According to scientists at the University of New Mexico, cannabis may actually be a way to discourage users from moving on to harder drugs.
For a long time many have considered marijuana to be a “gateway drug” to harder drug, but this five year long study may prove it wrong.
The study involved 125 participants who all suffered from chronic pain. During the time, 83 had been taking cannabis as a pain mediator, while 42 did not.
Of the cannabis users, 34% of them had stopped taking their medication. This is in comparison to only 2% of the non smokers stopping their medication.
Psychology professor and lead author on the study, Jacob Miguel Vigil, commented to Kobini, “Our current opioid epidemic is the leading preventable form of death in the US – killing more people than car accidents and gun violence.”
“Therefore, the relative safety and efficacy of using cannabis in comparison to that of other scheduled medications should be taken by the health providers and legislators.”
