Vireo Health Takes Up The Mantle To Fight The Use Opioids And Instead Increase The Use Of Medical Marijuana

By Elizabeth Jackson

 

Despite the hand stand of the Federal authorities on marijuana, more and more people and groups have continued to drum immense support for the drug’s legalization. One such entity is the Vireo Health a medical marijuana company which is up in arms advocating for the use of cannabis to deter Americans from the use of narcotic.

A working paper issued by Vireo Health for approval by others lays out a potential method that doctors would adopt instead of the opioids commonly prescribed for pain. In the recent past, there have been fatal deaths that have linked to opioid abuse and overdose. In essence, the occurrences have been termed as a national epidemic.

The draft is also showcasing parameters by which the use of opioid can be reduced while at the same time increase medical marijuana use to an optimum amount. It is in the best interest of Vireo to reduce the number of deaths resulting from highly addictive opioid pain medications the likes of oxycodone, morphine, and hydromorphone.

According to federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly two million Americans either abuse or are hooked on to the prescription of pain killers. It is for this reason that Vireo has taken an open source approach to its draft protocol and over time, it is hopeful of receiving positive feedback that will create more understanding on why medical cannabis should be legalized.

But while Vireo’s Chief Medical Officer and MD, Laura Bultman sanctions that the existing research is encouraging, he also cites the need for researchers, patients’ primary care physicians and physicians to work closely in pain management.

Bultman’s sentiments have been echoed by Chief Medical Officer of Vireo Health of New York, Stephen Dahmer whose priority is to alleviate opioid misuse and abuse and instead provide sound options to those faced with pain and suffering.

And to this effect, Vireo is on the verge of launching an observational study that will monitor the use of the protocol in patients.

The study will take in at least 100 patients with a majority from Minnesota. Participants from New York will be required to have certification for use of Marijuana at least for one of the ten state approved conditions.