Colorado gov inks bill allowing medical marijuana as opioid alternative

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed a measure that will allow physicians in the state to recommend medical cannabis in lieu of opioids.

The move could buoy sales of medical marijuana, which have declined as purchases of adult-use cannabis have soared.

The new law is scheduled to go into effect Aug. 2, the Denver Post reported.

In 2017, 3.7 million opioid prescriptions were issued in the state, according to Colorado’s drug-monitoring program. State health officials reported 1,635 prescription opioid-related overdose deaths in Colorado between 2013 and 2017.

To read more about Colorado’s new law, click here.