{"id":185773,"date":"2017-06-25T01:09:37","date_gmt":"2017-06-25T01:09:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/marijuana-painkillers-being-made-to-combat-opioid-crisis\/"},"modified":"2017-06-25T01:09:37","modified_gmt":"2017-06-25T01:09:37","slug":"marijuana-painkillers-being-made-to-combat-opioid-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/marijuana-painkillers-being-made-to-combat-opioid-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Marijuana painkillers being made to combat  opioid crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul class=\"mol-bullets-with-font\">\n<li class=\"\"><b>More than 100 million Americans are addicted\u00a0to\u00a0opioid painkillers<\/b><\/li>\n<li class=\"\"><b>Drugmakers are looking for an alternative with marijuana-based painkillers<\/b><\/li>\n<li class=\"\"><b>They hope these products will help the country battle its opioid crisis\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"author-section byline-plain\">By<\/p>\n<p>Reuters<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"byline-section\"><span class=\"article-timestamp article-timestamp-published\"><br \/>\n  <span class=\"article-timestamp-label\">Published:<\/span><br \/>\n  10:27 EDT, 23 June 2017<br \/>\n<\/span><br \/>\n | <span class=\"article-timestamp article-timestamp-updated\"><br \/>\n  <span class=\"article-timestamp-label\">Updated:<\/span><br \/>\n  12:51 EDT, 23 June 2017<br \/>\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"share-facebook\"><\/li>\n<li class=\"share-twitter\"><\/li>\n<li class=\"share-pinterest\"><\/li>\n<li class=\"share-gplus\">\n      <span class=\"g-interactivepost\"><br \/>\n        <a><\/a><br \/>\n      <\/span>\n        <\/li>\n<li class=\"share-email\">\n<p>                <span class=\"wai\">e-mail<\/span><br \/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/li>\n<li class=\"share-icons\" id=\"shareLinkTop\">\n            <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>     <span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"count-number\">          18<\/p>\n<p class=\"count-text\">View <br \/> comments<\/p>\n<p>    <\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Companies are taking their first steps toward developing marijuana-based painkillers, alternatives to opioids that have led to widespread abuse in the US.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The cannabis plant has been used for decades to manage pain and there are increasingly sophisticated marijuana products available across 29 U.S. states, as well as in the District of Columbia, where medical marijuana is legal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">While there are no FDA-approved painkillers derived from marijuana yet, some companies have drugs in various stages of development.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The drugmakers are targeting the more than 100 million Americans who are hooked on opioid painkillers or addicted to street opiates including heroin.<\/p>\n<p>        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-7337d0d5631dc074\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\" alt=\"A handful of drugmakers are taking their first steps toward developing marijuana-based painkillers, alternatives to opioid painkillers that more than 100 million Americans are on\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" \/><\/p>\n<p>    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-7337d0d5631dc074\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/06\/23\/16\/41AE736600000578-4633088-image-a-9_1498233174127.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\" alt=\"A handful of drugmakers are taking their first steps toward developing marijuana-based painkillers, alternatives to opioid painkillers that more than 100 million Americans are on\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">A handful of drugmakers are taking their first steps toward developing marijuana-based painkillers, alternatives to opioid painkillers that more than 100 million Americans are on<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Companies such as Axim Biotechnologies Inc, Nemus Bioscience Inc and Intec Pharma Ltd are behind the push for\u00a0marijuana-based painkillers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Opioid overdose, which claimed celebrities including Prince and Heath Ledger as victims, contributed to more than 33,000 deaths in 2015, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Earlier this month, the FDA asked Endo International to withdraw its Opana ER painkiller from the market, the first time the agency has called for the removal of an opioid painkiller for public health reasons.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The FDA concluded that the drug&#8217;s benefits no longer outweighed its risks.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"rotator-panels link-bogr1 linkro-ccox\">\n<li>\n<p>          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/06\/21\/22\/419E2D9400000578-0-image-a-90_1498081014703.jpg\" width=\"62\" height=\"60\" \/><span>Police discover addicts injecting themselves with human&#8230;<\/span><br \/>\n        <\/a><\/p>\n<p>          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/06\/19\/22\/4190160900000578-0-image-a-30_1497907933481.jpg\" width=\"62\" height=\"60\" \/><span>REVEALED: Only a quarter of America&#8217;s opioid addicted teens&#8230;<\/span><br \/>\n        <\/a>\n      <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"mol-factbox-title\">US REGULATORS ORDER REMOVAL OF OPANA ER PAINKILLER<\/h3>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The FDA ordered a drugmaker to stop selling a narcotic painkiller that was blamed for an outbreak of HIV, hepatitis C and drug overdoses in the Midwest.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Endo Pharmaceuticals received an official warning on Thursday to remove Opana ER from the market.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">It is the first time US regulators have asked for a firm to discontinue an opioid painkiller.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Opana ER was first approved in 2006 to treat moderate-to-severe pain for an extended period of time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">In 2012, amid fears of addiction, Endo released a reformulated, extended-release version, which was meant to be an abuse-resistant drug.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The new version was designed in such a way that it would be more difficult to inject or snort it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">However, while the new product met the regulatory standards for approval, the FDA said that the data was not enough to show that it could meaningfully reduce abuse, and refused to let the company to market it as non-addictive.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold health-ccox mol-style-medium\">FIGHTING THE EPIDEMIC<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Multiple studies have shown that pro-medical marijuana states have reported fewer opiate deaths and there are no deaths related to marijuana overdose on record.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">But marijuana-derived drugs could take longer than usual to hit the market as the federal government considers marijuana a &#8216;schedule 1&#8217; substance &#8211; a dangerous drug with no medicinal value &#8211; making added approvals necessary. Any drug typically takes at least a decade from discovery to approval.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">It could be worth the wait.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">An FDA-approved marijuana-based painkiller would ensure consistent dosing and potency, and availability across the country, analysts and experts said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;Doctors like to be able to write a prescription and know that whatever they wrote is pure and from a blinded, placebo-controlled trial,&#8217; California-based Nemus&#8217;s CEO Brian Murphy told Reuters.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Nemus is testing its product &#8211; a synthetic version of the non-psychoactive CBD compound found in cannabis &#8211; on rats with chronic pain and expects to report data later this year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Rival Axim, whose North American headquarters is in New York, is conducting preclinical studies on a chewing gum containing synthetic CBD and THC, a psychoactive compound found in marijuana.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The company expects to submit an FDA application to start a trial on opioid-dependent patients this year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Leading the pack is Israel-based Intec, which recently announced the start of an early-stage study testing its painkiller made of natural CBD and THC extracts.<\/p>\n<p>        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-3e992b48a8c4a835\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" height=\"638\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Data from the Times shows drug overdose deaths surged 19 percent to at least 59,000 in 2016\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" \/><\/p>\n<p>    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-3e992b48a8c4a835\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/06\/07\/17\/413434D000000578-4581312-image-a-10_1496851755554.jpg\" height=\"638\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Data from the Times shows drug overdose deaths surged 19 percent to at least 59,000 in 2016\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Data from the Times shows drug overdose deaths surged 19 percent to at least 59,000 in 2016<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold health-ccox mol-style-medium\">OTHER OPTIONS<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Independent scientists are also looking to find natural, non-pharmaceutical alternatives to opioids, but many have said it is difficult to access government-approved marijuana to conduct research due to supply restrictions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;It&#8217;s taken me seven years to get the DEA license,&#8217; said Dr Sue Sisley, who is planning to conduct an FDA-regulated study evaluating whether marijuana can help opioid-dependent patients.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">There could soon be other alternatives as well. Pfizer Inc and Biogen Inc are among a clutch of drugmakers developing non-opioid painkillers that are in advanced clinical studies.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Still, opioid painkillers are here to stay and will continue to be widely prescribed, especially for patients with acute and post-surgical pain.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The Republican healthcare bill unveiled on Thursday has proposed a drastic cut to the Medicaid budget and could gut, what advocates say, is essential coverage for drug addiction treatment, potentially hampering the fight against opioid abuse.<\/p>\n<p>            <!-- ad: http:\/\/mads.dailymail.co.uk\/v2\/us\/health\/none\/article\/other\/inread_player.html --><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"social-links-title\">Share or comment on this article<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"bigLinks sc-icns cleared\">\n<li class=\"share-facebook\">\n<p>                                    <span class=\"wai\">e-mail<\/span><br \/>\n                                <\/a>\n                            <\/li>\n<li class=\"share-icons\" id=\"shareLinkBottom\">\n<p>                                <\/a>\n                            <\/li>\n<li class=\"social-stats social-stats-pipe\" id=\"shareCountBottom\">\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"addCommentButton\" class=\"add-comment\">\n<p>                                <\/a>\n                            <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul class=\"rotator-panels\">\n<li class=\"new shallow-ac mini link-bogr6 linkro-wocc\">  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/06\/24\/06\/41B20CB200000578-0-image-m-170_1498283391050.jpg\" alt=\"The White House sent the letter on Friday saying Donald Trump's tweet asserting that he didn't tape James Comey was the official statement on the matter\" width=\"154\" height=\"115\" \/><span class=\"wocc bdrcc\">White House copies and pastes Trump&#8217;s tweet asserting he&#8230;<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<li class=\"new shallow-ac mini link-bogr6 linkro-wocc\">  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/06\/24\/14\/41B46D9D00000578-0-image-a-27_1498312697514.jpg\" alt=\"Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (seen above with New York Times journalists Peter Baker on the right and Catherine Porter on the left) said on Thursday that President Donald Trump\u2019s decision to keep the United States in NAFTA proves he listens to opposing viewpoints\" width=\"154\" height=\"115\" \/><span class=\"wocc bdrcc\">&#8216;Trump is someone you can work with&#8217;: Canada Prime&#8230;<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<li class=\"new shallow-ac mini link-bogr6 linkro-wocc\">  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/06\/24\/06\/41B28BCD00000578-0-image-a-82_1498283900761.jpg\" alt=\"First Daughter Ivanka Trump gushed over her father's 'phenomenal' instincts and said she is 'blessed' to have been a part of his 'remarkable' journey to the White House from day one\" width=\"154\" height=\"115\" \/><span class=\"wocc bdrcc\">&#8216;He did something pretty remarkable&#8217;: Ivanka gushes over&#8230;<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<li class=\"new shallow-ac mini link-bogr6 linkro-wocc\">  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/06\/24\/04\/41B23A1E00000578-0-image-m-25_1498275286438.jpg\" alt=\"Jack Lee Ernest, 39, of Barstow, California was allegedly riding a quad with a cache of illegal weapons including this sawed off shot gun, above\" width=\"154\" height=\"115\" \/><span class=\"wocc bdrcc\">Self-styled &#8216;Mad Max&#8217; riding a quad bike is arrested&#8230;<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<li class=\"new shallow-ac mini link-bogr6 linkro-wocc\">  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/06\/24\/01\/41B19F6B00000578-0-image-a-14_1498265486754.jpg\" alt=\"Khazin claims he was subjected to 'unfair discipline and unfavorable assignments'\" width=\"154\" height=\"115\" \/><span class=\"wocc bdrcc\">White NYPD sergeant claims he was punished for NOT&#8230;<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<li class=\"new shallow-ac mini link-bogr6 linkro-wocc\">  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/06\/24\/18\/41B6C93100000578-0-image-a-80_1498326633605.jpg\" alt=\"There are rumors that Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, 80, could announce his retirement from the bench as soon as this Monday. Kennedy is seen above at the White House on April 10, 2017\" width=\"154\" height=\"115\" \/><span class=\"wocc bdrcc\">Trump may soon get to pick another Supreme Court justice&#8230;<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<li class=\"new shallow-ac mini link-bogr6 linkro-wocc\">  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/06\/24\/01\/41A63D4C00000578-0-image-m-61_1498265977099.jpg\" alt=\"They are so rare that most of us don\u2019t even know they exist. But one woman was lucky enough to spot both a black and white  squirrel (pictured) while walking her dog\" width=\"154\" height=\"115\" \/><span class=\"wocc bdrcc\">Dog-walker spots rare black squirrel sitting in the same&#8230;<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<li class=\"new shallow-ac mini link-bogr6 linkro-wocc\">  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/06\/24\/05\/41B2535600000578-0-image-m-46_1498277372199.jpg\" alt=\"An NYPD officer is seen with his knewe pressed in the back of one of the Beechwood band members\" width=\"154\" height=\"115\" \/><span class=\"wocc bdrcc\">&#8216;We have guitars, they have guns&#8217;: Punk rock group is&#8230;<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<li class=\"new shallow-ac mini link-bogr6 linkro-wocc\">  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/06\/24\/01\/0447169F000003E8-0-image-a-21_1498264371979.jpg\" alt=\"Our perception of time speeds up when we blink our eyes, experiments have revealed\" width=\"154\" height=\"115\" \/><span class=\"wocc bdrcc\">Blink and you really will miss it! Study finds our&#8230;<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<li class=\"new shallow-ac mini link-bogr6 linkro-wocc\">  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1\/2017\/06\/22\/23\/wire-829431-1498172210-769_154x115.jpg\" alt=\"FILE - In this May 16, 2017, file photo, several of the thousands of recovered beehives stolen in California are shown near Sanger, Calif. Prosecutors in Fresno County said that two men they've charged could each spend more than 10 years in prison, if convicted, Thursday, June 22, 2017. (AP Photo\/Scott Smith, File)\" width=\"154\" height=\"115\" \/><span class=\"wocc bdrcc\">They created a buzz with their crimes: Two men who stole&#8230;<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<li class=\"new shallow-ac mini link-bogr6 linkro-wocc\">  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/06\/22\/18\/41A5E09800000578-0-image-m-87_1498153933667.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"154\" height=\"115\" \/><span class=\"wocc bdrcc\">Repo man tows car in the middle of the night with a&#8230;<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<li class=\"new shallow-ac mini link-bogr6 linkro-wocc\">  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/06\/21\/13\/419A3C1900000578-0-image-m-42_1498048481058.jpg\" alt=\"The Ku Klux Klan has been delivering fliers for a rally in Charlottesville, Virginia to residents in upstate New York contained within a plastic bag and weighed down with cat litter. Fulton County Sheriff's Office released pictures of the fliers on their Facebook page\u00a0\" width=\"154\" height=\"115\" \/><span class=\"wocc bdrcc\">KKK rebrands itself the &#8216;Kool Kids Klub&#8217; on fliers&#8230;<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<li class=\"new shallow-ac mini link-bogr6 linkro-wocc\">  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1\/2017\/06\/20\/14\/wire-812043-1497965785-472_154x115.jpg\" alt=\"Mike Miller, an air conditioning repairman, watches as a crane lifts a broken unit from a rooftop in Phoenix Monday, June 19, 2017. Repairmen are constantly on call in the summer, as temperatures in the Phoenix metro area rise to nearly 120 degrees. (AP Photo\/Angie Wang)\" width=\"154\" height=\"115\" \/><span class=\"wocc bdrcc\">&#8216;He&#8217;s an unsung hero&#8217;: The busy day of an air&#8230;<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<li class=\"new shallow-ac mini link-bogr6 linkro-wocc\">  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/06\/19\/20\/418F781B00000578-0-image-m-68_1497900837346.jpg\" alt=\"Cops are more likely to stop black drivers than white drivers, a new study has found. Above, a stock image of a black driver being pulled over\" width=\"154\" height=\"115\" \/><span class=\"wocc bdrcc\">Police officers are more likely to cite black or Latino&#8230;<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<li class=\"new shallow-ac mini link-bogr6 linkro-wocc\">  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/06\/22\/06\/41A0A6D100000578-0-image-a-109_1498110812436.jpg\" alt=\"The earthquake alert that was sent out on Wednesday for a 6.8 magnitude shaker was actually one that happened in 1925; a picture of the public library, above, which was completely destroyed\" width=\"154\" height=\"115\" \/><span class=\"wocc bdrcc\">Caltech employee accidentally sends out an alert for 6.8&#8230;<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<li class=\"new shallow-ac mini link-bogr6 linkro-wocc\">  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/06\/22\/16\/41A4629400000578-0-image-a-8_1498144079907.jpg\" alt=\"Colorado has passed a new law which makes texting while driving legal, so long as it is not done in a 'careless or imprudent manner' (stock image)\u00a0\" width=\"154\" height=\"115\" \/><span class=\"wocc bdrcc\">&#8216;It shouldn\u2019t be a crime to message your spouse that you&#8230;<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<li class=\"new shallow-ac mini link-bogr6 linkro-wocc\">  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1\/2017\/06\/19\/17\/wire-806403-1497890176-635_154x115.jpg\" alt=\"This photo provided by the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department in Belleville, Ill., shows DeCarlos Johnson-Foston, who is accused of stomping a kitten to death at a Belleville, Ill.,  MetroLink station Friday, June 16, 2017, because he wasn't allowed to take it on a light rail train. Johnson-Foston has been charged with felony animal cruelty. (St. Clair County Sheriff's Department via AP)\" width=\"154\" height=\"115\" \/><span class=\"wocc bdrcc\">Illinois man accused of stomping a kitten to death after&#8230;<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<li class=\"new shallow-ac mini link-bogr6 linkro-wocc\">  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/06\/19\/15\/418D4EA000000578-0-image-m-10_1497881159677.jpg\" alt=\"Yaugeni Kralkin, 54, was found in a drunken stupor by cops and EMTs on June 11 and put in an ambulance - but then he escaped his straps and leaped out ending up unconscious\" width=\"154\" height=\"115\" \/><span class=\"wocc bdrcc\">New York man, 54, sues city after he drunkenly jumped out&#8230;<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/f.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/furniture\/comments\/articles\/btn_add-your-comment.png\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/f.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/furniture\/comments\/articles\/icon_comments_74.png\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>Comments <span class=\"readerCommentsCount\">18<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>\n\t    Share what you think\n          <\/p>\n<ul id=\"rc-tabs\" class=\"js-links dm-tabs cnr5 cleared\">\n<li class=\"dm-tab dm-tab-on bdrgr5 cnr-bdr wogr5 link-wox js-active\">\n        <span class=\"xogr5 tl\"><\/span><br \/>\n        <span class=\"xogr5 tr\"><\/span><br \/>\n        Newest<\/a>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"dm-tab bdrgr5 ow-igr2-bx cnr-bdr xogr2 link-gr5ox\">\n        <span class=\"xogr5 tl\"><\/span><br \/>\n        <span class=\"xogr5 tr\"><\/span><br \/>\n        Oldest<\/a>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"dm-tab bdrgr5 ow-igr2-bx cnr-bdr xogr2 link-gr5ox\">\n        <span class=\"xogr5 tl\"><\/span><br \/>\n        <span class=\"xogr5 tr\"><\/span><br \/>\n        Best rated<\/a>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"dm-tab bdrgr5 ow-igr2-bx cnr-bdr xogr2 link-gr5ox last\">\n        <span class=\"xogr5 tl\"><\/span><br \/>\n        <span class=\"xogr5 tr\"><\/span><br \/>\n        Worst rated<\/a>\n      <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The comments below have not been moderated.<\/p>\n<p class=\"bold pad5 wogr5 rc-info\">\n      The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.\n    <\/p>\n<p>  <\/a><\/p>\n<p>      <a id=\"newcomment\" name=\"newcomment\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>              <span>Close<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual.<\/h2>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>              <span>Close<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual<\/h2>\n<p>  We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. 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Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>More than 100 million Americans are addicted\u00a0to\u00a0opioid painkillers Drugmakers are looking for an alternative with marijuana-based painkillers They hope these products will help the country battle its opioid crisis\u00a0 By Reuters Published: 10:27 EDT, 23 June 2017 | Updated: 12:51 EDT, 23 June 2017 e-mail 18 View comments Companies are taking their first steps toward <a class=\"read-more-link\" href=\"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/marijuana-painkillers-being-made-to-combat-opioid-crisis\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-185773","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/185773","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=185773"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/185773\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=185773"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=185773"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=185773"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}