BALTIMORE — Maryland legislators are considering certifying medical marijuana as a treatment for opioid addiction.
But critics are warning there is no definitive scientific proof that it works, and they point out cannabis itself is addictive to about 10 percent of regular users.
Currently medical cannabis is certified to treat four conditions: chronic pain, seizures, PTSD and anorexia.
One preliminary scientific review of known studies appears to offer tantalizing promise.
"Interestingly, when given access to cannabis, individuals currently using opioids for chronic pain decrease their use of opioids by 40 to 60 percent and report that they prefer cannabis to opioids," St. Louis-based researchers reported.
Cannabis appears to show promise in easing the effects of opioid withdrawal, the researchers wrote.
Even with the risk of addiction, cannabis would reduce harm, according to supporters of legalizing the treatment.
“They may be unproductive or sit on the couch, but [marijuana] won’t kill them,” Takoma Park doctor Patricia Frye told The Washington Post.
Opioid addiction now kills more Americans than AIDS, handgun deaths and auto accidents.