What is the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population turning to cannabis as a medication? Kids? Millennials? No, it’s Seniors.
From 2013 to 2014 the number of cannabis users 55 years old or older has grown from 2.8 million to 4.3 million according to CBS News. My guess is, with that kind of growth the numbers since 2014 may have doubled by now, and they show no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Why is that?
I’m a senior, and so are a lot of my friends. We are all aging and with that aging comes health issues. It is unavoidable. We weren’t built to last forever. As we age, chances are we will all need medications at some point. Seniors are tired of having pills thrown at them for every little thing, including pills to combat the side effects of the drugs they are already taking, and are really starting to question the real need for their growing list of Big Pharma medications.
Steve DeAngelo of Harborside Health Center in Oakland, CA, the largest medical cannabis dispensary in the nation right now, says that he believes seniors are the segment of the population who may benefit the most from cannabis medicine, but are also the most likely to stand in opposition of cannabis reform. I’m not sure I agree, because the seniors I meet are very curious about cannabis and barrage me with questions regarding its efficacy, not its illegality. That may have been true at one time, but the numbers show this is changing rapidly.
One reason cannabis is gaining popularity with seniors is that they are baby boomers, many of whom have had some experience with cannabis in their younger years and realize that it didn’t do them any harm then, even though they were just using it for fun. They are leery of the anti-marijuana hype. These cannabis-seasoned folks are skeptical of the War on Drugs propaganda that has prevailed for decades, and aren’t as afraid of cannabis as you might think. They are more experienced with government propaganda too and call “bull shit” when they see it.
Most are retired (or close to it), and retirees don’t have to worry about being drug tested for their jobs. They are sick from prescription drug side effects, they are sick of insurance companies not covering many of their drugs, and some of them are even excited at the prospect of using cannabis again.
Seniors do seem to be a bit afraid of one thing. They are afraid of offending or catching grief from their peers and close family members. That fear is usually dispelled when they try it for the first time and it works well for them. If you know the benefits of cannabis medicine you need to step up and dispel this fear with your older friend or family member.
My husband had to go to the ER for a respiratory issue earlier this week. He spoke with a healthcare worker there who has a dad in his mid 70s. This man had a painful shoulder ailment that prevented him from getting more than a few hours of sleep each night. We all know how important sleep is to our health and general well being, and this common complaint from seniors is valid and important. Without sleep our bodies are in a health declination no matter what age we are. It’s science. This healthcare worker had a little come-to-Jesus meeting with dad and offered up a medicated brownie. He was instructed to stay home, lay down and stay calm if he felt odd or dizzy, that nothing bad or life threatening would happen when he used the brownie, and to call if he needed help or had any questions. He didn’t need help and got 8+ hours of sleep for the first time in many years. He was amazed and elated, and applied the next day to get a medical cannabis card through the state Department of Health. He hasn’t lost a night of sleep since.
If you know a senior citizen that you believe could benefit from a medical cannabis product, step up and have that talk. Many of the drugs they are prescribed have life threatening side effects and they are led to believe these drugs are their only way to feel better. We know a better way. Cannabis may not be the answer to all health problems, but the list is expanding daily. It will definitely not hurt. If the worst that can happen is that they fall asleep, that may also be the best thing that has happened to them in years.
Educate yourselves. Learn about cannabis in relation to your loved one’s ailments. Share your knowledge and share your medicine, (be sure it is the right kind). Even though it may be illegal to do so, you may certainly be changing that person’s life for the better. To me, that far outweighs the minimal risk. It is all about their quality of life. When it makes them feel better they tell their friends, who tell their friends, and hopefully everyone shares why they are feeling so much better with their doctors too. That will help everyone win this asinine War on Drugs.
Teach, your parents well.