Helpful or Harmful Drugs?

Recent changes in marijuana laws in several states have allowed analysis of effects on the general population which Michael Greger has reviewed in a recent NutritionFacts posting (6/22/18).

Medical cannabis provides pain relief to patients dying of cancer as effectively as moderate codeine. It may allow pain to be tolerable while awake and communicating whereas morphine is more effective for pain but does not allow this awareness.

After medical cannabis is legalized in a state opioid deaths drop 25%. There are also large decreases in sales of alcohol and drugs for depression, anxiety, pain, sleeping and migraines. Is it any surprise that major supporters of marijuana prohibition include big pharma, the beer and private prison industries?