Welcome to Senior Cannabis Digest. This week we look at the benefits of participating in a medical marijuana program, cannabis and sleep and public opinions about cannabis. Enjoy.
Medical Cannabis New and Notes
Top takeaway: Rescheduling may increase the value of having a medical marijuana card.
Enrolling in a medical marijuana program may be just what the doctor ordered – even if you live in a state where adult- use cannabis is also legal.
That’s the opinion of the writers at The Cannigma. In a recent article they make the point that the decision by the U.S. Department of Justice to move FDA-approved and state-licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act applies to medical products alone.
Thus, while adult-use (recreational) cannabis remains illegal at the federal level as a Schedule I substance, cannabis used in a medical context is legal and participation in a state-sponsored medical program can offer a variety of benefits.
For starters, there are sales tax advantages. They note that medical cannabis is typically taxed at 5 to 7 percent, while adult-use cannabis is often taxed at 13 to 37 percent, depending on the state. For a patient spending 200 dollars a month on cannabis, the tax savings alone are roughly 144 dollars a year. When spending 400 dollars a month, the savings are closer to 288 dollars. As the kids say, do the math.
Next, in many states, they note, medical marijuana patients have higher limits on the amount of cannabis they can purchase and possess and may have access to higher-potency products that adult-use programs often restrict.
Plus, in some states, such as Illinois, only medical cardholders may grow plants at home. Two plants, they estimate, could be enough to cover a year’s medical supply, which can erase a multi-thousand-dollar dispensary bill.
The writers at The Cannigma also contend that the most underrated benefit of a medical card is the relationship you can develop with a clinician who is knowledgeable when it comes to the potential benefits of cannabis and possible drug interactions — particularly with antiseizure medications, anticoagulants, SSRIs, and opioids.
A clinician can also recommend the best way to consume cannabis, based on your condition and offer guidance on dosing – something rarely available to recreational consumers.
Cannabis, they argue, is a real drug , with real interactions and real dose-response curves. Treating it merely as a wellness purchase from the adult-use shelf removes what they call “the medical scaffolding that makes it work.”
It should also be noted that individuals who are enrolled in a state-regulated medical marijuana program often have workplace protections that are not available to recreational consumers.
To learn more, we urge you to read the article on the benefits of membership in a medical marijuana program that appeared in the May 9, 2026 issue of The Cannigma.com.
Cannabis and Sleep
Top takeaway: A new study shows that two in three Americans who use cannabis say it helps them sleep.
A growing number of individuals are waking up to the fact that using cannabis may help them sleep better.
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), of the 2,007 American adults surveyed about their cannabis use and its sleep impacts, about 64 percent of self-reported cannabis consumers said using marijuana improved their sleep either significantly (35 percent) or slightly (29 percent). By contrast, 21 percent of cannabis users said it had no impact, while 16 percent said it worsened sleep.
The Academy also noted that a recent data analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that some people are regularly taking marijuana for insomnia. It reported that the CDC found that 3.7 percent of adults in the U.S. used marijuana or another cannabis product most days or every day in the past 30 days to help them fall or stay asleep.
That’s the word from Tom Angell, reporting on the survey for Marijuana Moment. He makes the point that the poll is not the first to indicate that marijuana may help people deal effectively with sleep issues.
For example, a study of more than 3,500 patients conducted and published in Germany by the medical cannabis and telehealth company Bloomwell found that using medical marijuana appears to help people reduce their use of a variety of medications, including sleeping aids. They also experience far fewer negative side effects after switching to cannabis from prescription drugs.
Kannan Ramar, former president of AASM, said in a press release, “While many states now allow the recreational and medical use of marijuana, its impact on sleep is multi-faceted.” He added, “Sleep is essential to health, so it is important to talk to a healthcare professional about any ongoing sleep concerns.”
Aside from cannabis, the AASM recommends the following tips if you are having a tough time getting a good night’s sleep.
Follow a consistent routine. Go to bed when you feel sleepy at night and wake up at the same time every morning, including weekends.
Create a relaxing environment. Create a calming space for sleep by making your bedroom dark, quiet, and comfortably cool.
Avoid sleep disruptors. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine in the evening.
Avoid screens before bedtime. As part of a relaxing bedtime routine, turn off electronics at least 30 to 60 minutes before going to bed.
Incorporate relaxation techniques. Deep breathing, meditation, or journaling can be effective ways to calm and clear the mind before bedtime.
To learn more, we suggest reading Tom Angell’s article in the June 2, 2026 issue of Marijuana Moment.net.
To read a press release describing the study, click on the following link.
https://aasm.org/marijuana-and-sleep-survey/?
Cannabis and Public Opinion
Top takeaway: A majority of U.S. adults (55 percent) believe marijuana should be legal for medical and recreational use.
A new release from The Pew Research Center offers a snapshot of the opinions Americans currently have about marijuana. These opinions are held at a time when more than half of Americans (53 percent) live in a place where recreational marijuana use is legal.
Here are three of the Center’s key findings.
#1 The vast majority of Americans support legalizing marijuana in some way, according to a January 2026 survey conducted by the Center. It found that a majority of U.S. adults (55 percent) say that marijuana should be legal for medical and recreational use while 33 percent say it should be legal for medical use only. Only 11 percent say the drug should not be legal at all.
#2 According to the same survey, views on marijuana legalization tend to differ by age, political party and other factors. For example, 63 percent of adults under 30 support legalization for both uses. That compares with 50 percent of those ages 65 to 74 and 34 percent of Americans ages 75 and older.
Also, two-thirds of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents favor legalization for both uses, compared with 44 percent of Republicans and GOP leaners.
#3 Support for marijuana legalization has increased dramatically in recent decades. In addition to asking specifically about medical and recreational use, both Pew Research Center and Gallup have asked Americans about legalizing marijuana use in a general way.
For example, according to Pew, when the Gallup poll last asked this question in 2025, 64 percent of adults supported legalization. While that’s a slight decrease from the 70 percent who favored legalization in 2023, it’s still close to double the 31 percent who favored it in 2000.
To learn more about the opinions Americans hold about legalization and other cannabis-related issues, we suggest reading the latest release on the topic from the Pew Center. Simply click on the following link.
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/05/26/facts-about-marijuana/
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.