“These results suggest that medical cannabis may be a useful adjunct therapy for reducing opioid use, relieving chronic pain, and improving health-related quality of life.”
Consistent with prior research, results “indicated significant improvements in global sleep quality scores” following patients’ use of medical cannabis.
Patients reported greater than 20 percent improvements in their physical health, social functioning, and emotional well-being following their introduction to medical cannabis.
Young adults in California were less likely to report using either alcohol or cigarettes following cannabis legalization.
Reductions in patients’ prescription drug use was most frequently reported among those prescribed benzodiazepines.
“Most people arrested for violating marijuana possession laws do not require mandatory drug treatment, and historically, these referrals were provided primarily to divert people away from the criminal justice system.”
Investigators reported that patients averaged a nearly two-point decrease in their pain scores (on an 11-point scale) during the trial period.
“Extending our results to other states, we find that medical cannabis legalization has reduced auto insurance premiums by $1.5 billion in all states that have currently legalized,” authors concluded.