Senior’s Guide to Medical Marijuana: How Cannabis Can Enhance Quality of Life for Older Adults

Medical cannabis has been around for quite some time now and has dramatically improved the quality of life for adults of all ages who suffer from chronic disease. Medical marijuana is useful for pain relief, mental health conditions, improving appetite for those who may be suffering from chemotherapy side effects and a whole variety of other positive benefits.

For seniors in particular, medical cannabis can improve quality of life in a variety of ways. Improved appetite, pain reduction, and mood regulation are all benefits that some medical cannabis users report. Unfortunately, there is still a significant amount of stigma associated with cannabis use even though it is entirely unfounded.

Let’s take a look at medical marijuana, how to qualify for a medical cannabis license in Massachusetts, and some ways to incorporate medicinal cannabis into your life.

Medical cannabis regulation in Massachusetts

Registering for a medical cannabis card in Massachusetts is easy when you have a chronic condition that has been found to benefit from the consumption of medicinal marijuana. If your primary care doctor is certified to prescribe medical cannabis, they can help you. Otherwise they would refer you to a licensed cannabis doctor.

Some conditions that meet the criteria for treatment with medical cannabis include, but are not limited to:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Arthritis
• Other chronic pain diseases
• Cancer
• Insomnia
• Conditions that reduce appetite

Speak with your doctor to determine if medicinal cannabis could benefit you. If they believe that to be the case, they will sign the paperwork that you submit to the state, then the state will issue you a medical cannabis card.

The benefits of medical cannabis

Medical cannabis is widely researched and has been proven time and again to be a safe and effective substance to help alleviate pain, increase appetite, help with depression and anxiety, and alleviate insomnia. Many seniors experience one or more of these conditions, so medical cannabis for seniors is a wonderful addition to the primary treatment your doctors provide.

Medical cannabis comes in many forms, with two primary varieties: THC and CBD. These are compounds that occur naturally within cannabis but can be extracted for the purposes of recreation or medicine. While both THC and CBD have distinct medicinal benefits, CBD does not cause any type of psychoactive effects. CBD also seems to be better for treating depression, but not effective at increasing appetite.

Some cannabis products include both, as there is belief that a “full-spectrum” product provides more benefits. In this case, full spectrum refers to including CBD, THC and terpenes, which are the compounds that give cannabis (and all plants) their flavor and aroma. There is ample evidence, however, that isolated CBD and THC provide benefits on their own.

Types of medicinal cannabis products

For a long time, cannabis could really only be enjoyed via smoking the actual plant. You could also make edible foods like baked goods, but it was an intensive process for a home baker. With the explosion of both medicinal and recreational marijuana, the options for cannabis products have expanded dramatically.

You can still buy cannabis flower — the actual plant that’s ignited in some type of pipe to smoke — but there are also a wide range of edible products. Smoking cannabis causes the effects to take place almost immediately, whereas some of these other options take longer, as they require digestion.

Edibles themselves typically come in the form of gummies or chocolates, with each having a measured, specific dose of THC and/or CBD. If you’re concerned if edibles are safe for seniors, don’t be, because these types of products take the guesswork out of dosage and allow you to easily figure out how much you need in order to get the effect that you want. It is worth noting that edibles can take anywhere from half an hour or more to take effect, so you should start small and work your way up.

There are  topical cannabis products that roll on to the skin and are great for muscle tension and pain relief.

Tinctures are an option in which cannabis is mixed into a drink as a beverage enhancer that is also measured the way that edibles are, allowing you to get a specific dosage every time.

Capsules are another option, allowing you to use medicinal cannabis just like any other medicine. A measured-dose capsule is taken with a liquid and the effects are gradual, just like if you had taken an aspirin.

There are also oils that you can take via a measured dose dropper under the tongue. Because the area under your tongue is rich in blood vessels, the cannabis enters your bloodstream quickly and without having to smoke.

Cannabis and senior wellness

Because cannabis does not necessarily replace the medicine that you are already taking, it is a fantastic addition to your overall wellness routine. Medical cannabis for seniors can allow you to recover from exercise faster by reducing muscle soreness, and improve the quality of your sleep to help you recover quickly. If you are somebody with reduced appetite because of medicine or a condition, THC cannabis can help improve your appetite.

CBD does not produce psychoactive effects and can be an absolutely seamless integration with your daily medicine. THC, on the other hand, because of its potential for psychoactive effects, would require some planning before you take it.

Come find the right cannabis products for your lifestyle

If you have spoken with your doctor and they determined that medical cannabis can be right for you, the next step is finding a dispensary you can trust.

At NE Harvest, we pride ourselves on taking care of every customer who comes through our door. People who are using medical cannabis for the first time often have many questions, and we are here to answer every single one of them so that you get the perfect product for you. Our budtenders know the products that we sell inside and out, and we can find the perfect thing to help you manage pain, improve sleep, relax, and more.

Our medical cannabis program is designed to help you feel better, and we also offer a variety of discounts, including ones for seniors. If you are wondering how cannabis can help the elderly, we have your answers in the form of quality, certified and tested products that are designed with your health in mind.

Come meet the friendly faces at New England Harvest and see what a difference medical cannabis can make in your life.