Can cannabis be a secret weapon against the opioid epidemic?

​The escalating opioid crisis is one of the biggest health stories in the nation. President Trump called it a "national emergency".  However the Trump administration's strategy to combat the crisis does not include cannabis. Recent research suggests they should.

A recently published article concludes the following:

84% of patients who received access to medical cannabis reduced their opioid prescriptions, compared to 45% in the comparison group.

States that have accessible medical marijuana have fewer opioid-related fatalities. Studies show that patients who were seeking prescription drug treatment for a variety of ailments including pain, anxiety, and depression; among these, 63% reported that cannabis substituted for their prescription medications. 
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Is medical marijuana the cure to the opioid epidemic? Probably not. However, it does appear a more effective, safer alternative for many.