Cannabis and Seniors

By Alice Blunt

When many people think of cannabis users, the first image that comes to mind is of young people – teenagers or young adults – enjoying edibles at a concert or smoking a joint at a party. It therefore may be surprising to learn that in the United States, the population experiencing significant increases in cannabis use is the older age group, those fifty years and up. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health, researchers found that cannabis use in this segment of the population increased about 250 percent from 2006 to 2013 (source 1).  Why is pot use among seniors on the rise?  Are there special considerations that those on the golden side of the age spectrum may need to consider before hopping aboard the pot bandwagon?

Regardless of how eager or hesitant you might be to try cannabis for therapeutic reasons, most people are at least a bit cautious regarding the laws in their particular region.

This resource on medical marijuana laws can help you figure out the next safe and legal steps in acquiring medical marijuana or CBD to help potentially ease your symptoms (source 2).

Marijuana: Many Uses Among Seniors

The majority of the rise in marijuana use among seniors is due to a rise in marijuana being increasingly available. Many medical issues and symptoms that marijuana is said to have the potential to ease are those the senior population encounters on a more regular basis than younger folk do. 

Seniors also gravitate towards marijuana for its anecdotal therapeutic benefits, as it is perceived a healthier alternative to pharmaceuticals, although the research for this is not conclusive. In general, seniors are more likely than the rest of the population to take multiple prescriptions, which can be challenging to manage as health conditions progress. 

Marijuana as the “Happy Drug”

You know how some strains of marijuana are known to promote the giggles and a “happy high”?  This can be especially good news for seniors, who are said to be at a greater risk for social isolation. Instead of suffering a decline in health, seniors who use marijuana can potentially experience elevated moods and increased motivation to do the things they love to do.  Even the typically friendly nature of marijuana ingestion – sharing a bowl of bud among friends or passing around a joint before a movie – helps increase that social factor important in fighting negative mood. 

And as for “he who laughs, lasts”?  Some surprising proven health benefits of laughter include increased immune systems functioning, protection for the heart, decreased stress levels, decreased levels of pain and relaxed muscles.  Also, research shows that laughter increases life span, so those seniors who are giggling from marijuana use may be around longer to enjoy their happy life

The Need for More Research

The federal classification of cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug in the United States hampers serious research and its effects on seniors (or on any other segment of the population, for that matter).  Even in Canada, marijuana has not gone through the same rigorous testing that regular pharmaceutical drugs have. Therefore, seniors interested in using marijuana for medical reasons should talk with their doctor to determine if marijuana could be beneficial for their specific issues or ailments. While it can still take some hunting to find a doctor willing to recommend or prescribe weed, for some, the natural benefits are well worth the effort.