From retirement communities to nursing homes, older Americans are increasingly turning to marijuana for relief from aches and pains; connecting retirement and cannabis. Many have embraced it as an alternative to powerful drugs like morphine, saying that marijuana is less addictive with fewer side effects, while some see it as a last resort.
Retirement and cannabis are on the rise. Ruth Brunn, who at 98 has neuropathy, is one of many elderly people finally saying ‘yes’ to marijuana. The nursing home in New York City where she lives, the Hebrew Home at Riverdale, is taking the unusual step of helping its residents use medical marijuana under a new program to treat various illnesses with an alternative to prescription drugs. While the staff will not store or administer the plant, residents are allowed to buy it from a dispensary, keep it in locked boxes in their rooms and take it on their own.
While there is no shortage of research on marijuana, relatively little of it has focused explicitly on older users even as their numbers grow—and not just in the United States. For instance, Americans for Safe Access, an advocacy group, helped open a research center in the Czech Republic that is evaluating its impact on older people. Cannabis has also been used for its medicinal purposes for years now in countries like Israel and Canada—countries who are paving the way with new dispensaries and programs benefiting the health of their citizens regardless of age.
When going to the dispensary, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the products and strains to choose from. There’s a ton of different strains on the shelf thanks to marketing strategies and innovative cannabis breeding. With so much information out there, it’s hard to know what to purchase when starting this journey. Let’s look at…
The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in Baltimore is inviting students to graduate under its Medical Cannabis Master of Science (M.S.) program. Stretching over two years, the program demonstrates growing acceptance for the cannabis plant, which is currently legal in 36 U.S. states for medical purposes. The M.S. Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics program…
Many veterans who’ve experienced military combat often suffer and cope with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is common for these veterans to always feel on edge, on the verge of panicking, or feeling emotionally numb. For veterans, PTSD (sometimes referred to as ‘shell shock’ or ‘combat stress’) can severely impact their livelihood. Fortunately, congressional committees…
Note: Veriheal does not support illegal drug use or illegally consuming alternative therapeutic substances, but acknowledges that it transpires because of the current illicit status. Of which we strive to change by advocating for research, legal access, and responsible consumption. One can say whatever they want about recreational drug use, but no one can deny…
Mindfulness—a meditative act that can open the door to inner peace and new perspectives—goes hand-in-hand with cannabis. Practiced by some 500 million people around the world, mindfulness, when mastered correctly, can aid you in achieving overall wellness and mental clarity. Since cannabis serves as a natural tool for introspection, reflection, and relaxation, the trichome-encrusted green…
For those who may not know, the number of cannabinoids we know about are few in comparison to the compounds on the…
The US Senate has proposed a bill that could potentially legalize cannabis on the federal level. Researchers have discovered the exact origins…
You may have wondered what the impact of cannabis legalization would be on the illicit market and the drugs accessed there. Well,…
