New Jersey is considering an expansion of the state’s medical marijuana program to include opioid addiction as a qualifying condition, but some experts have voiced concern.
More than 22,000 people in New Jersey died of drug overdoses in 2016. While the cure for opioid addiction remains a mystery, NJ Department of Health Commissioner Shereef Elnahal says he’s exploring the idea of making medical marijuana a potential treatment for the state and nationwide scourge.
“Right now the consideration is adding it as an addition to what’s called medication-assisted treatment, that is the evidence-based treatment people get for addiction,” he said. “When they’re addicted it actually helps them get off and get into recovery.”
Right now, patients dealing with opioid use disorder can only access medical marijuana if their addiction was rooted in treatment for chronic pain. The commissioner says medical marijuana also gives doctors another option when first prescribing for pain.
“It reduces the reliance physicians have on opioids to treat pain,” Elnahal said. “Marijuana is an effective treatment for pain.”