By Luke Sumpter


Drug addiction continues to run rampant across the world. A staggering 2% of the world population[1] (around 158 million people) experiences addiction to alcohol, prescription drugs, or other substances—an issue that results in 1.5% of the global disease burden. The debate revolving around addiction features several schools of thought; some claim it arises from purely chemical grounds, while others point to underlying psychological issues including trauma.

Treatment approaches also vary. Some struggling drug users find relief in going cold turkey in rehab centres, whereas others achieve success by replacing more addictive and harmful drugs with less dangerous substitutes.

Researchers are currently exploring the potential of cannabis as a substitute for myriad substances, including opioids, nicotine, and alcohol. But the plant often gets labelled as a “gateway drug”—a substance that introduces people to drug use and leads them down a path to harder and more addictive substances.

However, emerging findings in this field are revealing that, under the correct circumstances, the opposite may be true.

What Drives Drug Users to Opt for Cannabis as a Substitute?

If you know a thing or two about cannabis research, you’ll be well-aware of the lack of human trials. Decades of prohibition and legal restrictions surrounding the herb mean it’s still hard to study the plant’s effects in a controlled setting. We’re not at the point where many clinics are providing patients with cannabis to replace problematic substances, partly because conclusive evidence for doing so doesn’t exist.

However, researchers can conduct epidemiological research (the broad study of populations) and harness the subjective experiences of members of specific groups to gain valid insights. A 2015 paper[2] published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Review took this approach in an attempt to understand what motivated drug users to self-administer cannabis in order to get off harder drugs.

The researchers recruited 97 “Baby Boomers” (people born between 1946–1964) from the Bay Area in San Francisco and conducted a questionnaire, health survey, and audio recording with each participant. The group gave varying responses as to why they chose to autumn back onto cannabis. Some members suggested that cannabis has less of an association with violent crime and helps to reduce bad tempers. Others stated that, in their view, the herb has a better safety profile than other drugs.

Interestingly, some users said that by substituting other drugs for cannabis, they’re still able to live a colourful and exciting life. They viewed this as favourable compared to the rigid “clean and sober” approach of Narcotics Anonymous.

This piece of research provides an interesting peek into the perceptions of those that elect to use cannabis as a substitute. But what does the science say when comparing cannabis to other drugs as a viable substitute to manage withdrawal and the symptoms of health conditions?

What Drives Drug Users to Opt for Cannabis as a Substitute?

Is Cannabis Responsible for Reducing Painkiller Deaths in the United States?

Opioids are some of the most effective painkillers available. Although they work well at reducing discomfort, they pose a high risk of addiction. This class of drugs has a powerful effect on the reward centres of the brain and triggers the release of endorphins—feel-good hormones that give rise to sensations of pleasure and well-being. Unfortunately, overprescription of these painkillers has led to an opioid crisis[3]. In the United States, physicians dished out a massive 250 million prescriptions in 2015 alone.

According to Centres for Disease Control (CDC) data, over 760,000 people have died from a drug overdose since 1999, and opioids contributed to two-thirds[4] of these fatalities. Additionally, over 10 million citizens aged 12 and older misused opioids during 2019.

Although cannabis remains illegal at a federal level in the US, 36 states have legalized the plant for medical use, and doctors are able to prescribe the herb for numerous conditions.

So, can marijuana help with the opioid crisis? And what’s the deal with painkillers and weed? Interestingly, since the advent of legal cannabis, opioid deaths have plummeted by up to 25% in some states. Research[5] published in JAMA Internal Medicine documents an analysis of cannabis law and state-level death certificates in the US between 1999–2010. The results demonstrated significantly lower state-level deaths tied to opioid use in states with legalized medical marijuana.

The researchers point to several possible reasons for this trend. First, they note that around 60% of overdoses occur in patients with legitimate prescriptions. They argue that these same patients, with access to medical cannabis, may have chosen to opt for the herb if given the chance.

Second, medical cannabis laws likely led to a reduction in polypharmacy (the regular use of at least five medications), and thus decreased opioid deaths. The combination of benzodiazepines and opioids, in particular, can lead to excess sedation and suppression of breathing.

Finally, the authors question the role of cannabis when it comes to opioid withdrawal. If the herb helps patients reduce their intake, they’re more likely to break the cycle and discontinue their use of opioids when appropriate.

However, more recent findings[6] point toward a trend that shows the reverse, and thus we should remain sceptical that cannabis reduces opioid-related deaths.

Is Cannabis Responsible for Reducing Painkiller Deaths in the United States?

Which Drugs Is Cannabis a Substitute For?

Opioids have a massive potential for abuse and a poor safety profile, especially when overprescribed. However, they’re clearly not the only drugs that cause issues with addiction across the world. Below, we delve into three other substances that are infamous for their addictive properties, and find out if cannabis can act as a suitable substitute.

  • Alcohol

As the heaviest-drinking region on Earth, over one-fifth of the population of Europe aged 15 and over reports drinking large amounts of alcohol at least once per week. During 2019, one in every twelve people within the EU consumed alcohol on a daily basis[7]. Although binge drinking takes a significant toll on health, drinking lower volumes more frequently also has a detrimental effect.

Does cannabis have the ability to help curb alcohol use in those open to using it as a substitute? Researchers are keen to find out. A study published in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism assessed if cannabis can play the role of a “substitute medication”. Substances that autumn into this category must meet a certain criteria[8], which includes:

  • They must reduce alcohol use and related harms
  • Any misuse should be less of that of alcohol
  • It should be safer in regard to overdose
  • It should be less harmful than alcohol

Cannabis ticks almost all of the criteria of a suitable substitute, but the researchers state that more research and improved study designs are needed to find out how effectively it works.

  • Nicotine

Nicotine functions as a means of deterring herbivores in plants, but it acts as both a stimulant and a depressant in humans, and has a huge potential for abuse. Nicotine stands as the second-leading cause of death[9] across the world, and cigarette smoking results in over 48,000 deaths annually in the US alone. Consuming cannabis and nicotine largely involves smoking, but can the former scratch the itch caused by the latter? A 2021 paper[10] published in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment shows promise. Similar to the reduction in opioid intake following legal cannabis reform in the US, cannabis also seems to have had an impact on tobacco smoking.

The researchers used an online cross-sectional survey to question 2,102 cannabis users on how cannabis impacted their use of other substances. Among the group, 650 were current or former tobacco users. Of these, 320 reported reduced tobacco use after they started to use cannabis.

However, human trials are needed to see if cannabis truly works in this context. Population studies are notoriously unreliable, and subjective questionnaires don’t reflect reality entirely. Researchers are also keen to find out what about cannabis could make it effective here. Ongoing studies[11] are testing cannabis constituents such as beta-caryophyllene against models of nicotine addiction in animals.

Which Drugs Is Cannabis a Substitute For?
  • Sleeping Pills

Sleeping pills such as benzodiazepines are also addictive for some people. For this reason, research recommends taking as little a dose as possible for the shortest duration possible. Patients are also advised against stopping their intake abruptly. Instead, they’re instructed to gradually reduce their dose to avoid potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms.

Around 1 in 10 adults in the UK regularly takes sleeping pills to help them nod off. However, dosage guidelines mean they can only benefit from these substances for a short period of time. Could cannabis step in as a substitute? Unfortunately, this area remains severely understudied. While human trials exist that compare the two, researchers are trying to work out how cannabis affects sleep. For example, a study[12] published in 2019 looked at how CBD and THC impact circadian rhythm—the biological clock that dictates the sleep-wake cycle. 

Cannabis: Gateway Drug or Substitute?

So, does cannabis lead people toward harder drugs, or away from them? Without sufficient data from clinical trials, we can’t give you an answer. However, some of the fears about cannabis as a gateway drug are overblown, and certain research draws associations between access to cannabis and less reliance on hard drugs. With that said, some data show that cannabis may lead adolescents toward opioid use[13], and cannabis use disorder[14] is a real condition that impacts many lives.

As always, it pays to be cautious. That said, it’s widely agreed that cannabis deserves significantly more study in this area, as drug and alcohol addiction is a serious global health issue.

External Resources:
  1. Drug Use - Our World in Data https://ourworldindata.org
  2. A safer alternative: Cannabis substitution as harm reduction https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com
  3. Overprescribing is major contributor to opioid crisis | The BMJ https://www.bmj.com
  4. Opioid Crisis Statistics | HHS.gov https://www.hhs.gov
  5. Medical Cannabis Laws and Opioid Analgesic Overdose Mortality in the United States, 1999-2010 | Adolescent Medicine | JAMA Internal Medicine | JAMA Network https://jamanetwork.com
  6. Association between medical cannabis laws and opioid overdose mortality has reversed over time | PNAS https://www.pnas.org
  7. Alcohol consumption statistics - Statistics Explained https://ec.europa.eu
  8. Can Cannabis be Considered a Substitute Medication for Alcohol? - PMC https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  9. Nicotine Addiction: Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology https://emedicine.medscape.com
  10. Self-reported reductions in tobacco and nicotine use following medical cannabis initiation: Results from a cross-sectional survey of authorized medical cannabis patients in Canada https://www.sciencedirect.com
  11. β-Caryophyllene, a dietary terpenoid, inhibits nicotine taking and nicotine seeking in rodents https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
  12. Cannabidiol affects circadian clock core complex and its regulation in microglia cells - PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  13. Cannabis as a Gateway Drug for Opioid Use Disorder | Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics | Cambridge Core https://www.cambridge.org
  14. Cannabis Use Disorder | SpringerLink https://link.springer.com
Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: