Medical Cannabis Patients Were Twice as Likely to Stop Opioids: What the New Study Found

For a lot of New Mexicans living with chronic pain, prescription opioids have been part of daily life for years. A new study out of New York adds to a growing pile of research asking whether medical cannabis can help some of those patients cut back. Here’s what the researchers found, what the study can and can’t tell us, and how New Mexico’s own Medical Cannabis Program works if you want to talk with your provider about it. Our budtenders in Albuquerque, Bernalillo, Santa Fe and Hobbs get questions about this every week, so we wanted to lay it out in one place.

The study: 8,358 chronic pain patients in New York

The paper, “Medical Cannabis and Opioid Prescription Discontinuation Among Chronic Pain Patients on Long-term Opioid Therapy,” was published online on October 28, 2026 in the Journal of Addiction Medicine. It was written by a team of New York researchers led by Trang Nguyen, and it was covered by NORML on November 12.

The team used two state databases: New York’s Medical Cannabis Program and its Prescription Monitoring Program, which tracks every controlled-substance prescription filled in the state. They looked at records from 2017 to 2019 and found 8,358 people who were on long-term opioid therapy and were also certified for medical cannabis for chronic pain.

Patients were split into two groups and followed for 90 days:

• 4,892 “medical cannabis” patients who received medical cannabis for more than 30 days.
• 3,466 “no medical cannabis” patients who received it for 30 days or less.

A patient counted as having “discontinued” opioids if they went 45 days or longer without an opioid prescription.

What they found

• About twice as many stopped. 15.5% of the medical cannabis group discontinued their opioid prescriptions, compared with 7.6% of the other group.
• Dose mattered. Opioid doses are measured in morphine milligram equivalents (MME). For patients on lower doses (under 50 MME a day), the medical cannabis group was nearly 3 times as likely to stop in the first 30 days, and still about 1.8 times as likely after that. For patients on 50 to 90 MME, they were about 3 times as likely throughout.
• No clear link at high doses. For patients on 90 MME or more, the researchers found no significant difference between the groups.

The authors concluded that medical cannabis “may provide an alternative therapy for some patients” on long-term opioids, and that it could lower some of the risks that come with long-term opioid use.

What the study doesn’t tell us

This is encouraging research, but it’s worth reading carefully:

• It shows a link, not proof. This was an observational study of records, not a randomized trial. People who stuck with medical cannabis may have been different in other ways, too.
• “Discontinued” means a 45-day gap. The records show prescriptions filled, not how patients felt or whether they stayed off opioids long term.
• It’s a 90-day window. Patients were followed for three months, using data from 2017 to 2019 in one state.
• It didn’t measure pain. The study tracked prescriptions, not pain scores or quality of life.

It also lines up with earlier research NORML points to, which has linked cannabis to lower opioid use in some patients with post-surgery pain, cancer pain and chronic back pain.

One important note: never stop or change an opioid prescription on your own. The study’s authors point out that stopping opioids abruptly carries its own risks. If you’re curious whether cannabis could be part of your pain plan, bring it up with the provider who prescribes your medication so you can make a plan together.

How New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Program works

New Mexico has had a medical cannabis program since 2007, when the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act passed. It’s run by the New Mexico Department of Health, and it’s still worth joining even though adult-use cannabis is legal for anyone 21 and over. Here’s what’s relevant if you’re living with pain:

Chronic pain and opioid use disorder both qualify

The state currently lists 30 qualifying conditions. Severe chronic pain, painful peripheral neuropathy and opioid use disorder are all on the list, along with conditions like cancer, PTSD, inflammatory arthritis, multiple sclerosis and insomnia. New Mexico added opioid use disorder in 2019. You can see the full list on the Department of Health’s provider page.

Applying is free and mostly online

1. See your medical provider. Only a New Mexico provider can start your application, after certifying that you have a qualifying condition.
2. Create an Online Patient Portal account with the Department of Health.
3. Finish and submit your application. The state says online applications are typically processed within 5 business days, and your electronic card shows up in the portal as soon as you’re approved.

The Department of Health doesn’t charge any fee to enroll or to use the portal. If you get stuck, the program’s office can walk you through it at (505) 827-2321.

What your card gets you

• No cannabis excise tax. Medical purchases aren’t subject to New Mexico’s cannabis excise tax, up to your medical purchase limit.
• Higher purchase limits. Patients can buy up to 425 units (about 15 ounces of flower) in any rolling 90-day period. The portal shows how many units you have left.
• Access under 21. Patients under 21 can enroll with a provider’s approval.
• Out-of-state cards count. New Mexico accepts valid medical cards from other states through its reciprocity program, which matters for our Hobbs store and visitors from Texas.
• Patient pricing at HDR. Medical patients take 25% off at all six HDR stores on Sundays.

Our New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program guide has more detail on applying and renewing.

Talking with an HDR budtender

Our budtenders can’t diagnose anything or tell you to change a prescription, but they can help you understand your options once you and your provider have a plan. A few things patients often ask about:

• Start low and go slow. If you’re new to cannabis or haven’t used it in years, small doses are the place to start. Our edibles dosage chart explains what different milligram amounts tend to feel like.
• Different ways to take it. Flower, vapes, edibles, tinctures and topicals all work differently, with different onset times and how long they last.
• Know the side effects. Our potential side effects page covers what to watch for, and you should tell your provider you’re using cannabis, especially if you take other medications.

Bring your medical card and photo ID to any HDR store, or browse the menu and order ahead: Albuquerque Westside (Alameda), Albuquerque Coors, Albuquerque Pan Am, Bernalillo, Santa Fe or Hobbs.

FAQ

Does medical cannabis help people get off opioids?

This study found that chronic pain patients who used medical cannabis for more than 30 days were about twice as likely to stop filling opioid prescriptions over 90 days. That’s an association, not proof that cannabis caused it. Always make any changes to opioid use with your prescriber.

Is chronic pain a qualifying condition in New Mexico?

Yes. Severe chronic pain is one of New Mexico’s 30 qualifying conditions, along with painful peripheral neuropathy and opioid use disorder.

How much does a New Mexico medical cannabis card cost?

The Department of Health charges nothing to enroll. Your provider visit may have its own cost.

Do medical patients pay tax on cannabis in New Mexico?

Medical patients don’t pay the state’s cannabis excise tax on purchases up to their medical unit limit. Purchases past that limit are treated as adult-use sales and are taxed.

Can I use my medical card at HDR in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Bernalillo and Hobbs?

Yes. All six HDR dispensaries serve medical patients. Bring your card (the electronic one in the portal works) and a photo ID.

Sources

• Nguyen T, Li Y, Greene D, Stancliff S, Rosa N, Rosenberg E, Kelly KA. “Medical Cannabis and Opioid Prescription Discontinuation Among Chronic Pain Patients on Long-term Opioid Therapy.” Journal of Addiction Medicine, published online October 28, 2026. doi.org/10.1097/ADM.0000000000001790 (PubMed)
• NORML. “Study: Patients Taking Medical Cannabis Are Twice as Likely To Discontinue Prescription Opioids.” norml.org, November 12, 2026.
• New Mexico Department of Health, Medical Cannabis Program: program and application and qualifying conditions.
• New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Cannabis in New Mexico FAQs (medical sales and excise tax).
• New Mexico Administrative Code 7.34.3.9 NMAC (medical purchase limit of 425 units per three-month period).

This article is for general information only and isn’t medical advice. Talk with your healthcare provider before making any change to a prescription. Cannabis is for adults 21 and older or registered medical patients. Don’t drive high.