Overview
- Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore tracked 204 adults newly certified for New York’s Medical Cannabis Program between September 2018 and July 2023 using state prescription records.
- Average daily opioid dose fell from 73.3 mg to 57 mg morphine‑equivalent over 18 months, a 22% reduction.
- In months when participants received a 30‑day cannabis supply, their opioid use was 3.5 mg morphine‑equivalent per day lower than months without cannabis.
- Authors say the findings support a pharmacist‑supervised, medicalized model for dispensing cannabis in pain management.
- The observational study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, provides patient‑level evidence but does not establish causality or broad generalizability.