Seniors are increasingly choosing healthier options like Cannabis for these reasons.. 

With the legalization of recreational Cannabis Stores and the potential legalization of cannabis edibles, older Canadians are growing less hesitant to try cannabis as the stigma fades. Funny enough - It may surprise some that the fastest growing demographic of cannabis users is seniors. Seniors turning to Cannabis are about evenly split between those who never tried Cannabis before and those who haven’t used marijuana since the hippie era but now have a better understanding of its medicinal benefits.

A majority of seniors experience some sort of pain in their later years and Cannabis can assist with that. What’s interesting is that you often don’t need to ingest Cannabis to reap the medical benefits of the plant. There are rubs, creams, and lotions infused with THC that can seep through your skin and attack a small, singular area of pain.

Here are some reasons why Cannabis use is on the rise amongst older adults:

• It is not physically addictive - People can use marijuana regularly and then stop “cold turkey”.  Discontinuing the use of marijuana has a similar effect to quitting the consumption of coffee.
• It is safer than most commonly prescribed medications from doctors - One of the biggest complaints of seniors regarding their daily medications is that the first pill often causes side effects that the second one is supposed to “fix.” Doctors are finding the side effects of Cannabis are insignificant in comparison to the side effects of many prescription drugs. Cannabis has healing properties that target various conditions such as inflamed joints, high blood pressure, chronic pain, digestive disorders, constipation, headaches, insomnia, anxiety, cognitive awareness, and more.
• There are many different strains of the plant, some not providing the user with “the high” - Each plant has a unique personality. Strains vary in their effect, there are some that are very helpful for chronic pain relief and relaxing while others that can make one feel very focused and energized. The two major strains of marijuana are Sativa and Indica. You can learn more about the difference between the two in our previous SATIVA vs INDICA article.
• Doctors do recommend alternative ways of consumption other than smoking – there are Vaporizers, liquid extracts, infused honey, candy, baked goods, and other products to choose from which unfortunately Canadians cannot find them at legal stores yet as they are not legal yet. Cannabis can be added to just about any regular recipe in the form of Cannabis-infused butter or oils. This opens up a lot of options. Medicated creams are very popular as well. They are good for sore joints and muscles. They are very effective, they smell nice and give you no “high” so you can feel comfortable using the products any time.
• It increases your appetite – Doctors and users agree Cannabis is extremely successful in alleviating nausea and it makes an excellent appetite stimulant. Cancer patients, for example, benefit from the active ingredient in marijuana because it improves sense of taste and increases appetite which is tough to find while going through chemo.

Find what works for you

Cannabis’s appeal isn’t universal; it's still stigmatized in some communities but we now know that seniors are the fastest-growing population of new Cannabis users. Why? The reason must be – It works for them. Cannabis has been found to be effective in pain control, anxiety and as a sleep aid – something a lot of older folks need help with. If you or a loved one are interested in knowing more, don’t be scared to reach out and consult with your local Doctor and find out some more information. In the meantime, we remain hopeful as more studies continue to get done on Cannabis and its enormous potential.

In the meantime, head over to Instaleaf to find your nearest Cannabis friendly doctors and most convenient Cannabis Stores near you anywhere across Canada.

Sincerely,

Your Buds at Instaleaf