In a decisive kick in the pants to opioids, last week, Gov. Jared Polis approved a bill allowing doctors to recommend medical marijuana for conditions that might have been prescribed with opioids otherwise.
According to the Denver Post, Senate Bill 13 will be effective as of Aug. 2. It’s a bipartisan move that many hope will reduce overdoses.
“Adding a condition for which a physician could recommend medical marijuana instead of an opioid is a safer pain management tool that will be useful for both our doctors and patients,” Ashley Weber, executive director of Colorado NORML, told The Denver Post.
In 2017, 578 people died from opioid overdoses in Colorado, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Other qualifying conditions for medical marijuana include PTSD, chronic disorders, cancer, and HIV/AIDS.
Amanda Push
