Low-THC Cannabis Leads to Reduced Use of Prescription Drugs

According to a new report based on data from Italy’s medical marijuana program, Italians’ access to high-CBD/low-THC cannabis products caused a direct decrease in prescription drug consumption.

The report assessed adults’ access to high-CBD/low-THC (below 0.6% THC) marijuana products and prescription drug sales in 106 Italian provinces over two years, NORML reported.

“We find that the local availability of light cannabis (low-THC, CBD-based products) led to a significant decrease in the number of dispensed boxes of anxiolytics by approximately 11.5%, a reduction of dispensed sedatives by 10% and a reduction of dispensed anti-psychotics by 4.8%,” the report states.

The report also found that Italians’ access to high-CBD/low-THC cannabis resulted in minor decreases in the use of prescription anti-depressants, anti-epileptics, opioids, and migraine drugs.

The report “represents the first-ever evidence from Europe on the substitution effects induced by a compound of cannabis, CBD,” the authors wrote. “As the product is increasingly available in other …. Countries, our results provide relevant implications for policymakers.”