A new study conducted in affiliation with the University of Michigan finds that legal marijuana helps reduce the number of fatalities that occur every year as a result of overdoses on prescription painkillers.

Published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, nearly 280 prescription painkiller users across Michigan reported that cannabis was extremely effective against chronic pain, so much that it decreased their pill intake – a phenomenon that is believed to reduce the potential for the development of a fiendish drug habit.

“In states where medical marijuana is legal, physicians should be aware that medical marijuana is a potentially safer and more effective treatment approach than opioids,” said leader study author Brian Perron.

Previous research has shown there are 33 percent less overdose deaths in states that have legalized medical marijuana. Prescription painkillers are responsible for killing nearly 17,000 people each year, according to the National Cancer Institute, while cannabis has never killed anyone.

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