Marijuana is safer than opioids. So why is it illegal?

Delaware's approach to the opioid epidemic focused on funding new treatment centers and subsidizing overdose medications. Funding new treatment centers doesn’t break the cycle of addiction, and subsidizing overdose medications are an expensive Band-Aid but not a cure.

I have lost too many friends and loved ones to prescription drugs to stay silent and watch this cycle of addiction continue to repeat itself in other families. 

OPPOSING VIEW:Legalizing marijuana would do more harm than good

Addiction isn't something you can attack with more pills or tougher enforcement. If we have learned anything from the failed war on drugs, we learned that wars cannot be fought against things, wars are fought against people. It is impossible to win a war on an idea without educating the participants. 

Critics argue marijuana is dangerous but in all of human history, no one has ever died from a marijuana overdose. A study from American Scientist confirmed it only takes 10 times the recommended serving of alcohol to lead to death. By contrast, a marijuana smoker would have to consume 20,000 to 40,000 times the amount of THC in a joint in order to be at risk of dying, according to the DEA.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:Anti-marijuana arguments flawed

The National Cancer Institute says very succinctly “cannabinoid receptors, unlike opioid receptors, are not located in the brainstem areas controlling respiration, therefore lethal overdoses from Cannabis and cannabinoids do not occur.” 

Critics claim marijuana causes schizophrenia. Schizophrenia occurs naturally in 1 percent of the global population — if marijuana did cause it, did data would exist to show a significant rise in schizophrenia cases in states that legalize cannabis, but the data doesn’t exist.

Recent studies have shown that Cannabidiol, the non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant, can control seizures, reduce inflammation, relieve anxiety as well as treat both schizophrenia and Tourette’s syndrome.

Critics says it’s a gateway drug, but study after study has proven consistently that the real gateway drugs are tobacco and alcohol, which teens turn to first before trying marijuana. Less than 9 percent of marijuana users become dependent, making Cannabis less addictive than all other drugs. 

Critics argue that an increase in positive THC tests shows that more people are driving while impaired, and roads are less safe. But the presence of THC is not an accurate measure of impairment.

THC lingers in the blood for up to 30 days, testing positive doesn't mean that you were high at the time of a crash. It's as if you had a glass of wine a month ago, and someone tests you now and says you're too drunk to drive.

More clinical studies have been performed on cannabis than most legal medications approved by the FDA. A quick search for "marijuana" or "cannabinoids" in the PubMed database yields tens of thousands of studies. This research provides clear evidence of marijuana's minimal risks and versatile uses.

By contrast, an analysis of 200 FDA-approved drugs showing that almost a third of those were passed based on a single study.

The growing body of research supporting the medical use of cannabis creates an evidence-based rationale for governments, health care providers, and academic researchers to consider the implementation of cannabis-based interventions in the opioid crisis. The Washington Post reported that doctors in medical marijuana states prescribe 1826 fewer doses of pain medication and 562 fewer doses of anxiety medications. 

Cannabis works as an alternative to these drugs because, unlike other commonly used drugs, cannabinoids are excreted at a low rate so even abrupt cessation of cannabis use is not associated with rapid declines in plasma that would precipitate severe or abrupt withdrawal symptoms. Studies have also shown CBD can blunt cravings in individuals with opioid dependence following a period of abstinence.

As a licensed patient and caregiver in Delaware, I am reminded daily that our legal access to cannabis is a privilege. 

Here’s why:

• Instead of Zanax to treat anxiety, we have strains like MK Ultra or AC/DC and Jet Fuel, that are high in CBD and low in THC and portable vaporizers (which don’t create smoke) ….
• Instead of Ambien to treat insomnia, we have medicated gummy bears, made at home from an Indica tincture purchased for $45 at the dispensary, and gummy bear molds I bought on Amazon for $7...
• Instead of NSAIDs, muscle relaxers or opiates to treat the chronic pain from arthritis and carpel tunnel, we have access to $10 medicated CBD lotion that can visibly reduce inflammation and a $10 THC lotion that gives topical pain relief in less than 3 minutes without the high. 

Prescription drug addiction is killing my generation. It’s time for a different approach.

I am grateful to our legislators for the privilege to access legal marijuana. However, if patients are honest with ourselves, having legal access to marijuana shouldn’t be a privilege for sick people, it should be the right of every Delaware citizen.

Mr. Jester is a data analyst and technical writer living in Newark. He has been a key advocate for medical marijuana legislation, including Senate Bill 24 (aka Bravery Bill) and House Bill 400 (aka Bob's Bill).