cannabis for emotional wellness in seniors
cannabis for emotional wellness in seniors

Can Cannabis Reverse the Mental Health Declines in Aging Populations?

New studies look at the emotional wellness of seniors who use cannabis vs. those that do not!

Posted by:
DanaSmith on Sunday Dec 29, 2024

emotional wellness seniors

How Marijuana Benefits The Mental Health Of The Aging Population
Studies Show That Weed Is Great For Emotional Wellness Of Seniors, Not Just Young Adults

 

Mental health problems are commonly associated with teenagers and young adults. However, that doesn’t mean that the elderly aren’t prone to the same issues: the aging population is just at risk for the same mental health problems that young people are.

 

That said, it isn’t normal to develop mental health problems as we age. Older adults tend to feel satisfied with their lives despite having more illnesses, but what about the elderly who do struggle with their mental and emotional state?

 

Some of the many mental health challenges that older adults face includes feeling confused, anxious, depressed, sad, hopeless, irritability, constant anger, numbness, and changes in energy levels among others. And given their propensity to physical ailments and cognitive decline due to age, it’s critical to acknowledge and treat these mental health conditions, so that they can be in better shape to manage any illnesses they may have. Access to medical marijuana has been proven to be helpful in alleviating mental health issues among young adults, so why not the elderly too?

Now, studies are showing that medical cannabis helps the mental health of seniors, too. A recent study by the Cato Institute, shared in Marijuana Moment, reveals that for the elderly, aged 65 and up, access to legal cannabis improved mental health. The research authors also worked on a paper published in May in the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Specifically, they noted that living within a 30-minute distance to a dispensary “decreased the probability having a poor mental health day in the past month by about 10 percent,” the authors wrote. The researchers pored through geographical data to analyze the how distance from a medical cannabis dispensary affected self-reported mental health among older adults in New York.

 

The authors also state that “medical cannabis availability was not associated with self-reported poor mental health.” They add, “Collectively, these results suggest medical cannabis availability has limited mental health benefits on the population at large, with considerable mental health benefits for older adults.” They added that the most common reason that older adults use cannabis is for chronic pain caused by neuropathy, and since weed is effective for it, it can certainly improve mental health.

 

There are more studies that also now show, more older adults are turning to medical marijuana to help alleviate psychiatric ailments and achieve mental or emotional well-being. Polls show that the elderly turn to weed, just as much as young people do, for treating anxiety and depression.


A study from 2020, conducted by researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine sought to understand why older adults use marijuana. They polled 568 patients, and 15% of them consumed cannabis within the last three years. They found that it was commonly used to treat many common health-related ailments including pain and sleep issues, though there were also many participants who reported using cannabis to treat psychiatric conditions such as anxiety or depression.


“Pain, insomnia and anxiety were the most common reasons for cannabis use, and for the most part, patients reported that cannabis was helping to address these issues, especially with insomnia and pain,” said the study’s co-first author, Christopher Kaufmann, PhD.

 

In a 2024 survey, researchers found that around 1 in every 5 elderly adults turn to weed. The data, which was taken from the University of Michigan’s National Poll on Healthy Aging and AARP, found that 21% of participants older than 50 reported using cannabis. Meanwhile, more than 60% of them said they turned to it for relaxation, better sleep, and pain relief. NORML Deputy Director Paul Armetano commented on the findings, saying: “It is not surprising that a rising percentage of adults consider cannabis to be a viable option in their later years. Many older adults struggle with pain, anxiety, restless sleep, and other conditions for which cannabis products often mitigate,” he said.

 

 

Cannabis Can Contribute To Emotional Wellbeing For Older Adults

 

Elderly patients can experience anxiety and depression, just as much as younger adults. That said, cannabis products that contain CBD can be extremely beneficial for them. After all, CBD has been proven to help alleviate anxiety and stress, while improving our stress response without the psychoactive effects of THC. CBD for early dementia is being studies in a variety of senior groups right now.


It also helps that CBD is generally well-tolerated. Whereas the ‘high’ associated with THC can be overwhelming and scary for first-timers, CBD is more approachable and certainly much safer for the aging population, especially for people who are taking weed for the first time in their lives. CBD may have mild and tolerable side effects, including a change in appetite or dry mouth, though these are not dangerous and are in fact manageable.

 

Conclusion

 

CBD is a safe and natural addition for anyone’s lifestyle, including those who are 50 and up. Dosing is an important consideration when choosing how much CBD to take; always remember to start low and gradually increase your dose incrementally. Of course, medicate based on your body weight as well.

Patients can also benefit from higher doses to treat certain health conditions. For example, those who struggle with anxiety or chronic pain may benefit from 25 up to 40 mg of CBD daily. If you aren’t sure or are already taking several pharmaceutical medications, always consult your doctor.

 

There is a safe CBD product out there for everyone, including our grandparents. Just do your research and talk to a doctor if needed!

 

THE CANNABIS PLANT FOR THE SENIOR MIND, READ ON...

CBD FOR DEMENTIA AND ALZHEIMERS

HOW CBD IS HELPING SENIORS WITH DEMENTIA, READ THIS!


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