Welcome to Senior Cannabis Digest. This week we look at treating Parkinson’s disease with cannabis, an op-ed on rescheduling from cannabis advocate Ricky Williams, the benefits of using cannabis topicals and more. Enjoy.
Cannabis News and Notes
There may be hopeful news for those afflicted with Parkinson’s disease. A study by a group of Brazilian researchers indicates adding cannabis-based medicine to a patient’s treatment plan may be beneficial.
Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder of the nervous system that worsens over time. Symptoms may include: tremor, slowed movement, also called bradykinesia, rigid muscles, poor posture and balance, loss of automatic movements, speech changes and non-motor symptoms, such as depression, anxiety and problems sleeping.
The study, which appeared in the Brazilian Journal of Pharmacognosy, focused on the treatment of a single individual, an 83-year-old male Parkinson’s disease patient whose severe motor symptoms — including tremors and gait difficulties — persisted despite treatment with levodopa, a drug that converts into dopamine in the brain, and is designed to improve Parkinson’s symptoms.
During the course of the study, THC-rich cannabis oil was added to the patient’s therapeutic plan. Over 9 months, the patient received cannabis oils of differing THC and CBD concentrations.
Clinical outcomes resulting from the addition of cannabis oil were assessed periodically using the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (primary outcome), alongside scales that also evaluated psychiatric symptoms, quality of life, and cognition.
At 8 months, a dose of 18.25 mg THC/day (divided into three administrations) yielded the patient’s self-reported peak physical well-being and a 54.55 percent reduction in Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale scores, indicating significant motor symptom improvement.
The research team also reported that secondary benefits of the cannabis oil being added to the treatment plan included enhanced quality of life and improved sleep, in addition to reduced depressive and anxious symptoms. No significant adverse effects were reported.
The extremely small sample size aside, the research team contends their findings suggest that high-dose THC may be safe and effective for mitigating motor and non-motor Parkinson’s disease symptoms. They also believe that cannabinoids, particularly THC, show therapeutic potential for Parkinson’s disease management, though larger studies are needed to confirm long-term efficacy and safety.
To learn more, you can read an abstract of the study, which appeared in the July 21, 2025 issue of the Brazilian Journal of Pharmacognosy. Simply click on the following link.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43450-025-00675-3
Cannabis Quote of the Week
“My journey with cannabis isn’t just theory. As a former professional athlete, I faced chronic pain and mental health struggles that traditional medicine often didn’t fully address. Cannabis became my ally in regaining control over my body and mind. It helped me manage persistent injuries, reduce reliance on opioids and find clarity in my daily life.
My experience has shown me that cannabis isn’t about getting high – it’s about healing. This personal struggle fuels my passion for reform, because I believe everyone deserves access to safe, effective treatment that can truly make a difference.
And yes, it would make our country safer – because I believe rescheduling is one of the most effective tools we have to fight the illicit market that is thriving under the current system…..One way to fight the illicit cannabis market is to strengthen the legal one. When consumers have safe, tested, affordable cannabis from licensed businesses, they have another choice than street dealers or black-market suppliers. And when those legal businesses can compete on a level playing field – without being punished by outdated federal tax rules – they can help drive criminal actors out of the market.” —Ricky Williams
Mr. Williams, a former NFL running back and the 1998 Heisman Trophy winner, is a longtime medical cannabis advocate. He is also the President and Co-Founder of Highsman, a lifestyle cannabis brand that he personally curates, from cannabis to accessories. His comments are taken from an op-ed he penned for USA Today.
In his article, Mr. Williams also notes that rescheduling would open the door for research and medical access and it would also give legitimate companies the chance to compete fairly, create jobs and contribute to local economies without being penalized for operating in the open.
In addition, he denies that rescheduling cannabis to Schedule III status legalizes adult use nationwide and is a “backdoor” approach to legalization. Rather, he contends, it’s just the most practical way to bring cannabis policy in line with science, allowing doctors to prescribe, researchers to study and businesses to operate without being punished under outdated federal rules.
You can learn much more by reading the op-ed by Ricky Williams that appears in the August 24, 2025 issue of usatoday.com.
Cannabis Corner
Step aside Freaky Friday. Later for you, Backwards Day. In a move that demonstrates that the cannabis sector is rife with surprises and strange bedfellows, the Republican National Committee has a new leader, one who supports legalizing marijuana and has discussed his own use of cannabis products.
According to Tom Angell, reporting for Marijuana Moment, Florida state Sen. Joe Gruters (R), was elected chairman of the RNC at a recent party meeting in Atlanta.
Endorsed for the post by President Trump, Gruters is a cannabis advocate who supported last year’s Amendment 3 in Florida, an industry-backed initiative that would have legalized and regulated cannabis for adults in the state. The amendment failed and put Gruters at odds with Florida’s Governor, Ron DeSantis.
Angell noted that in an interview, Gruters likened home cannabis cultivation to home beer brewing or winemaking. Said Gruters, “Florida is a freedom state. I believe in freedom. If you really want to do that stuff, and you want to take the time, then by all means go and do it, as long as you do it in a regulated way to where nobody else is getting hurt and you’re taking responsibility.”
In another interview he described his experience taking a cannabis infused gummy while on vacation in Las Vegas. He has also stated that he sees legalizing cannabis as a way to attract new, younger voters to the Republican Party.
Gruters’s ascension to the post is not nothing, but just how much of a something it is will take time to tell. It may position him to lobby the President on rescheduling or it may just amount to another round of smoke and mirrors in “Canna World,” a factoid that entertains journalists, but not much else.
Maybe, in the best of all worlds, Gruters’s position on cannabis would be seen as just another aspect of his political pedigree, nothing more or less, something akin to being a member of the Chamber of Commerce or the Odd Fellows.
Tom Angell is editor of Marijuana Moment and, as always, his reporting is clear, concise and on point. To learn more, we suggest reading his article in the August 22, 2025 issue of Marijuana Moment.net.
Tips on Topicals
Not everyone who uses cannabis is trying to catch a buzz. Some consumers are turning to cannabis topicals in an effort to seek relief from painful skin conditions, such as psoriasis, eczema, and even joint pain. So says Ben Hartman, reporting for The Cannigma.
According to Hartman, the term cannabis topicals covers a wide array of creams, salves, roll-ons, gels — and even personal lubricants — that are made with cannabis and are meant to be applied directly to the skin.
Hartman notes that when a person smokes cannabis, the cannabinoids enter the bloodstream through the lungs, while edibles are absorbed inside the gut.
Topicals work very differently. Topical cannabis products, such as salves and ointment, are designed to activate the endocannabinoid receptors in a person’s skin. However, it should be noted that topicals are most effective for targeted, localized treatment and are not intoxicating.
Hartman acknowledges that while researchers have yet to produce a body of research that substantiates the effectiveness of topicals, there is a growing body of anecdotal evidence from cannabis consumers that support their effectiveness.
In his article, Hartman offers the following tips:
• Be patient. Consumers who have found success using cannabis topicals often describe it as part of a long-term, daily regimen. Don’t expect to see or feel results overnight, and try not to give up right away. Many who have experienced the benefit of cannabis topicals acknowledge it can take a while.
• Don’t smoke your cannabis salve. It won’t accomplish anything other than possibly producing a hazardous throat and lung irritation.
• Be sure to read the ingredients of commercially produced store-bought salves. Don’t use anything that you may be allergic to, and make sure to only use the salve externally, especially if it contains potential irritants, such as menthol or eucalyptus.
If you would like to make your own cannabis salve at home, Hartman includes a detailed recipe in his article. Should you make your own salve, remember light and heat can degrade the potency of cannabis products over time, so be sure to keep your salve in a cool, dark place in your house.
Ben Hartman’s reporting on the topical trend is first rate. To learn more, we suggest reading his article in the May 8, 2025 issue of The Cannigma.com.
://cannigma.com/recipes/cannabis-salve-recipe/?
Medical Cannabis and Gun Ownership
Another round has been fired in the ongoing debate over whether or not individuals who choose to use medical cannabis have surrendered their constitutional right to own a firearm.
In this case, a federal appeals court—the 11th Circuit Court to be precise— has ruled that a federal policy preventing drug users from possessing firearms could be violating the Second Amendment rights of certified medical cannabis patients.
According to Graham Abbott, reporting for Ganjapreneur, the court has ruled in favor of a group of Florida medical cannabis patients who argued that preventing them from owning guns because of their doctor-prescribed medical practices is unconstitutional.
Abbott notes in his article that federal law prevents anyone who consumes a federally controlled substance — such as cannabis, which remains Schedule I under federal law — from legally possessing firearms.
In this case, the plaintiffs argued that the federal policy violates the Second Amendment rights of state-approved medical cannabis patients. Also, according to Abbott, the lawsuit claimed the policy violates a congressional budget provision to prevent federal interference with state-level cannabis programs.
Said William Hall, attorney for the plaintiffs, “As we have argued from the beginning of this case, the 2nd Amendment does not permit the federal government to categorically deem all medical marijuana patients to be too dangerous to exercise their core constitutional rights.”
Abbott makes the point that this ruling is the second major victory for cannabis patient gun owners this year. In January, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reaffirmed that the federal prosecution of a Mississippi man who was caught possessing a firearm while having also consumed cannabis had violated the Second Amendment.
Clearly, the debate is not over and won’t be settled until the Supremes weigh in. It will be curious, however, to see which issue is settled first, rescheduling or gun ownership.
As always, Graham Abbott’s reporting is insightful and on point. To learn more, we suggest reading his article in the August 23, 2025 issue of Ganjapreneur.com.
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.