Alternative replacement for dangerous drugs

Opiate Alternative Act UAC PARK, Illinois - An Illinois senator has proposed a bill that would address the opioid epidemic by trading pills. Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) proposed the Opioid Alternatives Act, a bill that would allow people who are addicted to opioids or who take prescription opiates to get a doctor's prescription for medical marijuana instead. Harmon's bill proposes to expedite the use of approved medical marijuana and be provided within 14 days. A prescription for medical marijuana will be valid for one year.

The senator also said he hopes the law will reduce the number of opioid deaths hitting the country, saying, “Research has shown that medical cannabis can treat the same symptoms that opioids are prescribed for. With thousands of people from every part of our state addicted to opioid, it would be irresponsible for us not to consider any safe alternative treatment.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that deaths from opioids in Illinois increased by 120 percent in one year. This common sense can save lives.

The Trump administration is ignoring the opioid epidemic and along with recent evidence that legalizing medical marijuana can treat addiction and save lives. A recent study by Aclara Research reported that 87 percent of pharmacists said that medical cannabis should be legalized and that traditional pharmacies should carry it. The study consisted of 500 pharmacists and 400 patients. Two out of three patients said they were able to switch completely from pharmaceuticals to marijuana, further evidence that marijuana can be replaced by lethal drugs.

Another study, published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, reports a decrease in overdoses in states with legalized medical marijuana. They reported that “States that allow medical marijuana dispensaries experience a relative decline in both opioid addictions and overdose deaths.