Support Candidates Who Support Legal Cannabis...Part One: Opioid Crisis

The opioid addiction crisis is worsening in our area. The long term effects of pharmaceuticals being prescribed liberally has devastated an entire generation. Addiction combined with severe economic turmoil has resulted in an epidemic and disaster. Illness and death of family members continues with no MONUMENTAL action from elected officials in government. When going to the polls on November 6, remember who cares about this catastrophe the most and who supports policy that is proven to combat the opioid crisis. That said policy is cannabis liberalization. Legal pot. Medical marijuana. Recreational cannabis and medical cannabis have proven to lower dependency on highly addictive, prescribed opioids in states where it is legal. A Forbes.com study suggests states with active marijuana dispensaries saw 3.7 million fewer daily doses of opioid prescriptions filled. In 2014, a JAMA study showed states with medical cannabis laws have roughly 25% LOWER OPIOID OVERDOSE RATES. That rate is even better in states with legalized recreational marijuana. Opioid overdoses in our area have been frequent and well documented. In such a small populated community, everyone knows someone that has been affected by opioid addiction. The University of Kentucky has done extensive research and tons of studies on what results we might see in Kentucky with marijuana laws. One of their studies on the effects on Medicaid was really interesting. The study showed that medical marijuana policies have led to 39 fewer opioid prescriptions per 1,000 Medicaid enrollees. That would result in an annual savings of $1,815 per 1,000 Medicaid enrollees. There are over 1.2 million people in Kentucky covered by Medicaid (22% of the population). Medical cannabis has also been utilized to ease opioid withdrawal symptoms in states where it’s legal. Not only does cannabis serve as a substitute for opioid pain meds but also a complement to opioid use disorder treatment. And it has proved overwhelmingly successful in helping in treatment. Pennsylvania added Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) as an illness treatable by medical cannabis. A Pennsylvania patient described their experience. “Medical cannabis can not only help people get rest [when they’re in withdrawal], but it can also help reduce nausea, get an appetite, reduce anxiety and cravings…it helps people reduce the craving voice. It helps people gain perspective.”