Lack of Opioid Safety, Effectiveness Pave Way for Cannabis as Chronic Pain Treatment

Medical marijuana’s acceptance as a legitimate treatment for chronic pain may be reaching a tipping point.

Approximately 100 million Americans—one third of the U.S. population—lives with chronic pain. Around 25 million have moderate to severe chronic pain that limits activities and diminishes quality of life. The total societal costs of pain, measured in missed workdays and medical expenses, is estimated at $560 to $630 billion per year.

To manage chronic pain 5 to 8 million Americans use opioid prescription painkillers such as morphine, oxycodone, and methadone. While the risks of opioid abuse and addiction are well understood, new research suggests …read more