Welcome to Senior Cannabis Digest. This week we look at the risks and rewards for seniors who use cannabis, a recent tally of research studies on cannabis, medical cannabis in Ukraine and more. Enjoy.
Cannabis and Seniors—Risks and Rewards
Increasingly, older Americans are using cannabis as a way to enhance wellness and manage many of the more challenging aspects of aging.
For instance, Lori Solomon in an article for Health Day, reports that a study recently published in Cannabis and Cannabinoids Research indicated that one in eight U.S. adults aged 50 to 80 years reported using cannabis in the past year.
The finding that just over 12 percent of older individuals use cannabis—many of them on a regular basis—adds to the significance of a recent article by Fenit Nirappil that appeared in the Washington Post. In his report Nirappil makes the point that for many, using cannabis is often a matter of balancing risk and reward.
Just because an individual has entered what is often referred to as their “golden years” does not mean they have received a “golden ticket” when it comes to cannabis.
Occasionally, older individuals can be susceptible to the same deleterious effects of cannabis use that can afflict some younger users, such as panic attacks or, in extreme cases, cannabis use disorder. This latter term refers to a psychological dependence on cannabis which can trigger mood swings, low motivation, poor concentration, and memory problems.
Nirappil also mentions in passing that cannabis can—in some cases—affect a number of medications used to treat or prevent heart disease, including blood pressure drugs, cholesterol-lowering statins, and drugs used to treat heart rhythm disorders. That’s why it’s important for those who are using cannabis on a regular basis to manage pain, anxiety or insomnia to discuss this with their doctor who may want to adjust the doses of their prescribed medications.
It is important to note, however, that all is not doom and gloom. Nirappil takes an even handed approach in his article, citing several examples where older individuals have found cannabis use to be beneficial without any downside. He also acknowledges that many seniors are using CBD products—which are cannabis-based —to address conditions, such as stress and pain, without negative consequences.
He also points out that experts advise seniors to be mindful that the effects of cannabis can vary widely based on the person and the form the product takes. That’s why they often advise to start with low doses.
You can learn much more by reading Fenit Nirappil‘s excellent article in the January 2, 2024 issue of The Washington Post.com.
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2024/01/02/cannabis-marijuana-seniors-sleep-side-effects/?
To read Lori Solomon’s article in the December 28, 2023 issue of Health Day.com, simply click on the link below.
Cannabis Stats of the Week
This week’s magic number is 32,000. According to an analysis from NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), over the past 10 years researchers have published more than 32,000 scientific papers on marijuana. That includes over 4,000 in 2023 alone.
That’s the word from Kyle Jaeger who reported on the story for Marijuana Moment. In his article Jaeger makes the point that what makes this number significant is that critics often claim that there hasn’t been a sufficient number of studies on cannabis and its effects to support legalization.
He also noted that 2023 was the third in the row that cannabis-related papers totaled over 4,000, as researchers continue to explore the risks and benefits of using cannabis.
Said NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano, “Despite claims by some that marijuana has yet to be subject to adequate scientific scrutiny, scientists’ interest in studying cannabis has increased exponentially in recent years, as has our understanding of the plant, its active constituents, their mechanisms of action, and their effects on both the user and upon society.”
He added, “It is time for politicians and others to stop assessing cannabis through the lens of ‘what we don’t know’ and instead start engaging in evidence-based discussions about marijuana and marijuana reform policies that are indicative of all that we do know.”
We have long held that when a critic says, “More research is needed before I can support legalization,” what they are really saying, in many cases, is that they have yet to find research that supports their opinion.
We aren’t going to tell you that there is special significance to the 32,000 figure. That would be like saying 32,000 equals enough. Nor can we say that all of the studies conducted over the past ten years are of equal value or were conducted under the same standards.
However, we are willing to say that in this case, more is better—and if the DEA does indeed reschedule cannabis one can expect to see another jump in the number of studies conducted by researchers.
For example, if you are wondering what that additional research might explore, Graham Abbott, writing for Ganjapreneur, recently reported that researchers with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, with the support of a $10 million federal grant, are set to track 10,000 U.S. cannabis patients from the start of their medical cannabis journey through at least a year to better understand the efficacy and effects of cannabis medicine.
We think that would be helpful.
To learn more, we urge you to read Kyle Jaeger’s article in the December 25, 2023 issue of Marijuana Moment.net.
To learn more about the Johns Hopkins research effort, we suggest reading Graham Abbott’s article in the December 29, 2023 issue of Ganjapreneur.com.
www.ganjapreneur.com/johns-hopkins-researchers-to-track-10000-medical-cannabis-patients/?
Cannabis in Wartime
In an effort to address the psychological trauma and stress-related diseases brought on by its war with Russia, Ukraine’s parliament has approved a draft law that legalizes the use of cannabis for medicinal, industrial, and research purposes. The draft law had previously been approved during its first reading on July 13 of 2023.
According to Dario Sabaghi, reporting for Forbes, the law will regulate the circulation of cannabis for medical, industrial, and scientific activities. However, recreational cannabis will remain illegal.
Sabaghi noted that given that numerous soldiers and civilians in Ukraine are grappling with Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a condition that can arise after exposure to traumatic events, such as the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the Ukrainian government sees potential benefits in the use of medical cannabis for treatment of that condition—an opinion supported by various scientific studies.
Sabaghi also reported that medical cannabis products will require electronic prescriptions tailored to individual patient needs. In addition, he points out that only licensed entities will be allowed to produce cannabis-based medicines. These facilities will be monitored around the clock by video surveillance accessible to the National Police.
Ukrainian MP Maria Mezentseva, deputy head of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration with the EU, recently estimated that over 70 percent of Ukrainians support the legalization of medical cannabis for medicinal use.
Said Mezentseva, “Today, we are talking about more than six million patients with various diagnoses who need medicines with medical cannabis. These are seriously ill patients, cancer patients, civilians with PTSD, military personnel, our heroes who need it every day.”
Leslie Bocksor, CEO and Chairman of Indoor Harvest Corp believes the legalization of medical cannabis in Ukraine may also offer business opportunities. Said Bocksor, “It’s a great opportunity to establish a foundational approach to health and wellness as Ukraine rebuilds, and it is an incredible economic opportunity for Western businesses to establish their foothold in this economy.”
Once it is signed by President Zelensky, who has already spoken in support of the measure, the new law will go into effect within six months.
To learn more, we strongly urge you to read Dario Sabaghi‘s clear and concise reporting in the December 21, 2023 issue of Forbes.com.
Treating Cognitive Impairment with Cannabis
Cancer patients who suffer from cognitive impairment may benefit from having cannabis added to their treatment program.
So says Frank Schuler in a paper written for the International Cannabis Business Conference. According to Schuler, Danish researchers reported that cancer patients who took daily doses of oral THC (dronabinol) over a 14 day period exhibited improved cognitive performance and experienced reductions in pain and depression.
Dronabinol is described as a man-made form of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that is used to treat loss of appetite which can cause weight loss in people with AIDS. lt is also used to treat severe nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy. The drug is usually given after medicines to control nausea and vomiting have been tried without success.
In his article, Schuler writes that in the study six patients with advanced cancer consumed dronabinol daily for two weeks.
He noted that the investigators reported, “[T]reating palliative cancer patients with dronabinol for 14 days … seems to improve cognition in different domains, including in speed of mental processing, nonverbal and in-the-moment reasoning, as well as short-term memory and working memory.”
Said Schuler, “The researchers also reported that THC dosing was associated with reductions in patients’ pain, depression, and fatigue. Some patients also reduced their use of other prescription medications during treatment – a finding that is consistent with numerous other studies.”
The study’s authors concluded: “[I]n this group of patients, the short-term use of dronabinol did not impair cognition. Rather, the treatment was associated with improved cognition, especially in the processing and reasoning domains. The study also found relief of pain, fatigue, and depressive symptoms, which may have had an indirect beneficial effect on cognitive functions. … The study results suggest dronabinol may have a beneficial effect on different parameters for patients with advanced cancer receiving palliative care.”
The study was published in the December 7, 2023 issue of the journal Palliative Medicine Reports.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38098857/
You can learn more by reading Frank Schuler’s article, which appeared on December 23, 2023 in the Science section of the Blog published by the International Cannabis Business Conference.
Here’s the link:
internationalcbc.com/thc-associated-with-cognitive-improvements-in-patients-with-advanced-cancer/?
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.
