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  • Title: Recreational Cannabis Legalization and Opioid-Related Deaths in Colorado, 2000-2015.
    Author: Livingston MD, Barnett TE, Delcher C, Wagenaar AC.
    Journal: Am J Public Health; 2017 Nov; 107(11):1827-1829. PubMed ID: 29019782.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between Colorado's legalization of recreational cannabis use and opioid-related deaths. METHODS: We used an interrupted time-series design (2000-2015) to compare changes in level and slope of monthly opioid-related deaths before and after Colorado stores began selling recreational cannabis. We also describe the percent change in opioid-related deaths by comparing the unadjusted model-smoothed number of deaths at the end of follow-up with the number of deaths just prior to legalization. RESULTS: Colorado's legalization of recreational cannabis sales and use resulted in a 0.7 deaths per month (b = -0.68; 95% confidence interval = -1.34, -0.03) reduction in opioid-related deaths. This reduction represents a reversal of the upward trend in opioid-related deaths in Colorado. CONCLUSIONS: Legalization of cannabis in Colorado was associated with short-term reductions in opioid-related deaths. As additional data become available, research should replicate these analyses in other states with legal recreational cannabis.
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