Legal Weed May Cut Opioid Use for Cancer Pain
Newsweek US|December 16, 2022
A new study says prescriptions are down in states where medical marijuana is available
JESS THOMSON
Legal Weed May Cut Opioid Use for Cancer Pain

THE LEGALIZATION OF MEDICAL marijuana may reduce opioid use in cancer patients.

As of 2022, medical marijuana for pain relief is legal in 37 states and Washington, D.C. Living in these states is associated with a lower rate of opioid dispensing in patients receiving cancer treatments, a paper published on December 1 in the journal JAMA Oncology says.

Results of the study show that medical marijuana legalization was associated with a 5.5 percent to 19.2 percent relative reduction in the rate of opioid dispensing (i.e., the rate of receiving at least one opioid prescription) to adult patients aged 18 to 64 who were newly diagnosed with breast, colorectal or lung cancer and receiving cancer treatment.

The analysis involved 38,189 patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer, 12,816 with colorectal cancer and 7,190 with lung cancer. These three cancer types were chosen for the study because of the large number of new cases among those younger than 65.

Between 2012 and 2017, medical marijuana legalization took effect in 14 states: Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Esta historia es de la edición December 16, 2022 de Newsweek US.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición December 16, 2022 de Newsweek US.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE NEWSWEEK USVer todo
Mystery of Ginger Cat Is out of the Bag
Newsweek US

Mystery of Ginger Cat Is out of the Bag

The genetics behind the vibrant orange color in feline coats is finally confirmed after 112 years

time-read
3 minutos  |
January 03-17, 2025 (Double Issue)
Paris Hilton & Nicole Richie
Newsweek US

Paris Hilton & Nicole Richie

PARIS HILTON AND NICOLE RICHIE ARE READY TO BRING A LITTLE “SANASA” to the world with Peacock's Paris & Nicole: The Encore, their first project together since their reality show The Simple Life ended in 2007. What's “sanasa”? It's a song and phrase the longtime friends created as kids and popularized on The Simple Life. The show, a cultural phenomenon in the early days of reality TV, followed them over a series of blue-collar jobs. Now they're bringing it back as an opera. “I know this is just going to make people laugh, have fun, be nostalgic and just celebrate our friendship,” Hilton said. While Richie acknowledged “you can't do Simple Life again,” she said now “felt like the right time.” The famous pair also revisit some old jobs in Arkansas, like fast-food chain Sonic, where they now have drinks named for them. “I think that there is a part of our friend- ship that the show ended up showing that people connect to,” Richie said. As for this new special, Hilton is glad to do something positive for their fans. “It's been such a crazy past couple years, and I just feel like the world needs more joy.”

time-read
2 minutos  |
January 03-17, 2025 (Double Issue)
What Next for Your Drugstore?
Newsweek US

What Next for Your Drugstore?

Walgreens and Amazon are placing opposing bets on the future of retail pharmacy

time-read
6 minutos  |
January 03-17, 2025 (Double Issue)
AMERICA'S GREATEST WORKPLACES for Diversity
Newsweek US

AMERICA'S GREATEST WORKPLACES for Diversity

AS COMPANIES IN THE UNITED STATES CONTINUE TO navigate the evolving dynamics of the workplace, diversity remains a cornerstone of organizational success and social responsibility.

time-read
4 minutos  |
January 03-17, 2025 (Double Issue)
FIGHTING SPIRITS
Newsweek US

FIGHTING SPIRITS

ANDREA MCCARTHY TOLD FRIENDS and family when she gave up alcohol on January 1, 2024, that she would toast 12 months off the sauce with a drink to ring in 2025. As that anniversary approached, the Los Angeles-born content creator told Newsweek she had had a change of heart.

time-read
10 minutos  |
January 03-17, 2025 (Double Issue)
Lessons Over Lunch
Newsweek US

Lessons Over Lunch

Ninety-year-old volunteer Hugh showed me how the winter years can be full of purpose

time-read
3 minutos  |
January 03-17, 2025 (Double Issue)
Is California's Green Dream Hot Air?
Newsweek US

Is California's Green Dream Hot Air?

The state aims to rely on zero-carbon energy sources in two decades' time but has hurdles to overcome along the way

time-read
8 minutos  |
January 03-17, 2025 (Double Issue)
Power Struggle
Newsweek US

Power Struggle

As the dust settles following the toppling of Bashar al-Assad, new front lines could be drawn in Syria's old civil war

time-read
6 minutos  |
January 03-17, 2025 (Double Issue)
Downsizing Goes Bust for Boomers
Newsweek US

Downsizing Goes Bust for Boomers

Rising property costs are not just affecting young Americans—older people are ‘aging in place’ due to a dearth of affordable accessible housing

time-read
4 minutos  |
January 03-17, 2025 (Double Issue)
Ray Romano
Newsweek US

Ray Romano

\"I read about three scripts, and at the end of each there was a little twist, a little turn, [and] it was funny.\"

time-read
2 minutos  |
December 27, 2024