Pubdate: Thu, 14 Jan 2016
Source: Tennessean, The (Nashville, TN)
Copyright: 2016 The Tennessean
Contact: http://www.tennessean.com/SITES/OPINION/submit-editor.shtml
Website: http://www.tennessean.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/447
Author: George Harlan

MARIJUANA VS. OPIOID ABUSE

States that permit qualified patients to access medical marijuana via 
dispensaries possess 24.8 percent lower rates of opioid addiction and 
overdose deaths than states where medical marijuana is illegal, 
according to a study published by the National Bureau of Economic 
Research, a nonpartisan think tank.

In Tennessee in 2014, deaths from opioid overdose exceeded deaths by 
car accident and also exceeded deaths by gunshot.

Opioid overdose deaths in Tennessee have also increased by around 10 
percent per year since 2012. It is by all accounts an epidemic. In 
the meantime, no deaths have been reported from marijuana overdose, 
and the reason is that marijuana does not shut down a person's breathing.

Marijuana also provides much soothing relief from all sorts of 
physical and mental maladies, such as nausea, loss of appetite and 
provides for restful sleep to occur.

No wonder that chemo patients swear by it. We need marijuana 
(cannabis) legal reform in Tennessee now, not later.

George Harlan, Franklin 37067
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom