It's actually my specialty area of research. I've been publishing on a phenomenon known as cannabis substitution effect for the last 12 years or so.
We have right now a longitudinal study taking place in 21 medical clinics across five provinces that is gathering data over a 12-month period on the impact of medical cannabis on more than 2,100 patients, with data points at baseline, one month, three months and six months, and it includes a very detailed prescription drug inventory.
What we see is a significant reduction in opioid use. About 30% of this patient population was using opioids at baseline. That reduces to 14% at six months, and the average dose of opioids from baseline to six months is reduced by 74%.
In light of the opioid overdose crisis that Canada and all of North America is facing, which is now starting to impact the rest of the world, it's hard to look at data like this without thinking that medical cannabis can play a role, if a limited role, in at least reducing the public health impacts of opioids on Canadian society and society elsewhere.