# Reduction of Benzodiazepine Use in Patients Prescribed Medical Cannabis > **Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD (ABFM Board Certified, MA Lic. #240562, NPI: 1962722637) > **Publisher:** CED Clinic (https://cedclinic.com) > **Canonical URL:** https://cedclinic.com/benzodiazepine-discontinuation-rates-medical-cannabis/ > **Published:** 2021-09-21T15:38:15-04:00 | **Last Modified / Clinically Audited:** 2026-09-28T11:16:56-04:00 > **Clinical Summary:** Explore benzodiazepine discontinuation rates among patients prescribed medical cannabis and the potential benefits and risks involved. --- Benzodiazepines constitute a class of medication with sedative properties commonly used as the main treatment for a variety of neurological conditions, including most noticeably insomnia, anxiety, alcohol use disorders and seizure disorders. While this group of medication is considered to be relatively safe compared to previous sedatives, it does have associated acute and chronic side effects. As a result, discontinuation of benzodiazepine use may be beneficial to many patients, which is why a group of Canadian clinical researchers recently investigated benzodiazepine discontinuation rates among patients prescribed medical [cannabis therapy](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-based-therapies-smoking-cessation/). Analysis was performed on records of a cohort of 146 [medical cannabis](https://cedclinic.com/therapeutic-benefits-of-thc/) patients who reported benzodiazepine use at initiation of [cannabis therapy](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-based-therapies-smoking-cessation/) to quantify associations of the proportion of benzodiazepine use with time on [medical cannabis](https://cedclinic.com/therapeutic-benefits-of-thc/) therapy. After completing the first 2-month prescription course of medical cannabis, 44 patients (30.1%) had discontinued benzodiazepines. At a follow-up after two prescriptions, 65 patients (44.5%) and at the final follow-up period after three medical cannabis prescription courses, 66 patients (45.2%) had discontinued benzodiazepine use. In short, over an average of 6 months, the cessation rate of benzodiazepine steadily increased and at the end, 45.2% of the patients successfully had discontinued their pre-existing benzodiazepine usage. This observation suggested a correlation between therapeutic use of cannabis and use of sedatives such as benzodiazepine. While cessation of reliance on sedatives might be a benefit of medical cannabis, [cannabis use](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-cardiovascular-health-insights-2024/) also poses its own set of risks. Therefore, careful consideration of the risks-benefits trade-off as well as its interaction with other medication is crucial before cannabis is prescribed. 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[Read the Survey](https://cedclinic.com/medical-cannabis-opioid-reduction-chronic-pain/) [Study Links Psychiatric Disorders to Adolescent Cannabis Use](https://cedclinic.com/adolescent-cannabis-psychiatric-outcomes-2026-digest/) An in-depth study examining the association between [adolescent cannabis use](https://cedclinic.com/adolescent-cannabis-use-and-anxiety-research/) and psychiatric disorders. [Explore the Study](https://cedclinic.com/adolescent-cannabis-psychiatric-outcomes-2026-digest/) [Study Explains Long-Term Damage of Alcohol vs. Cannabis](https://cedclinic.com/long-term-health-consequences-alcohol-cannabis/) Research comparing the long-term effects of drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis on health. [Learn More](https://cedclinic.com/long-term-health-consequences-alcohol-cannabis/) Have thoughts on this? Share it: [X Share on X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Reduction%20of%20Benzodiazepine%20Use%20in%20Patients%20Prescribed%20Medical%20Cannabis&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcedclinic.com%2Fbenzodiazepine-discontinuation-rates-medical-cannabis%2F) [in Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcedclinic.com%2Fbenzodiazepine-discontinuation-rates-medical-cannabis%2F) [Share on BlueSky](https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=Reduction%20of%20Benzodiazepine%20Use%20in%20Patients%20Prescribed%20Medical%20Cannabis%20https%3A%2F%2Fcedclinic.com%2Fbenzodiazepine-discontinuation-rates-medical-cannabis%2F) [Follow on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/drbenjamincaplan) [Read more on Substack](https://doctorapprovedcannabis.substack.com/) [Subscribe via RSS](https://cedclinic.com/feed/) ### Related --- ### Verification & Medical Governance - **Lead Clinical Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD - **Credentials:** Board Certified in Family Medicine (ABFM), Former CMO Canna Care Docs (250,000+ patients supervised), Founder & CMO CED Clinic & CED Foundation, Author of *The Doctor-Approved Cannabis Handbook* (Penguin Random House). - **Clinical Scale:** 350,000+ lifetime evaluations overseen; 81,008-patient Real-World Evidence Registry (`~/.ced_rwe_vault.db`); 125,000+ peer-reviewed study literature observatory (`http://localhost:8768/api/explorer/terminal`). - **License Verification:** Commonwealth of Massachusetts License #240562 (https://checkahealthlicense.mass.gov/). - **NPI Registry:** 1962722637 (https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/provider-view/1962722637). - **Ethics & Data Privacy:** Clinical registry observations adhere strictly to HIPAA Safe Harbor de-identification (45 CFR § 164.514(b)) and criteria for secondary research exemption under 45 CFR § 46.104(d)(4).