new industry that needs support, yet they throw up every regulation they can think of, even to the point of killing the new industry.

Comment by 33rd Ward Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 10:32 am
I’ve been following this for a while and what Harmon was discussing in the Sun Times this morning appears to be very true. In states with much less restrictive med mar laws, people are successfully kicking opioids. It’s the only way that I’ve seen success in kicking heroin. Given the epidemic we’re facing, Illinois should expand their “pilot” program into this category immediately. Help cannot come soon enough for these people. I cannot see any downside in making them legal for this treatment. They’re already on a destructive spiral. I’d even lower the cost to get them into a program with this treatment.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 10:46 am
People want to get off an addictive drug that causes tens of thousands of deaths a year and replace it with a non-addictive drug that has never caused one overdose death, ever.

What is the opposition to this, again? It’s beyond reason.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 10:47 am
So if your doctor offered you a choice between prescribed cannabis brownies or Vicodin for severe post-operative pain, which would you choose?

Comment by fedup Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 10:55 am
Reefer Madness showing would be a great fundraiser about now.

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 11:07 am
fedup making common cause with Big Narco. Amazing.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 11:09 am
Fedup is right…take the brownie every time

Comment by Ali Nagib Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 11:18 am
==severe post-operative pain==

Why bother with the operation if a future of even greater pain is all that awaits you?

Take the brownie, the gummy bears, the oil, or the bong.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 11:38 am
The Guv put his brightest super star in charge of the task force he created to address the opioid epidemic. I’m sure they will reach the right conclusion. /s

Comment by Henry Francis Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 11:41 am
Severe post operative pain. LMC was ineffective for me. I opted for opioids. It’s a choice. But make the option available.

Comment by BlueDogDem Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 11:42 am
It is going to be legal recreationally in 2019 in Illinois. At that point, MM restrictions will no longer matter.

Comment by Illinois Resident Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 12:42 pm
@Illinois Resident:

Assuming JB wins and assuming the bill isn’t too different when it’s introduced again later this year, it’ll be when the bill passes plus 6 months. So January 1st, 2020.

MCPP still needs some work between now and then.

Comment by Earnest Not Borgnine Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 12:49 pm
Earnest - I was hoping for late 2019 but you may be right. JB will win, no doubt about that.

Comment by Illinois Resident Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 1:08 pm
I also expect JB to vastly expand the MM program in the near term after winning the election.

Comment by Illinois Resident Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 1:10 pm
It’s interesting how people “need” to always take something to solve their problems….

Comment by JDuc Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 3:42 pm
JDuc- It’s called freedom. I assume you have never had a cup of coffee or drank alcohol.

Comment by Illinois Resident Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 4:51 pm