Study finds no evidence cannabis lowers long-term illicit opioid use

The lead author of the study, Dr Jack Wilson said the results showed that clinicians and policymakers should not rely on cannabis to reduce problematic opioid use in the context of growing access to cannabis products, with the global shift towards its legalisation and recognition as a therapeutic product. File picture

Cannabis should not be considered an effective long-term strategy for reducing opioid use, according to a new study released amid the global shift towards cannabis legalisation.

A study led by the University of Sydney, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, followed 615 people with heroin dependence, many of whom also used cannabis, over 20 years.