Psychiatric News (6/16) reports a study found that “legalization of cannabis was associated with small but significant increases in opioid use disorder (OUD) between 2005 and 2022 among patients receiving care in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).” Researchers found that in states that enacted medical cannabis laws (MCLs) but not recreational cannabis laws (RCLs), “OUD prevalence increased among VHA patients from 1.13% in 2005 to 1.19% in 2022, while OUD prevalence decreased from 1.12% to 1.06% in states without cannabis laws. OUD prevalence remained stable in states that enacted an MCL and then an RCL. Among patients with chronic pain, MCL and RCL enactment was associated with a 0.08% and 0.13% increase in OUD prevalence, respectively.” They noted the “largest change in OUD prevalence was seen among adults ages 65 to 75 years with chronic pain following RCL enactment – a 0.23% increase.” The study was published in JAMA Health Forum.
Related Links:
— “Cannabis Legalization Associated With Increase in Opioid Use Disorder,” Psychiatric News, June 16, 2025