Physician Variation in Opioid Prescribing and Patient Responses After Legalization of Medical Marijuana
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Benjamin Ukert, PhD
CO-INVESTIGATORS: Molly Candon, PhD; Elena Andreyeva, PhD; M. Kit Delgado, MD, MS
 

Benjamin Ukert

The passage of state medical marijuana laws (MML) provided patients with access to a new class of drugs to treat common medical conditions related to anxiety, chronic pain, depression, and psychosis. There is little research on whether and by how much the passage of MMLs impacted opioid prescribing among the commercially insured population. This study evaluates the impacts of MMLs on opioid prescribing rates on patients with certain health conditions. It also analyzes the regional differences in opioid prescribing rates among providers and physicians, and estimates physician and provider effects in opioid prescribing after the passage of an MML.