. >> reporter: christine stenquist suffered through a brain tumor, fibromyalgia, and chronic headachesit led to prescription drugs. >> migraines were constant. >> between the pain and opioids the mother of four was bedridden. she decided to give marijuana a try. >> this is a whole different lifestyle. >> stenquist is one of a growing i'm eating healthier, more active, more alert. >> reporter: stenquist is one of a growing number of americans who have traded many their powerful and addictive painkillers for the green alternative. research in the journal of medical association shows in states where medical marijuana is legal, opioid overdose deaths are down as much as 25%. >> when we're looking at tools to combat the opiate crisis, it's amazing that medical cannabis is the tool we can use. >> reporter: show she's the founder of americans for safe access. >> at the heart of all of our challenges, we have the fact that the federal government sees cannabis as something that is more dangerous than methamphetamines. >> reporter: the dea still warns of a high potential for abuse, and attorney