Ohio Opioid Epidemic: Medical Marijuana Has No Role In Reducing Drug Addiction, Governor Says

Amid the ongoing opioid addiction crisis that has gripped Ohio, Gov. John Kasich said Thursday that he does not think that the state's new medical marijuana program, which will be adopted this year, will help alleviate the crisis. Although recent studies have shown opioid overdoses and deaths have decreased in states that allowed medical marijuana, Kasich is of the opposing view, according to reports.

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During a news conference Thursday that was held to announce new limits on opioid prescriptions, Kasich was asked about the role of medical marijuana in reducing the number of opiate overdose deaths in Ohio. He said: "I know it's not recreational marijuana, not recreational use, but I don't see a role for it in this at all." He also said that telling children to stay away from drugs while endorsing marijuana could send mixed messages, according to Cleveland.com.

In June last year, amid little fanfare, Kasich had signed a law creating a strictly regulated medical marijuana program. It allows doctors to recommend those patients with certain medical conditions to buy and use marijuana, however, individuals are not allowed to smoke weed or grow it at home, Cleveland.com reported.

A study, which examined data from 1999 to 2013, found a relation between a state legalizing medical marijuana and a reduction in testing positive for opioids after dying in a car accident, particularly among drivers aged 21 to 40.

There have been more such studies in recent years that showed opioid use decreased in states that have legalized medical marijuana. Last summer, both Republican and Democratic lawmakers in Ohio argued for passing the state's medical marijuana law, according to Time.

Reportedly, 29 states, as well as the District of Columbia, passed laws that allowed the use of legal marijuana — be it for medical purposes or for recreational uses. While a few states have allowed the use in very specific cases, there are 21 states across the U.S. that still do not offer a comprehensive marijuana program.