Cannabis Use Linked to Reduced Opioid Use Among People Managing Withdrawal, Study Finds

published on June 25, 2026 by Anthony Martinelli in The Marijuana Herald

A study published today in the Journal of Cannabis Research found that people who used cannabis to manage opioid withdrawal were more likely to reduce their opioid use, especially among those with moderate to severe pain.

The study, also available through the National Library of Medicine, was conducted by researchers from the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, the University of British Columbia, the University of California and Simon Fraser University.

Researchers examined data from 197 people in Vancouver, Canada who used cannabis and unregulated opioids. The data came from a cross-sectional questionnaire administered between December 2019 and November 2021.

Among participants, 89 people, or 45.2%, reported using cannabis to manage symptoms of opioid withdrawal in the previous six months…