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.
Many use cannabis for its pain-relieving properties. Smoking flower, or having a cup of cannabis-infused tea, can be just the thing to help you deal with the symptoms of chronic pain. There are many who choose to use cannabis to combat pain and it is even used when one has a cold or the flu…
Lady Liberty just got a little greener in the state of New York. New York’s recent cannabis legalization has ended their decades-long support of draconian federal cannabis prohibition. The 99th mayor of New York City, Fiorello Henry LaGuardia, would be pleased to see the will of the people finally fulfilled. The 1944 LaGuardia Committee reports…
“Do you want an indica or a sativa?” is a common first question being asked by those who are dispensing cannabis along with the question “Is this an indica or a sativa?” from cannabis consumers. However, these questions have largely been rendered obsolete thanks to further research. Because cannabis strains have been crossbred so much,…
Pennsylvania, what do you think about when you hear the mention of this state? A lot of people think about chocolate thanks to a place called Hershey, Pennsylvania. Another thought that comes to mind with the mention of Pennsylvania is cheesesteak subs that are famous in Philadelphia. Philadelphia is also responsible for starting the Philly…
Dr. Raphael Mechoulam is already legendary in the cannabis community, where he has been dubbed the “Father of Cannabis”. Dr. Mechoulam is acclaimed for his discovery of the cannabinoid called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as well as for coining the concept known as the ‘entourage effect’. Dr. Mechoulam has been researching cannabis for a longer period than…
Maine proposed a bill that would legalize psilocybin therapy and another bill that decriminalizes all other illicit drugs. The state of Texas…
On April 12th New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed legislation that officially legalized recreational cannabis for the state. Medical cannabis was…
Cannabis legalization is becoming more widespread in our nation, which means more people have access to legal cannabis than ever before in…
