Marijuana is not the cause of the fentanyl crisis

Fentanyl has become what parents warned us about. It is highly addictive and can ruin someone’s life in a matter of months. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. From Oregon to Alabama, trouble spots are popping up and cities, police and health services are scrambling to find an answer.

There are two types of fentanyl: pharmaceutical fentanyl and illegally manufactured fentanyl. Both are considered synthetic opioids, both can be fatal.

Anti-cannabis advocates in the media and government say marijuana use leads to harder drugs like heroin and fentanyl. Science says this isn’t true, and scientists are researching the benefits medical marijuana can bring to humanity.

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Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are the most common drugs involved in overdose. Even in small doses, it can be deadly. Every day, more than 150 people die from fentanyl-related overdoses. Recent cases are related to illegally manufactured fentanyl, which is sold through illegal drug markets because of its heroin-like effects. Because of its extreme potency, it is often added to other drugs, making drugs cheaper, more effective, more addictive, and more dangerous.

Marijuana is perfectly legal in 23 states and medically legal in 40 states. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), there has never been a single drug overdose death attributed solely to cannabis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also states that while symptoms of too much THC can include extreme confusion, emotional distress, increased blood pressure, heart rate, severe nausea, or accidental injury, “a fatal overdose is unlikely.”

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There have been reports of fentanyl-infused marijuana, so purchase it from legal retailers whenever possible.

Medical marijuana can be used as an effective and non-additive pain reliever to opioids. Invasive surgery is traumatic to the system and causes significant pain. Opioids have been used, but medical marijuana has been shown to be effective, non-addictive and aid in recovery. More research is being conducted to investigate this approach.

However, cannabis use is associated with a reduced risk of fentanyl exposure in people receiving opioid agonist therapy during a community-wide overdose crisis.

The American Medical Association also recognizes marijuana’s benefits for conditions as diverse as nausea and cancer.

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