I have spent my career caring for patients with chronic pain, dementia, and other conditions that drain not only quality of life but also the healthcare system's resources. Too often, I've prescribed medications that are costly and dangerous and carry high risks of dependency and death.
There is another option many of my patients already use: medical cannabis. The plant is one of the most effective and safest treatments for a host of chronic conditions. Yet, every day, patients must choose between paying rent or paying out of pocket for cannabis because insurance companies refuse to cover it. Insurance coverage for medical cannabis is not a radical idea. It is the next logical step.
We face two epidemics quietly sinking our healthcare system: chronic pain and dementia. Together, these conditions consume a staggering share of Medicare and Medicaid budgets. They also drive patients toward the drugs fueling our overdose crisis. Cannabis can be an exit strategy. Studies show 30% to 50% reductions in opioid use when patients substitute with cannabis. Unlike opioids or benzodiazepines, cannabis has no recorded overdose deaths. Broader adoption could save as many as 50,000 lives annually.
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