Does daily cannabis use assist with retention in opioid substitution programmes?

Some interesting new research published in the journal Addiction examined the impact of cannabis use on opioid use treatment outcomes. A sample of 820 people using illicit drugs 820 starting Opioid Agonist Treatment (with methadone or buprenorphine/nalaxone) 1996 and 2016 was followed, dichotimised to those who reported daily cannabis use and those who used cannabis less than daily) during the same 6‐month period. Confounders assessed included  socio‐demographic characteristics and substance use patterns. At least daily use of cannabis was positively associated with retention in treatment [adjusted odds ratio 1.21, 95% CI 1.04–1.41]. This study has potentially interesting implications as regards the potential to explore therapeutic applications for cannabis derivatives as a treatment modality in opioid dependence.