According to a brand new study out of University of California Berkeley and Kent State University, 93% of patients prefer marijuana over opioids. The study, which was reported in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, found that the patients preferred medical marijuana and that many believed the drug was effective in treating their pain.
“This study can conclude that medical cannabis patients report successfully using cannabis along with or as a substitute for opioid-based pain medication,” the team said.
“Patients in this study who are using cannabis and opioids report that they are able to use less opioids and that cannabis presents less unwanted side effects than their opioid-based medication.”
The study involved researchers emailing participants a survey asking them about their pain, and their opioid and marijuana usage.
2,810 particpants were a part o the survey, of which 828 had used opioids in the last 6 months to manage their pain.
Out of these 828 participants, “97 percent of the sample ‘strongly agreed/agreed’ that they are able to decrease the amount of opioids they consume when they also use cannabis. In addition, 89 percent ‘strongly agreed/agreed’ that taking opioids produces unwanted side effects such as constipation and nausea.”
The researchers also found that “81 percent ‘strongly agreed/agreed’ that taking cannabis by itself was more effective at treating their condition than taking cannabis with opioids”.