Welcome to Senior Cannabis Digest. This week we look at public opinion about legalizing cannabis, cannabis and aging, CBD and skincare and much more. Enjoy.
Cannabis and Public Policy
Poll results can provide a valuable snapshot of what folks are thinking, and according to a new poll from Emerson University, sixty-five percent of those polled think cannabis should be legal nationwide.
The 65 percent figure marks a five percentage point increase in support of legalization, compared to the results of a poll Emerson College conducted about the issue in October of 2024.
According to Kyle Jaeger, reporting for Marijuana Moment, majority support for reform extended across all age demographics, except those 70 and older, who are narrowly divided on legalization with 52 percent against and 48 percent in favor.
Said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, in a press release, “Support is highest among voters under 30 (71 percent) and in their 40s (74 percent).”
Added Kimball in an interview, “If Trump was to make a decision and legalize it, boy, that could really turn things around on his favorability, which has been pretty stagnant for the last few months.”
In his article, Jaeger noted that the results of the Emerson Poll are in line with the findings of a recent poll by the Pew Research Center that found that nearly nine in 10 Americans support legalizing cannabis in some form.
Still, talk is cheap until there is a vote to be taken or a bill to be signed into law. It will be interesting to see if this evidence of support for full legalization in this and other polls will nudge the Trump administration toward rescheduling as a compromise position.
More news as more news develops.
As always, Kyle Jaeger’s reporting is insightful and on point. To learn more, we urge you to read his article in the September 2, 2025 issue of Marijuana Moment.net.
Cannabis and Aging
“Cannabinoids hold promise for supporting healthy aging and enhancing the quality of life in older populations.” That’s a key takeaway from a new study by a group of British researchers that was published in the Journal of Cannabis Research.
The researchers reviewed recent literature in an effort to investigate the effect of cannabinoid use, particularly CBD and THC, on aging and longevity. They wrote that by synthesizing findings from preclinical models, clinical studies, and real-world evidence, they aimed to identify the potential of cannabinoids, in fostering healthy aging, mitigate age-related decline, and promote well-being in older populations.
The research team reviewed a total of eighteen preclinical and clinical studies involving cannabis. Preclinical research involves the testing of potential drugs in laboratory settings before human trials. Scientists use techniques such as cellular studies and animal testing to assess safety and efficacy. Clinical research tests drugs in humans to evaluate safety and efficacy. Clinical trials, central to this phase, involve researchers, healthcare providers, and participants to gather data on the drug’s performance.
The researchers contend the preclinical studies they reviewed showed promising results regarding the potential benefits of cannabinoids including improved lifespan, cognitive function, inflammation, memory, sleep quality, and social interaction. They acknowledged that the effects of THC appear more complex, with potential benefits at low doses and some drawbacks at higher doses.
They also came to the conclusion that the clinical studies they reviewed revealed potential therapeutic applications for cannabinoids in aging populations, although further research is needed to understand their mechanisms of action and long-term effects fully.
In addition, they also noted that current research suggests “minor” cannabinoids, such as CBG and CBN, can also contribute to brain health in an aging population by working synergistically with terpenes, such as myrcene and linalool, both of which have been found to promote neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory qualities.
While the researchers fully believe the material they reviewed supports the notion that cannabis use can contribute to longevity and healthy aging, they also contend that future research should focus on defining optimal dosages, investigate mechanisms of action, and explore the influence of cannabis use that is initiated in aging as opposed to lifetime exposure. They believe that clarifying these aspects is vital to informing public health strategies and developing targeted therapeutic interventions for age-related conditions.
Their article appeared in the July 29, 2025 issue of the Journal of Cannabis Research. To read an abstract of the study, click on the link that follows.
https://jcannabisresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42238-025-00267-x
Cannabis and Chronic Pain
There’s good news for residents of Texas who struggle with chronic pain. A recent change in the state’s medical cannabis program added chronic pain as a qualifying condition.
This programmatic change coincides with the release of findings of a new survey from the cannabis telehealth platform NuggMD that revealed that 91 percent of consumers polled feel that cannabis is especially effective in the treatment of that condition.
So says Kyle Jaeger, reporting for Marijuana Moment. According to Jaeger, that 91 percent figure included about 65 percent who said cannabis is “very effective” and 26 percent who said it’s “mildly effective” in pain management. Only four percent of respondents said marijuana it “not sufficiently effective” for chronic pain.
Said Andrew Graham, head of communications at NuggMD, “Per federal data, at least two million Texans use cannabis regularly. While I don’t know how many of them will qualify for access under the newly reformed law, our polling data shows that the reform makes available an effective, non-addictive option for pain relief that has never directly caused an overdose fatality.”
He added, “Cannabis should be legal in Texas for all adults, but the movement can and should celebrate incremental progress when and where it occurs. The expansion of qualifying conditions in Texas that Gov. Abbot endorsed with his signature will, without a doubt, save lives and reduce crime, thanks to the tireless work of veterans and patient advocate groups that instigated it.”
Jaeger noted that the NuggMD poll involved interviews with 391 cannabis consumers from August 21-24, with a 4.96 percentage point margin of error.
In his article, Jaeger also makes the point that additional changes to the Texas medical cannabis program include adding traumatic brain injury (TBI), Crohn’s disease and other inflammatory bowel diseases to the list of qualifying conditions, and allowing end-of-life patients in palliative or hospice care to use marijuana.
In a separate, but related move, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) in Texas has taken steps to implement medical cannabis expansion by letting physicians recommend new qualifying conditions for cannabis and create standards for allowable inhalation devices.
As always, Kyle Jaeger’s reporting is crisp, clear and concise. To learn more, we suggest reading his article in the September 1, 2025 issue of Marijuana Moment.net.
Cannabis and Skin Care
CBD shows promise in managing skin cancers (melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, Kaposi sarcoma) and pigmentation disorders such as melasma and vitiligo.
That’s the key finding revealed by a comprehensive review of scientific literature conducted by a group of Romanian researchers. Their research resulted in an article that was published in the journal Biomolecules.
According to the research team, CBD exhibits diverse biological effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, analgesic, lipostatic, antiproliferative, moisturising, and anti-ageing properties through interactions with the skin’s endocannabinoid system.
In their paper the researchers wrote that there is both preclinical and clinical evidence that supports CBD’s effectiveness in managing acne, psoriasis (including scalp psoriasis), atopic and seborrheic dermatitis, and allergic contact dermatitis. CBD also relieves pruritus through neuroimmune modulation and promotes wound healing in conditions such as pyoderma gangrenosum — a condition that causes large, painful sores on the skin — and epidermolysis bullosa — an inherited condition that causes fragile, blistering skin. In hair disorders such as androgenetic alopecia, it aids follicular regeneration.
The researchers believe that CBD’s beneficial effects result from enhancing skin rejuvenation by reducing oxidative stress and boosting collagen and hydration.
However, the researchers also acknowledge that there are challenges regarding CBD’s physicochemical stability, its ability to penetrate the skin, and regulatory standardisation, particularly of consumer products containing CBD, that can mitigate its effectiveness when used in treatment.
They also believe that as consumer demand for natural, multifunctional skincare grows, further research is essential to validate CBD’s long-term safety, efficacy, and optimal formulation strategies.
The article describing the research appeared in the August 23, 2025 issue of the journal Biomolecules. To read an abstract of the study, click on the link that follows.
https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/9/1219
Notable Numbers
This week’s notable number is 32. That’s the number of state attorneys general who have called on congressional leaders in the U.S. House and Senate to take up legislation to provide a safe harbor for financial institutions that want to serve the cannabis industry.
So says Tony Lange reporting for Cannabis Business Times. According to Lange, attorneys general from 28 states, Washington, D.C., and three U.S. territories recently sent a letter in which they expressed their support for the Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation (SAFER) Banking Act.
Despite legalization at the state level, the fact that cannabis remains illegal at the federal level makes most major banks reluctant to serve cannabis businesses since federal anti-money laundering laws prohibit depository institutions from handling money that comes directly from criminal activities, such as cannabis sales. Given that cannabis remains illegal at the federal level, cannabis sales remain illegal for federal matters even if cannabis is legal at the state level.
It’s been noted by many that this position is more than an inconvenience. In addition to keeping the retail side of the cannabis sector a cash business, lack of access to banking services can also make it difficult for businesses to raise capital, get licensed and become profitable, since the current banking restrictions make it difficult for most cannabis businesses to overcome the tax burden they face under rule 280E of the federal tax code.
The authors of the letter also wrote, “It is increasingly critical to move cannabis commerce into the regulated banking system. Nationwide, regulated cannabis businesses provided approximately 425,000 jobs in 2024. These businesses have a sizable economic impact, which is only expected to grow. Industry experts project that combined U.S. annual sales of regulated cannabis could reach $34 billion by the end of 2025.”
The attorneys general also wrote that the currently proposed banking reform known as the SAFER Banking Act would help ensure that state governments are able to properly collect tax revenues and conduct financial oversight.
There has yet to be a formal response to the letter.
Tony Lange does an excellent job of unpacking a complicated issue. To learn more, we urge you to read his article in the August 27, 2025 issue of CannabisBusinessTimes.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.