Cannabis Across Life: Seniors and Medical Marijuana

Seniors carry the wisdom of generations, gained from lived experiences and lessons passed down through the ages. The people and legends of yesteryear inevitably shape who we are today and how we see the world. As a senior, you’ve undoubtedly touched countless lives across all generations in meaningful ways – more often and deeper than you will ever know.

My great-grandmother was a midwife and tropical remedy healer, a key founding member of the rural town I live in today, Cartagena, Costa Rica. She was illiterate, but carried ancient knowledge and a passion to heal people and animals using natural remedies learned from oral tradition. She inspired me to study cannabis and become the healer I am today. Now I write, coach, and educate millions of patients and providers alike while living in our beloved Cartagena.

If you’re a senior, or one of your loved ones is an older adult, you’re here because you’re also inspired to look for natural healing remedies like medical cannabis and hemp. Whether you’re enlightened to cannabis by way of family, friends, or out of curiosity for your condition – you’re not alone! You’re joining the fastest-growing segment of the cannabis population.

Why Is Cannabis Popular Among Seniors?

Today, a remarkable one in five older adults (21%) uses some form of cannabis, including edibles, flower, vaporizers, and more. That’s an exponential increase from 0.4% in 2006–’07, and 2.9% from 2015 to ‘16. This is a testament to legalization efforts, but also reflects the stark realities of a growing, aging population suffering from ever-increasing but unmet chronic health issues.

In a world of suboptimal pharmaceuticals, integrative approaches like medical cannabis are in demand. According to Veriheal data, seniors signing up for medical cannabis also try many alternative treatments like:

• Physical Exercise (21%)
• Chiropractic (11%)
• Therapeutic (10%)
• Dietary (9%)
• Acupuncture (5%)
• Yoga (5%)
• Tai Chi (1%)
• Or other (22%)

Dr. Mikhail Kogan, MD, is a leading integrative geriatric doctor also known worldwide for his work on cannabis, detailed in his new book. He’s also my mentor, colleague, friend, and Medical Director of the GW Center for Integrative Medicine in DC, where I see our most complex cannabis cases. When asked why cannabis works so well for seniors, Dr. Kogan noted,

“Medical cannabis is a valuable option for managing many conditions and symptoms related to aging.  It provides effective relief for chronic pain, reducing reliance on opioids and their associated risks. Its anti-inflammatory, appetite-stimulating, and antiemetic effects benefit conditions like cachexia, nausea, and loss of appetite. Cannabis can also improve sleep and reduce anxiety, depression, or agitation, particularly in dementia. Moreover, its neuroprotective and antioxidant properties may support cognitive health and alleviate neurodegenerative symptoms. With careful dosing and monitoring, medical cannabis offers a safe, holistic approach to enhancing quality of life for older adults.”

This wide range of accessible benefits increases hope, health, wellbeing, and quality of life for many seniors in a safe and natural way. Especially for those dealing with difficult-to-treat conditions and have few or no other options.

Common Uses And Benefits

2023 research on cannabis use patterns in older adults suggests that medical cannabis use increases with age. Nearly two-thirds of cannabis consumers over age 80 do so for medical reasons, and adults 80+ also consume the most frequently among older adults. The authors state these findings presumably demonstrate higher medical needs. 

The study also reveals that seniors typically endorse reasons like:

• Arthritis (61%) 
• Depression (36%)
• Asthma (20%)
• COPD (18%)

Additionally, internal Veriheal data shows more of the most common conditions for medical cannabis in people 65 and older:

• Chronic pain (56%)
• Trouble Sleeping (47%)
• Arthritis (33%)
• Other (27%)
• Muscle spasm (17%)
• Cancer (9%)
• Nausea (6%)
• Immune deficiency (3%)
• Seizures (1%)
• Crohn’s disease (1%)
• HIV/AIDS (<1%)

Surprisingly, most seniors applying for medical cannabis recommendations through Veriheal report using cannabis or CBD before (36.7% and 37.7%, respectively), or even currently (25% and 20.5%). Only 16.2% said they’ve never used cannabis before, and 32.2% hadn’t tried CBD. This further supports research findings that suggest increasing age causes more medical needs, and logically greater medical cannabis use.

Side Effects, Risks, and Hazards

Common Side Effects

All substances have side effects, including cannabis. The side effects are less risky than other medications, and most often related to the dose and route of THC, the main intoxicating component. These are generally non-serious, temporary, and include:

• Dizziness 
• Cognitive impairment
• Dry mouth and eyes
• Fast heart rate
• Anxiety
• Drowsiness
• Fatigue 

You cannot fatally overdose on THC or cannabis directly, as with opioids. Cannabinoids like CBD are anxiety-reducing and more tolerable than THC, and may even reduce cravings for alcohol and opioids. CBD can still have mild to moderate side effects, typically in very large doses over a few hundred milligrams, including:

• Gastrointestinal distress
  • Nausea
  • Upset stomach 
  • Diarrhea
• Sleepiness
• Loss of appetite
• High liver enzymes (if combined with anti-seizure medications such as clobazam or valproate)

Dosing Considerations

Beginner doses for seniors should start with or less than 5 mg THC by mouth to avoid side effects. Elderly persons who are frail, on multiple medications, or THC-sensitive should consider microdosing with 2.5–5mg THC first, with supervision. Consider increasing the dose by 2.5mg by mouth every 1–2 days until you know how THC affects you or desired results are achieved.

Aging causes many changes to how we process cannabis. Our bodies get drier, become more sensitive, and take longer to metabolize medications, especially if you’re on several prescriptions and take cannabis at the same time. Serious drug interactions are rare, involving antiseizure medications, so always ask your provider before taking cannabinoids.

Falling Hazard

For some, the dizziness brought on by THC can be complicated by:

• Lightheadedness upon standing
• Low blood pressure upon standing

These factors could cause falls or even hip fractures in susceptible older adults. Being conscientious with your provider-recommended dose, housing environment (e.g., rugs, steps), staying hydrated, and having a caregiver present can minimize this risk.

Cardiopulmonary Risks

About 10% of all older adults choose to smoke cannabis. Smoking is the preference of about half of all cannabis-consuming older adults, consistent with internal Veriheal data.

While popular, smoking cannabis can bring short and long-term side effects like:

• Coughing
• Mucus and phlegm
• Chronic bronchitis

For my patients, I recommend exploring dry herb vaporizing or non-inhalational routes to avoid negative airway effects. If you have cardiovascular disease, smoking cannabis may trigger a heart attack or other adverse cardiovascular event like a stroke or atrial fibrillation.

Dependence

THC is intoxicating, and for some, its use may become problematic. Rates of cannabis use disorder (CUD) among adults 65+ are increasing, tripling from 0.1% to 0.3% between 2001 and 2013. Data indicates this is related to increasing THC potency, vastly overtaking CBD in today’s cannabis, going up from 3.5% THC in 1994 to 12.3% in 2012.

Using high-THC cannabis products, having a mental health condition, or misusing other substances increases this risk. If you are struggling with CUD, talk openly with your trusted provider or therapist.

Cannabis Supports Healthy Aging

Brain Health and Dementia

We used to think neurons like brain cells are irreplaceable, which isn’t true according to new science. Thankfully, cannabis use in older age may be associated with improved brain health and has positive long-term brain structure effects. 

Not only that, but whole-plant cannabis compounds like cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and stilbenes have many effects that support brain health including:

• Neuroprotective
• Neuroregenerative
• Pro-cognitive
• Pro-memory
• Directly anti-aging 
• Calming
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antioxidant
• Healthier gut-brain-bone axis

Unfortunately, dementia is a common affliction associated with increasing old age, with Alzheimer’s being most common. Neurodegeneration and inflammation are hallmarks of brain diseases, which whole-plant cannabis compounds can target at their root. Cannabis can also help with managing common symptoms of dementia, such as:

• Agitation
• Depression 
• Anxiety
• Sleep disturbances
• Refusing food
• Low appetite
• Nocturnal activity
• Motor symptoms in Parkinson’s and Huntington’s

You’ll often hear that more research is needed in these areas, and that’s true. I recently met a scientist investigating yet another way that whole-plant cannabis can mitigate aging.

Mitochondria as New Anti-Aging Targets

Daniel Gana, MSc, is a pharmaceutical microbiologist, copywriter, and my research colleague at BioSource Botanicals. He recently taught me about how the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is also embedded within mitochondria themselves and may regulate the effects of aging and disease. 

This research makes sense, given we know mitochondria are ancient structures that were once independent cells, and are inherited only from our mothers. They already carry their own DNA, RNA, ribosomes – and now endocannabinoid system. If further elucidated, it could change the face of cannabis medicine forever.

Mitochondria are important cell structures that promote energy, longevity, and several anti-aging functions. We already know that whole-plant cannabis compounds can target mitochondria, mitochondrial and endocannabinoid receptors (i.e., mtCB1R and CB1), and more, to improve our brain health and wellbeing as we age. Particularly if the components are preserved well enough to work together more efficiently.

This new, evidence-based theory behind these ancient structures is distinct from our endocannabinoid system, resembling the endocannabinoidome concept we recognize today. In his book,  shares a pictographic summary:

Accompanying the graphic, Gana explains the process in full detail: 

“Cells rely on the mitochondria to produce a steady supply of energy essential for their survival. Mitochondrial functions are, however, modulated by a unique endocannabinoid system present in mitochondrial membranes. This ECS influences mitochondrial functions including energy production, calcium regulation, and stress response. The ECS achieves this in three simple ways; (1) regulate the formation of new mitochondria; (2)change the function and constituents of the mitochondria to suit a particular activity, e.g. antioxidant capacity, [and] (3) control electron transport chain to support overall well-being

The ECS in mitochondrial membranes can serve as a target for whole plant compounds like cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids which work singly or synergistically to reduce oxidative stress and maintain mitochondrial functions.”

Biology teaches us that “mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell” that keep us going. Based on emerging research, they can likely go much further in fighting aging and disease using pristine, whole-plant cannabis extracts. I recently joined Daniel in his investigation, and our cutting-edge research is underway at BioSource Botanicals.

Bottom line

If you’re a senior blessed with health, I wish you the best in enjoying your golden years. If you’re caring for yourself or a loved one, speak with a knowledgeable healthcare professional and cannabis coach about the best ways to use cannabis.

Cannabis supports healthier aging in many ways, with or without THC. I’m fortunate to be in a position where I’ve helped many seniors and their families finally get relief from insomnia, pain, cancer, dementia, and more with cannabis.

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