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FEWER FATAL OPIOID OVERDOSES IN STATES WITH LEGALIZED MEDICAL MARJUANA

ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN medical marijuana might be the key. ACADEMY OF PAIN MEDICINE, MORE THAN 100 MILLION Over the past two decades, deaths AMERICANS SUFFER FROM from drug overdoses have become the CHRONIC PAIN. In an effort to leading cause of injury death in the relieve that constant pain, the number United States. In 2011, 55 percent of of opiate prescriptions has nearly drug overdose deaths were related to doubled over the last decade. Today, prescription medications; 75 percent ” “ Medical marijuana is safely helping over 100,000 patients treat their pain in Arizona, and cannot be overlooked as a viable solution to the opioid epidemic. opiates like hydrocodone, oxycodone, and morphine flood the streets, driving up addiction rates and fatal opiate of those deaths involved opiate painkillers. However, researchers found that opiate-related deaths decreased by overdoses. approximately 33 percent in 13 states in the following six years after medical The Centers for Disease Control and marijuana was legalized. Prevention has officially labeled the problem an “opiate epidemic.” As Researchers looked at medical experts scramble to come up with marijuana laws and death certificate a plan that combats the nation’s data in all 50 states between the years dependence on opiates, a new study of 1999 and 2010. During that time, published last week in the journal only 13 states had medical marijuana JAMA Internal Medicine indicates laws in place. Researchers quickly IN YET ANOTHER SIGN OF STRONG ECONOMIC MOMENTUM AND GROWTH IN QUALITY JOBS, THE PHOENIX METRO AREA EXPERIENCED THE HIGHEST WAGE GROWTH IN THE NATION OVER THE PAST YEAR. Wages in the Valley jumped 7.6 percent between July 2016 and July 2017, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “We’ve been laser focused on building a more innovation-driven economy that works for everyone, and we’re seeing great results,” Mayor Greg Stanton said. “This significant private-sector wage growth is being driven by advanced industries like technology, biosciences, healthcare, financial services and precision manufacturing.” The average hourly wage grew by nearly $2 an hour over the past year in the Phoenix metro area and is now $26.75, 1.5 percent higher than the national average of $26.36. Overall, the Phoenix metro area ranks 23rd in wages, but it’s quickly heading in the right direction. Before the Great Recession in 2007, advanced industries accounted for less than half of the workforce in Phoenix (46 percent). Now those higher-talent, higher-wage jobs make up more than 60 percent of the Valley’s workforce. noticed that the rates of fatal opioid overdoses were significantly lower in states that had legalized medical benefit of its patients.

marijuana. In 2010 alone, states with legalized medical marijuana saw approximately 1,700 fewer opiaterelated overdose deaths.

“We found there was about a 25 “Medical marijuana is safely helping

percent lower rate of prescription painkiller overdose deaths on average after implementation of a medical marijuana law,” lead study author Dr. Marcus Bachhuber said.

About 60 percent of the nation’s fatal opioid overdoses occur among patients who have legitimate prescriptions medical marijuana is legal, however, a legitimate opiate user is able to significantly decrease his or her dosage, making overdose less likely.

Currently, 23 states and the District of Columbia have passed medical marijuana laws. Use of medicinal cannabis is approved for a number of conditions, including cancer, HIV, multiple sclerosis, and glaucoma. Despite the diagnosis, medical marijuana is primarily used to relieve chronic or severe pain. It’s that painrelieving effect that decreases the number of fatal opioid overdoses.

Bill Brothers is President of Encanto Dispensary, one of Arizona’s largest distributors of Medical Cannabis providing over 150 varieties for the “According to the Arizona Department of Health, our state has recorded thousands of opioid overdoses and nearly 300 related deaths just since June of this year,” said Brothers. for their medications. In states where

over 100,000 patients treat their pain in Arizona, and cannot be overlooked as a viable solution to the opioid epidemic.

“Evidence from other states clearly show a 25 percent reduction in opioid use in states with a legal Medical Marijuana Program. The important the cost of patients’ annual fees from $150 per year to $15 per year, allowing thousands more Arizonians to have access to their legal medicine through the state program without bearing an undue financial burden. What other legal drug requires you to pay the state $150 to have access to your medicine? None that I know of.”

PHOENIX WAGE GROWTH STRONGEST IN U.S.

goal for Arizona should be to reduce

Here’s a closer look at the numbers: Top 10 metros by increase in average hourly wage, July 2017 over July 2016 “MSA Rank” is based on July 2016 metropolitan statistical area population by the U.S. Census; “Rank” means percent change in average hourly wage year-

over-year

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics