Pubdate: Mon, 21 Mar 2016
Source: Boston Globe (MA)
Copyright: 2016 Globe Newspaper Company
Contact: http://services.bostonglobe.com/news/opeds/letter.aspx?id=6340
Website: http://bostonglobe.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/52
Author: Geoff Reilinger

MEDICAL MARIJUANA CAN PROVIDE AN ANSWER, BUT DELAYS STAND IN WAY

My heart goes out to people in chronic pain who desperately need 
relief, but who don't want to end up in an even worse dilemma - 
addicted to the opioids that are dispensed far too frequently, and 
that lead far too often to damaged lives or even death ("Weighing 
risk of opioid addiction, many decide to live with the pain," Thomas 
Farragher, Metro, March 12).

I want to thank Senator Elizabeth Warren for asking the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention to examine the role that marijuana can 
play in cutting addiction to opioids for those in pain.

Two recent studies indicate that she is looking in the right place. A 
JAMA Internal Medicine study in 2014 found that states with medical 
marijuana laws saw a 24.8 percent reduction in opioid deaths compared 
with states that had no medical marijuana laws. A National Bureau of 
Economic Research working paper last year showed that the presence of 
a medical marijuana dispensary meant a 15 to 35 percent drop in 
substance abuse admissions and a drop in opioid deaths by overdose.

I know firsthand, as a sufferer of multiple sclerosis who has 
successfully managed my disease with the help of medical marijuana, 
how effective this can be.

Massachusetts voters overwhelmingly approved medical marijuana three 
years ago, yet only six facilities are open. Thousands of people 
needing help with pain, and often justifiably fearful of powerful 
addictive drugs, now linger on waiting lists. It is time we offered 
them relief.

Geoff Reilinger

Founder

Compassionate Organics

Allston
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