Medical Marijuana leads to fewer opioid deaths

[Shadow Wolf]

It turns out there is another reason to favor legalization; medical marijauana leads to fewer deaths related to opioid overdose, almost by 25%
http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1898878#Introduction

Results Three states (California, Oregon, and Washington) had medical cannabis laws effective prior to 1999. Ten states (Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Vermont) enacted medical cannabis laws between 1999 and 2010. States with medical cannabis laws had a 24.8% lower mean annual opioid overdose mortality rate (95% CI, −37.5% to −9.5%; P = .003) compared with states without medical cannabis laws. Examination of the association between medical cannabis laws and opioid analgesic overdose mortality in each year after implementation of the law showed that such laws were associated with a lower rate of overdose mortality that generally strengthened over time: year 1 (−19.9%; 95% CI, −30.6% to −7.7%; P = .002), year 2 (−25.2%; 95% CI, −40.6% to −5.9%; P = .01), year 3 (−23.6%; 95% CI, −41.1% to −1.0%; P = .04), year 4 (−20.2%; 95% CI, −33.6% to −4.0%; P = .02), year 5 (−33.7%; 95% CI, −50.9% to −10.4%; P = .008), and year 6 (−33.3%; 95% CI, −44.7% to −19.6%; P < .001). In secondary analyses, the findings remained similar.
Conclusions and Relevance Medical cannabis laws are associated with significantly lower state-level opioid overdose mortality rates. Further investigation is required to determine how medical cannabis laws may interact with policies aimed at preventing opioid analgesic overdose.

 

[MARCELLO]

I still cannot understand why alcohol is legal but not the pot. I have hurt myself and the others for many many times when I was bloody drunk. There is no memory that I can recall that I hurt something when I was high on cannabis, just small accidents on my pullovers or table cloth, burnt holes....

 

[Lyndon]

The stupid thing is to assume that medical marijuana is responsible for the reduction in opioid deaths, and not just a coincidence caused by other factors, such as reduced availability of opioids. etc. This is not science as no scientist in their right mind would come to the conclusion that marijuana caused the reductions in deaths, with out much more compelling scientific evidence. This is typical of the marijuana and medical marijuana research engines, two bit "scientists" going to great lengths willing to stretch the truth and say just about anything to support people doing drugs, not that's any different with alcohol, the alcohol industry has their own cadre of pseudo scientists coming out with bogus claim after claim about the benefits of drinking, the biggest joke I saw was a "scientific" study done by some presumably heavy drinking co-eds at a university, that people high on three drinks, legally unfit to drive in 50 states, scored better on IQ tests than sober people, Yeah right, I've got some property in Manhattan for sale also, PM me!!

 

[MARCELLO]

I love you Lyndon ,very simple it is.

 

[Lyndon]

Thank you, I'm not saying marijuana and alcohol should be eliminated, just not supported by the scientists and media, we have enough people ruining their lives with drugs and alcohol without encouraging them to do it. If I were in charge, I'd legalize marijuana but with a whopping 400% tax on sales, that and another 100% tax on alcohol. That's what we've done with cigarettes, dramatically raise the taxes and price, and what happened, usage went way down.

 

[MARCELLO]

Thank you, I'm not saying marijuana and alcohol should be eliminated, just not supported by the scientists and media, we have enough people ruining their lives with drugs and alcohol without encouraging them to do it. If I were in charge, I'd legalize marijuana but with a whopping 400% tax on sales, that and another 100% tax on alcohol. That's what we've done with cigarettes, dramatically raise the taxes and price, and what happened, usage went way down.

Neither do I. But life brings every trouble to us, for example I am to work at least 13 hours a day ( my boss is often angry with me because I leave the office by 8 o clock in the evening!!!!). Don't you think a few rolled cigarettes will just make me normal? We need something to relax or we will become like something I would not like to name.

 

[Lyndon]

I smoke, but cigarettes don't effect my mind and get me high like pot or alcohol would. No doubt cigarettes are unhealthy for your body, but I don't see them as unhealthy for your mind any more than strong coffee.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

The stupid thing is to assume that medical marijuana is responsible for the reduction in opioid deaths,

The statistics are provided, and the correlations are rather strong. It's not the marijuana that reduces a chance of someone dying from an opioid death, and the study does not imply that. Rather people have alternatives for pain management, and those states are seeing a decline in the rate of opioid deaths, and the correlations are good.

No doubt cigarettes are unhealthy for your body, but I don't see them as unhealthy for your mind any more than strong coffee.

Coffee does not kill hundreds of thousands of people annually. Coffee does not contain things such as arsenic, formaldehyde, lead, cadmium or other carcinogens.

 

[Nietzsche]

The stupid thing is to assume that medical marijuana is responsible for the reduction in opioid deaths, and not just a coincidence caused by other factors, such as reduced availability of opioids. etc. This is not science as no scientist in their right mind would come to the conclusion that marijuana caused the reductions in deaths, with out much more compelling scientific evidence. This is typical of the marijuana and medical marijuana research engines, two bit "scientists" going to great lengths willing to stretch the truth and say just about anything to support people doing drugs, not that's any different with alcohol, the alcohol industry has their own cadre of pseudo scientists coming out with bogus claim after claim about the benefits of drinking, the biggest joke I saw was a "scientific" study done by some presumably heavy drinking co-eds at a university, that people high on three drinks, legally unfit to drive in 50 states, scored better on IQ tests than sober people, Yeah right, I've got some property in Manhattan for sale also, PM me!!

Interesting conclusions you got there. Mind telling us where you got your relevant education? What sort of degrees you have that make you such an authority in this field?

 

[dust1n]

The stupid thing is to assume that medical marijuana is responsible for the reduction in opioid deaths, and not just a coincidence caused by other factors, such as reduced availability of opioids. etc. This is not science as no scientist in their right mind would come to the conclusion that marijuana caused the reductions in deaths, with out much more compelling scientific evidence.

The study doesn't disagree with you... I mean, literally, this was in what you just responded to.

"Conclusions and Relevance Medical cannabis laws are associated with significantly lower state-level opioid overdose mortality rates. Further investigation is required to determine how medical cannabis laws may interact with policies aimed at preventing opioid analgesic overdose."

http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1898878#Introduction

This is typical of the marijuana and medical marijuana research engines, two bit "scientists" going to great lengths willing to stretch the truth and say just about anything to support people doing drugs, not that's any different with alcohol, the alcohol industry has their own cadre of pseudo scientists coming out with bogus claim after claim about the benefits of drinking, the biggest joke I saw was a "scientific" study done by some presumably heavy drinking co-eds at a university, that people high on three drinks, legally unfit to drive in 50 states, scored better on IQ tests than sober people, Yeah right, I've got some property in Manhattan for sale also, PM me!!

The study in question is a simple analysis of three independent factors, which establishes a correlation, not a causation., although SW does use the word "leads" so I guess I can see how you saw that.

 

[dust1n]

If I were in charge, I'd legalize marijuana but with a whopping 400% tax on sales,

Then why would I bother getting the legal version of it?

 

[Lyndon]

Because it would drive up the price of the illegal version, so there wouldn't be much difference.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Because it would drive up the price of the illegal version, so there wouldn't be much difference.

No it wouldn't. A tax rate that high would send people to illegal sources, and have legal growers selling under the table.

 

[Lyndon]

Criminals aren't stupid, If legal pot sells for 1200 an ounce they are not going to sell it for 400, that would just be stupid, they will raise the price to 900.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Criminals aren't stupid, If legal pot sells for 1200 an ounce they are not going to sell it for 400, that would just be stupid, they will raise the price to 900.

Not if they want to make money.

 

[freethinker44]

Marijuana is clearly dangerous. It is a fact that every person who smokes it, has tried it, has been near someone who has tried it, or even if they live on the same planet as someone who has tried it in any form at any point in history, either has died or will die. These are indisputable facts. Marijuana kills. It kills everyone. Even if they don't use it.

 

[dust1n]

Because it would drive up the price of the illegal version, so there wouldn't be much difference.

Why would it drive up the price of illegal marijuana?

 

[dust1n]

Criminals aren't stupid, If legal pot sells for 1200 an ounce they are not going to sell it for 400, that would just be stupid, they will raise the price to 900.

No one would buy an ounce of weed for 1200 dollars. Even if it was the only option. Anyone who works a living, at least.

Anyways, do you think drug dealers set prices, get together and collude and try to get the cost up?

I'd buy 4 of their ounces at a discount rate, and turn around and sell them for 850.

 

[Lyndon]

They collude to keep the price where it is right now.

 

[dust1n]

They collude to keep the price where it is right now.

They could do that right now, if they wanted... to expect several weed dealers to conclude on price setting is a bit much.