Light up later in life

I think we tend to think of cannabis as a youth activity. But really, there’s nothing stopping adults from lighting up later in life. Old hippie stereotypes aside, many people of all ages use cannabis both recreationally and medicinally.

In fact, the results tell us that cannabis use among older adults has been increasing in recent years, at least in the United States. Between 2015 and 2018, cannabis use among adults over 65 increased from 2.4 percent to 4.2 percent. Some of this increase in use can be attributed to the destigmatization of the drug, but it appears that it is actually being driven by cannabis’ medicinal benefits.

A study by the Journal of the American Geriatrics found that about 78 percent of participants used cannabis to support their health. Pain relief seems to be the main benefit that medical cannabis offers to seniors. About 73 percent of older adults cite pain relief as their primary motivation for cannabis use. The participants in the study also use cannabis for other health problems. About 29 percent use it for insomnia, 24 percent for anxiety, and 17 percent for depression.

Of the seniors surveyed, most found that cannabis helped with their health problems. About three-quarters said they were either “rather” or “extremely” satisfied with taking the drug.

Are there risks for older adults using cannabis?

Although cannabis offers many benefits, are there any risks for seniors using the drug? Cannabis alters aspects of our physiological and psychological well-being. For example, ingesting cannabis increases our heart rate, which is a potential risk factor for anyone with cardiovascular disease. Also, older adults usually have medications that they take for their health conditions. The potential drug interactions with drugs and cannabis coursing through their veins could be another risk factor.

Luckily, these factors shouldn’t mean seniors can’t use cannabis at all. It simply means that additional steps may be required to ensure security. A visit to the doctor can help older adults determine whether or not cannabis is safe for them. Also, there’s now a cool new app that tells you how cannabis interacts with different medications. With this in mind, seniors can take the necessary precautions to ensure cannabis is right for them.

If you are an older adult and using cannabis you may be able to share your experiences below. Or if you have a similar story, please share it too! And don’t forget to follow us @cannalifenet.

footnote(s)