On behalf of Scott Brown of Scott C. Brown Law Office posted in Drug Charges on Friday, October 13, 2017.
In the last few years, the problem of prescription drugs has taken primary focus in the nation -- and with good reason, as the epidemic has affected thousands. Yet a less-reported topic, especially in the state of West Virginia, is that of marijuana laws. The nation has seen a major shift in attitudes towards the drug, but West Virginia has yet to fully legalize recreational use. While there are a number of researched medical benefits of marijuana, many locals are voicing that the drug could be one solution to the opioid epidemic itself.
As for the opioid epidemic that has clearly crippled the state, Vox notes that marijuana could be an answer. Since marijuana can relieve chronic pain, it could be used as an alternative to prescription drugs, which are also used to combat pain. The upside to this alternative is that, contrary to opioids, medical marijuana cannot cause fatal overdoses.
TIME also commented on the potential of medical marijuana's lasting benefits, especially in connection with the nationwide opioid crisis. According to a study on medical marijuana, states where the drug was legalized also saw a drop in the number of painkiller prescriptions. Furthermore, doctors in a state where medical marijuana had become legal prescribed roughly 1,826 fewer painkiller doses per year. Medical marijuana may only be in its early stages of public acceptance, but many look forward to a future where doctors and patients can work together to help tackle the opioid epidemic that claims thousands of lives each year.