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. 2018 Mar:58:29-42.
doi: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2017.12.007. Epub 2018 Feb 3.

Do medical marijuana laws reduce addictions and deaths related to pain killers?

David Powell  1 , Rosalie Liccardo Pacula  2 , Mireille Jacobson  3
Affiliations

Do medical marijuana laws reduce addictions and deaths related to pain killers?

David Powell et al. J Health Econ. 2018 Mar.

Abstract

Recent work finds that medical marijuana laws reduce the daily doses filled for opioid analgesics among Medicare Part-D and Medicaid enrollees, as well as population-wide opioid overdose deaths. We replicate the result for opioid overdose deaths and explore the potential mechanism. The key feature of a medical marijuana law that facilitates a reduction in overdose death rates is a relatively liberal allowance for dispensaries. As states have become more stringent in their regulation of dispensaries, the protective value generally has fallen. These findings suggest that broader access to medical marijuana facilitates substitution of marijuana for powerful and addictive opioids.

Keywords: Dispensaries; Medical marijuana; Mortality; Opioids; Pain killers; Substance abuse.

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Figures

Figure 1:
Figure 1:
Time Series Trends Notes: Treatment Admissions are from TEDS (1992–2012); Mortality data are from NVSS (1999–2013); Distribution data are from ARCOS (2000–2013).
Figure 2:
Figure 2:
Event Studies for Per Capita Mortality Notes: All estimates in both figures estimated jointly. Outcome is log of per capita opioid-related overdoses. Confidence intervals adjusted for within-state clustering. All time-varying covariates discussed in text included in regression.
Figure 3:
Figure 3:
Event Studies for Per Capita Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Notes: All estimates in both figures estimated jointly. Outcome is log of per capita opioid-related substance abuse treatment admissions. Confidence intervals adjusted for within-state clustering. All time-varying covariates discussed in text included in regression.
Figure 4:
Figure 4:
Event Studies for Per Capita Morphine Equivalent Doses Notes: All estimates in both figures estimated jointly. Outcome is log of per capita morphine equivalent doses distributed to the state. Confidence intervals adjusted for within-state clustering. All time-varying covariates discussed in text included in regression.
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References

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