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More and more seniors are turning to cannabis to cure their health problems because it can relieve symptoms of problems such as arthritis, Parkinson's disease and chronic pain. A new study suggests that the number of people who use marijuana increases more rapidly among people over 65 than for any other age group, but they face many obstacles when they try to have access to it.
"Older Americans consume cannabis for a variety of reasons," said Hillary Lum, an badistant professor of medicine at the University of Colorado's School of Medicine and co-author of the study. "Some use it to manage pain, others for depression or anxiety."
But the study, published this month in the journal Drugs & Aging, revealed that a lack of research, a blurred communication with doctors and a reluctance to be honest about its use because of the stigma prevent seniors from getting the products they need.
The researchers interviewed 136 people over 60 in 17 focus groups in 13 counties in Colorado. They found that seniors did not always feel comfortable applying for a medical marijuana license from their doctor. It drives them to buy on the black market instead.
"I think [doctors can] be much more inclined to learn more and discuss it with their patients, "said one respondent. At this point, I announced to my primary health care that I used them at the shoulder. And that was the end of the conversation. He did not want to know why, he did not want to know the effects, did not want to know the side effects, did not want to know anything. "
Other respondents said that their doctors had refused to provide them with the necessary certificate to obtain marijuana for medical purposes, and they suspected that it was because they had not been informed of the latest research.
Cannabis products can be an important alternative treatment for many older people, who often take different types of medications that can have unpleasant and harmful side effects.
"From the doctor's point of view, this study shows the need to talk to patients in a non-critical way," Lum said. "Physicians must also learn about the risks and benefits of cannabis and be able to communicate it effectively to patients."
Read more: People use cannabis products for health issues like Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and acne – but disinformation and outdated regulations prevent most benefits
Barbara Buck, a real estate agency in her 50s, began cultivating cannabis when it became legal for medical purposes in her state. She told INSIDER that she was a "pbadionate gardener", so she thought that she might as well try.
Buck said that she had used cannabis herself to relieve her symptoms related to sleep and menopause, but that she had also converted many people aged 60 to 70 to cannabis to relieve it pain, depression, and anxiety.
"The main reason I've grown cannabis [is] helping people like that always helped me, she said. The only reason I stopped explaining myself, is because I moved into a less culturally friendly home. My goal is to move to the country in a few years and start over! "
She said she noticed that the taboo surrounding cannabis had changed dramatically over the last decade, but she still hesitated to talk openly with everyone about the fact that she used it herself. Nevertheless, she thinks that marijuana should be legal worldwide because one can not overdose it like opioids or alcohol – addictions that millions of Americans suffer from.
This was reflected in the results of the new study. Participants thought cannabis was more negative for recreational purposes than medical cannabis, but they also felt more supportive of cannabis than alcohol.
One of Buck's concerns, however, is the excessive regulation of the government.
"I think the bill will be legalized in the United States very soon in the United States, partly because of the last adopted Farm Bill," she said. "Now that the government sees how much to win, it will do everything in its power to get a piece of the cake."
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