Bloomwell, a German medical cannabis and telehealth company, surveyed 3,528 patients last month and found that starting medical cannabis reduced other prescription drug use by an average of 84.5%; 58.9% stopped other medications entirely. Among prescription sleeping pill users, 93.4% cut use by at least half and 75.5% quit completely. Of methylphenidate (Ritalin) users, 77.3% stopped entirely, and 61% of opioid patients fully discontinued. Dropping those medications eliminated side effects for 60.7% of patients. Additionally, 67.8% reported better concentration, 61.9% said they made more social contacts, and 53.9% had fewer sick days.
"The main reason for prescribing medical cannabis, besides symptom treatment, is the reduction or avoidance of side effects from other medications," said Julian Wichmann, co-founder and CEO of Bloomwell. "For example, anyone who can completely discontinue opioids by using medical cannabis has a good chance of managing their daily life and work free of side effects."
These results fit a wider pattern. About one in three Americans who use CBD take it as an alternative to at least one medication—particularly painkillers—per a federally funded study from February. AMA-published research found medical marijuana programs linked to reduced opioid prescriptions, legalization "significantly associated with reduced opioid use among patients diagnosed with cancer," and medical marijuana legalization "associated with significant reductions in opioid prescribing." One study found legalizing medical cannabis reduced payments from opioid manufacturers to pain physicians, with authors citing "evidence that this decrease is due to medical marijuana becoming available as a substitute." Australian researchers and a Drug and Alcohol Review study linked daily cannabis use to a higher likelihood of quitting opioids, especially among men.
A study on adult-use legalization found a "consistent negative relationship" between legalization and fatal overdoses, estimating recreational cannabis legalization "is associated with a decrease of approximately 3.5 deaths per 100,000 individuals." A Utah study found medical marijuana availability reduced opioid use among chronic pain patients and helped lower statewide prescription overdose deaths.
In December, President Donald Trump said marijuana can "make people feel much better" as a "substitute for addictive and potentially lethal opioid painkillers," and issued an executive order to federally reschedule cannabis and promote CBD access, while noting he has no personal interest in using marijuana himself.
