Researchers have found surprising statistical correlations as legal marijuana use has spread across the country. In states with medical cannabis, Medicare and Medicaid programs spend less on prescription drugs. Yet at the same time, marijuana use raises fresh concerns about addiction, with data suggesting a connection between opioid epidemic.
These seemingly conflicting discoveries will be on the agenda 7-9 a.m. June 15 at an Oregon Health Forum breakfast event titled “The Unintended Consequences of Cannabis Legalization,” which will be held at the Multnomah Athletic Club in Portland. Tickets are going fast.
Panelists include:
- Dr. Elizabeth Stuyt, who has identified a connection between opioid use and addiction that parallels the spread of legal marijuana.
- Dr. Esther Choo, whose resarch interests include substance abuse disorders, health disparities and a number of other topics. She has studied state medical marijuana laws and their link to adolescent cannabis use.
- Dr. Katrina Hedberg, Oregon state epidemiologist and state health officer at the Oregon Public Health Division, who has overseen research into marijuana use and health effects.
Following the moderator-led discussion with panelists, audience members will have an opportunity to ask their own questions.
The Oregon Health Forum is the educational arm of The Lund Report, hosting monthly breakfast forums aimed at bringing important healthcare issues to the forefront. Each event features healthcare leaders, public officials and consumer advocates, both on the stage and in the audience.
For breakfast event sponsorship opportunities, email Diane Lund-Muzikant at [email protected].
