Cannabis vs. the Opioid Crisis?
Emerging research tells us cannabis can be an effective painkiller, but what does that mean for the opioid crisis ravaging much of the developed world? Respected medical authorities including the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine have verified marijuana’s pain-management capabilities, but is cannabis strong enough to replace our medical reliance on opioids — or at least reduce the quantities that are being prescribed? And could non-toxic marijuana prove to be an exit drug for those addicted to deadly opioids? Journalist Ricardo Baca, a two-time TEDx veteran and drug policy expert, delves into a future where Americans are leveraging cannabis — and other substances including psilocybin mushrooms — to manage their chronic pain, which affects more than 50 million Americans.
Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.
Ricardo Baca
Grasslands: A Journalism-Minded Agency