Study: Opioid-Dependent Subjects Say Cannabis Manages Cravings, Withdrawal Symptoms
Los Angeles, CA: Opioid-dependent subjects report that cannabis reduces their drug cravings and mitigates withdrawal symptoms, according to data published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports.
Investigators affiliated with the University of Southern California conducted 30 one-on-one semi-structured interviews with people who inject drugs (PWID).
Researchers reported, “PWID described that cannabis co-use assisted in developing patterns of reduced opioid use in a number of ways. … Participants reported using cannabis substitution or co-use to manage the pain from withdrawal symptoms, such as body aches and generalized discomfort, which led to decreased opioid injection frequency. Participants emphasized low-barrier access due to legalization and numerous dispensaries as a resource that facilitated co-using cannabis for reduced opioid use. These findings support the extant literature on cannabis and opioid co-use for pattern changes among vulnerable populations.”
Prior studies have similarly suggested that the consumption of either cannabis or CBD can play a role in managing opioid withdrawal symptoms. According to a 2020 review paper: “Growing pre-clinical and clinical evidence appears to support the use of cannabis … to combat OUD [opioid use disorder]. The evidence … demonstrates the potential cannabis has to ease opioid withdrawal symptoms, reduce opioid consumption, ameliorate opioid cravings, prevent opioid relapse, improve OUD treatment retention, and reduce overdose deaths. … The compelling nature of these data and the relative safety profile of cannabis warrant further exploration of cannabis as an adjunct or alternative treatment for OUD.”
Full text of the study, “Cannabis co-use as a facilitator of decreased opioid use among people who inject drugs in Los Angeles, California,” appears in Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports.
Survey: Majority of Consumers Obtain Cannabis From Licensed Retailers
Los Angeles, CA: Survey data compiled by the cannabis telehealth platform NuggMD reports that most consumers residing in state-legal markets obtain their marijuana from licensed regulators, not from the unregulated market.
Specifically, 77 percent of respondents said that they obtained “all” or “most” of their cannabis-related products from authorized retailers. Only six percent of respondents acknowledged acquiring marijuana exclusively from the unregulated marketplace.
The findings are consistent with those of a 2023 survey conducted by New Frontier Data, which similarly reported that most consumers in legal states obtain cannabis from licensed establishments.
Survey data from Canada, which legalized retail cannabis sales in 2018, shows similar results – with the percentage of consumers who report obtaining cannabis from licensed providers rising year over year.
“These data indicate that the legal, regulated cannabis market is displacing the underground marketplace,” NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano said. “Consumers are becoming more comfortable with and more reliant upon licensed retailers – who offer greater convenience, product quality, and safety.”
Additional information is available from NuggMD.
Federal Survey: Nearly One-Third of Middle-Aged Adults Consumed Cannabis in the Past Year
Ann Arbor, MI: Nearly one-third of adults between the ages of 35 and 50 acknowledge having consumed cannabis in the past year and nearly one in five are current consumers, according to federally funded survey data compiled by the University of Michigan.
Specifically, 29 percent of respondents reported yearly cannabis use. Nineteen percent acknowledged use within the past 30 days. Eight percent of respondents reported daily use.
The findings are consistent with those of several other surveys reporting that cannabis use is becoming more frequent among middle-aged and older adults.
The University of Michigan survey also reported that more than 8 in 10 adults between the ages of 55 and 65 have consumed cannabis at least once during their lifetimes.
“Cannabis use has been a part of the fabric of American culture for decades and its use remains popular among middle-aged and older adults today,” NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano said. “It’s time that cannabis laws and regulations comport with this long standing reality.”
The full report, “National data on substance use among adults ages 19 to 65, 1976-2023,” is available from Monitoring the Future.
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