Older people are the fastest-growing group of cannabis users. That’s the word from Alex Halperin who covers cannabis-related matters for The Guardian. Halperin contends the number of seniors who turn on is growing as the stigma of marijuana use continues to fade. In addition, he also notes some are turning to various types of marijuana products as an alternative to prescription drugs. Read more at “The Mature Stoner: Why Are So Many Seniors Smoking Weed?” It’s in the January 14, 2019 issue of The Guardian.com.
Healthy Living
A growing number of seniors are turning to a compound found in the cannabis plant—cannabidiol or CBD for short—to address a number of age-related medical problems. That’s according to an article in AARP Magazine that reports there is a growing body of anecdotal evidence CBD can be used to deliver the calming benefits of marijuana without the high that comes from another active ingredient found in cannabis, called THC. Many older adults are now using CBD (which comes in a wide variety of forms, including salves, edibles and oils) as a treatment for both mental and physical health issues. Martin Lee, director of the Northern California nonprofit Project CBD, which promotes the use of the compound as a natural alternative to traditional forms of drug therapy, told the magazine, “We see really great interest amongst seniors.” More news is available in the June 17, 2018 issue of AARP magazine.
CBD Travel Advisory
If you use CBD products and are returning from a trip outside the U.S. you may have packed a problem in your luggage. The NBC affiliate in Dallas, Texas, reports customs officers have detained international travelers and seized their CBD products when field tests showed the products contained even a trace of THC—the active ingredient in cannabis that produces a high. NBC reporters found that in some cases passengers have been jailed on felony drug possession charges for a single bottle of a CBD product. Travelers need to remember the laws governing the possession and use of CBD products can differ from state to state. Visit www.nbcdfw.com/investigations and look for the story on traveling with CBD oil for more information
A New Look at Marijuana and Glaucoma.
Treating glaucoma with medical marijuana may be more complicated than first thought. Writing in The Fix, Kelly Burch reports that a study released in the journal Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science found there is now some evidence that while THC, an active ingredient in marijuana, can help treat glaucoma, another ingredient in cannabis, CBD—which is more often found in medical marijuana products—has the opposite effect and can undermine the efficiency of THC. Lead researcher Alex Straiker, of Indiana University’s Bloomington College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, said that the results show the need for more research, and caution when using marijuana or cannabis products to treat individuals with glaucoma or other conditions. Read Burch’s article in the December 21, 2018 edition of The Fix for more details.
Senior Living Trends
Increasingly, residents of retirement homes are finding they no longer have to be shy when it comes to using medical marijuana. For example, in an article for the New York Times, Winnie Hu reported that a medical marijuana education and support club started by residents of Rossmoor Walnut Creek, a retirement community east of San Francisco, grew to over 500 members in 2017. “I would be in a lot worse shape if I wasn’t using cannabis, both physically and mentally,” said Anita Mataraso, 72, a grandmother of six who is the program director and takes marijuana daily for arthritis and nerve pain, among other ailments. Robin Dale, executive director of the Washington Health Care Association, noted that at least a dozen assisted living facilities in the state of Washington had to create formal medical marijuana policies in response to demands from their residents. The association posted a sample medical marijuana policy on its website. Visit, “When Retirement Comes With a Daily Dose of Cannabis” by Winnie Hu in the February 19, 2017 edition of the New York Times.com to learn more.
Medical Matters
Seniors turning to marijuana as a sleep aid may find the Indica form of cannabis less of a strain. So says an article by Nick Schaller and Alex Milzer in a recent issue of Senior Directory. Indica is a strain, or type of marijuana best known for providing relaxation. Unlike Sativa, a type of marijuana which is said to boost energy, experts say Indica strains are more likely to produce a tired or drowsy effect at bedtime. For seniors who suffer from insomnia and would prefer using a more natural sleep aid rather than over the counter medications, the authors say Indica strains may be more likely to offer the desired effect. In addition, Indica provides a more powerful body high than Sativa, and therefore is said to be more useful as a pain suppressant and muscle relaxant. The authors make it clear that seniors and others should be sure to consult a doctor before ingesting medical marijuana. Go to seniordirectory.com/articles/info/is-sativa-or-indica-marijuana-better-for-seniors for more information.
Senior Cannabis Digest is compiled and edited by Joe Kohut and John Kohut. Contact us at seniorcannabisdigest@gmail.com.