Every day, more adults in their 70s and over are using cannabis for the first time to treat a variety of different ailments. Some of these conditions include insomnia, depression, anxiety, and of course, chronic pain.
Many seniors grew up in the age of strict prohibition, where pot was mistakenly seen as a dangerous street drug. Science has now shown humanity that nothing can be further from the truth, and in fact cannabis provides needed relief for the millions around the world who use it everyday.
The list of benefits for using cannabis in your golden years goes on and on, but here are some of the best reasons why.
1. Cannabis reduces prescription drug dependency in seniors
Cannabis is a non-addictive substance that provides extensive relief to many conditions that arise as people get older.
Pharmaceutical drugs such as opioids not only have extreme side effects, but they are also highly addictive and can make the patient dependent on manufactured painkillers. Cannabis on the other hand is a much safer alternative and is ingested through your natural Endocannabinoid system.
2. Cannabis helps with depression
Marijuana has the ability to promote laughter which increases your immune system, protects the heart, and decreases stress. Research has shown that laughter also increases lifespan as well.
3. Marijuana is safer than pharmaceutical drugs
Not a single person has ever died from a marijuana overdose. As most Western societies know, the same can’t be said for opioids.
A 30 year study of cannabis found that a 140 pound adult would need to consume over 4 pounds of marijuana at one time to reach toxic levels, and even that still would not be a fatal dose.
4. Cannabis is not physically addictive
A concern for a lot of seniors is that if they start using marijuana they will become addicted. Well, fear not!
Anyone who takes marijuana on a daily basis can stop cold if they want and the effects would garner the same response as quitting coffee.
5. Relief with no high
Many older people would like the relief that cannabis can provide, but they don’t want the high that comes with THC.
Well, problem solved. Cannabidiol or CBD as it’s commonly known is available as an extract or as its own strain. CBD is fantastic for pain relief, stimulates bone growth, suppresses muscular spasms and even reduces anxiety. All this without the pesky high, if you’re not into it.
6. Increases your appetite
One of the stereotypes that has existed for pot since the dawn of time is the marijuana munchies.
This common belief is completely correct. Cannabis is a wonderful way to get one’s appetite back, so much so that people receiving cancer treatment use pot as a way to combat the nausea of chemotherapy.
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So if you are old enough to get seniors discounts and still remember the days when Nancy Reagan told you to “just say no”, it’s safe to say that when talking about marijuana, she was wrong.
Cannabis is a natural, effective way to lead a healthier, happier life. Enjoy!
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I have been smoking marijuana since I was 16, and I’m 70 now. Even though my body has slowed down due to strokes and heart surgeries five years ago, I go to the gym three times a week, and my brain is still curious about a lot of things currently happening around the world. I am enjoying shatter these days. Very relaxing and I still love the high. Our province is already whining about “more research is needed”, blah, blah, blah.
There is one comment dated Oct. 24 where a person has COPD from long term smoking. The problem with smoking marijuana is that you get the toxins from burning it. If you are going to inhale it your best bet is to use a vaporizer as it only heats the pot to a specific temperature so that you do not inhale the toxins that is given off by smoking it like a cigarette. In my case I use oils and take it orally as I have problems with inhaling. It takes longer for the Hash oil to take affect but it also lasts longer. Pharmaceuticals are far too toxic and the side effects of those drugs are far too dangerous. I switched to marijuana several years ago and I use it daily. Doctors need to do their research and try to get away from pharmaceuticals because they are killing far too many people due to toxins. Nothing is perfect but Marijuana is far safer than drugs. This is your choice.
Hello, I am Canadian and have been ordering from you for some time, I am currently in the US for 6 months. Will you ship product to the States?
Thank you.
Nothing is ever mentioned about the hazards of smoking weed; medically speaking, or ethically speaking. You guys should really do some research on the toxic components of weed smoke, that is going directly and with full force into our lungs! I can’t smoke weed anymore because I have COPD from over fifty years of smoking weed. Do your research before you reckless promote smoking weed to seniors! It’s bad for our lungs, and no amount of THC or CBD ingredients will help alleviate or stop that damage to our lungs.
Old folks love marijuana in all of its forms, we love to grow our own medicine and make a little money. It is all so very good. My mother, at age 82 wrote an article for the Coptic Times entitled ‘Two Pluses for Ganja’, in which she stated that upon awakening she would take two puffs of a Ganja splif and then have a nice bowel movement followed by a nice appetite a half hour latter. You can not do better.