Welcome to Senior Cannabis Digest. This week we look at cannabis and prescription drug use, treating stress in dogs with CBD, opinions on legalization and more. Enjoy.
Cannabis and Prescription Drug Use
Eight in 10 marijuana consumers say they use cannabis, at least in part, as an alternative to traditional prescription drugs.
That is a key takeaway from a new poll conducted by cannabis telehealth platform NuggMD. The survey asked cannabis consumers a simple question: “Do you use cannabis as a replacement for prescription medication?”
According to Kyle Jaeger, who reported on the poll for Marijuana Moment, of the 485 respondents, 79.6 percent affirmed that they did, in fact, use marijuana as a substitute for pharmaceuticals, compared to 20.4 percent who said they did not.
Said Andrew Graham, head of communications at NuggMD, “Pharmaceutical interests know the substitution effect cannabis has on their products is real. Federal prohibition locks in a lot of demand for their addictive and potentially fatal drugs by depriving millions of medications, including opioids.
Added Graham, “Our newest poll shows the substitution effect may well be a lot higher than the pharma industry thinks that it is. It estimates that around 40 million Americans use cannabis to some degree as a replacement for prescription drugs. That’s costing Big Pharma billions annually in lost profits.”
In his article, Jaeger makes the point that a majority of respondents in the survey sample did not report having a state medical cannabis card. He contends this indicates the substitution effect extends beyond the registered patient population.
Jaeger also referenced an AMA report published in 2023 that indicated that about one in three chronic pain patients reported using cannabis as a treatment option. He reported that most of that group said they used cannabis as a substitute for other pain medication.
As always, Kyle Jaeger’s reporting is clear, concise and informative. You can learn much more by reading his article in the July 2, 2025 issue of Marijuana Moment.net.
Cannabis Products and Testing
The findings of a new study indicate that the THC labels on concentrates are more likely to be accurate than the THC labels on cannabis flower.
That’s the word from TG Branfalt reporting for Ganjapreneur. According to Branfalt, a study published in the journal Scientific Reports found that just 56.7 percent of flower products tested within 15 percent of their labeled THC content, while 96 percent of concentrate products tested by the researchers contained within 15 percent of their labeled THC content.
The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and MedPharm Holdings LLC, which operates Bud & Mary’s, a family-owned cannabis company that produces a variety of products and has a research unit.
Branfalt noted that the research team sampled 182 flower and 99 concentrate products – including 27 unique concentrate forms – from 52 Colorado dispensaries in 19 counties for the study between November 29, 2022, and October 3, 2023. Four flower products were excluded from the analysis due to misprinted or absent THC potency labeling.
Said the researchers in their journal article, “Observed THC potency was significantly lower than labeled potency in both flower and concentrate products. Nearly all tested concentrate products met the accuracy threshold for THC content, whereas flower products frequently did not. Both product types had lower observed THC content compared to labeled values.”
Discrepancies such as these can be significant, both for medical consumers who rely on accurate dosing to address a specific condition and recreational consumers who want to make sure they are getting what they pay for.
To learn more, we encourage you to read TG Branfalt’s article in the July 4, 2025 issue of Ganjapreneur.com.
https://ganjapreneur.com/study-thc-labeling-for-concentrate-products-more-accurate-than-flower/?
Tips for Pet Owners
There may be hopeful news for dog owners who are looking for a way to support their canine companion during stressful moments, such as thunderstorms and fireworks.
According to the writers at the publication Cannabis and Tech Today, new delivery systems have been developed that make it possible to provide dogs with CBD in order to help them feel more at ease during stressful situations.
Some say a treat or toy that contains CBD made for pets can be a practical and appealing choice for those looking to help their dog experience less stress. For example, a company called Kradle has created what it calls an all-day calming bone that is said to provide dogs of any size and age with hours of calming entertainment.
The chewable, nylon bone — which is refillable — contains the same chicken-flavored substance found in the company’s CBD chews for dogs. The filler is made with broad-spectrum CBD derived from high-quality American-grown hemp and enriched with a blend of natural, calming ingredients, such as chamomile, L-Theanine, Ashwagandha and other herbal supplements, to promote relaxation and help maintain a calm and content mood.
According to the manufacturer, the bone provides dogs with more than just a tasty experience. Many experts contend the act of chewing can be soothing for dogs, offering a comforting activity that might help distract them from sources of anxiety. Plus, the bone’s firm texture is designed to last, encouraging prolonged engagement. This extended chewing time could make the calming effects of the bone more noticeable, as they remain occupied and content.
The company, which makes a wide variety of products that are intended to promote wellness in pets, is certified by the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC), a nationally-recognized nonprofit that promotes pet health and wellbeing by protecting and enhancing the animal health supplement industry.
In addition, its formulations are subject to independent third-party testing for purity and potency, ensuring its broad-spectrum, water-soluble CBD is THC free — so pets can enjoy the health and wellness benefits of CBD without any psychoactive effects.
That being said, not all veterinarians are on board with the idea of giving CBD to pets, including dogs. That’s why it’s wise to check with your dog’s vet before administering any product containing CBD or herbal supplements yourself, just to make sure the CBD or supplements won’t interfere with any medication prescribed for your dog. And never give a pet a CBD product made for humans.
To learn more, we suggest reading the article prepared by the writers at Cannabis and Tech Today.com. It appeared in the publication’s July 1, 2025 issue.
To visit Kradle’s website, click on the following link.
https://kradlemypet.com/pages/about-kradle
Spotlight on Legalization
If you believe cannabis should be legal at the federal level, you’re not alone. According to newly released polling data from the Pew Research Center, nearly nine in 10 Americans support legalizing marijuana in some form.
Only 12 percent of U.S. adults think cannabis should remain prohibited across the board.
So writes Kyle Jaeger in an article for Marijuana Moment. Jaeger notes that when asked about cannabis policy preferences, 87 percent of respondents said they agreed with enacting reform. Fifty-four percent said marijuana should be legal for both medical and recreational purposes, while 33 percent said it should be exclusively legal for medical use.
Jaeger makes the point that the survey revealed there is majority support for legalization in some form across every demographic—including age, race and political party affiliation.
For example, 93 percent of Democrats polled said they were in favor of reform. This included 66 percent who said marijuana should be legalized across the board for both recreational and medical use.
At the same time, 81 percent of Republicans polled also backed some kind of legalization, including a plurality (43 percent) who said it should be legal for both medical and recreational purposes.
The data reflects the opinions of 5,086 American adults and, according to Pew, builds upon a growing body of research showing rapidly shifting public opinions on marijuana prohibition, with an ever-increasing number of people expressing opposition to criminalizing people over cannabis.
To learn more, we urge you to read Kyle Jaeger’s reporting in the July 8, 2025 issue of Marijuana Moment.net.
Senior Cannabis Digest is compiled and edited by Joe Kohut and John Kohut. You can reach them at joe.kohut@gmail.com and at 347-528-8753.