The Canadian Press
OTTAWA–Leading medical experts say legalizing cannabis may offer new hope to one day reduce the use of opioids–powerful drugs frequently prescribed for the treatment of pain.
Dr. Mark Ware, a globally-recognized researcher and the vice-chair of the federal government’s task force on legalizing marijuana, says a legal framework for cannabis will help to facilitate further research.
He noted published scientific research already suggests cannabinoid molecules interact with the brain in a way that has an important “synergy” with how opioids interact with receptors in the body.
“This appears to be a very profound affect,” Ware said.
“Research suggests there are important interactions between the two systems.”
U.S. states that have legalized cannabis for medical purposes also have reported lower rates of deaths by opioid overdose, Ware added, noting what is lacking now is clinical studies to definitively say a patient on a high-dose opioid could use a cannabinoid to reduce their dose.
“That’s the challenge we have–to take this interesting possibility and explore it,” Ware said.
Opioids have a limited role in successfully treating chronic pain disorders, he added, with a cannabinoid therapy able to substitute for or potentially reduce opioid consumption.
The use of the powerful pain-killers in Canada is second-highest in the world after the U.S. on a per-capita basis.
B.C. chief provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall agrees marijuana may offer a less dangerous alternative for people who are struggling with chronic pain.
“If you’ve got a lot of people taking high-dose opioids by prescription for a long period of time, if you start cutting them off, you really need to have off ramp or alternative to offer them,” Kendall said in an interview.
“The pain societies across the country say we don’t have that yet,” he added.
Health minister Jane Philpott said legalizing cannabis and opioid use are separate issues, and that the potential harms and benefits of marijuana still need to be fully explored.
“Clearly, Dr. Ware and many others are doing research in this area and we certainly encourage further research to better understand the realities,” she remarked.
