Want To Age Gracefully? Cannabis Is The Key, Says Study
No Wonder Trump Endorses CBD For Seniors
Everyone wants to find the fountain of youth.
Just look at the statistics: In 2023, the global market for anti-aging skincare and beauty products was valued at a cool $47 billion dollars, a number that is forecasted to reach almost $80 billion by the start of the next decade. Meanwhile, global cosmetic surgery procedures were valued at around $83 billion last year.
People are willing to shell out serious wads of cash to look younger. Many people also simply engage in strenuous and expensive workouts for no other reason than vanity. Other edible goods and herbs in the wellness world are becoming increasingly popular for their supposed anti-aging properties: turmeric, ashwaganda, fatty fish, avocado, and dark chocolate, to name a few, are supposed to help us age gracefully while feeling good inside.
Whether it’s vanity, psychological, confidence, desire or any other reasons, there is a clear demand for tools that can help make the aging process somewhat more tolerable.
But what if the key to aging gracefully already existed, in the form of the humble cannabis plant?
How Cannabis Helps
Contrary to what you might be thinking, how cannabis can be used to help you age gracefully doesn’t have anything to do with getting high as balls on THC products.
In fact, the opposite is true: low doses of THC, and CBD may actually help slow down the aging process where it matters the most: your brain. Now, this isn’t something you can pay a doctor to do: you can pay for botox and surgery, buy the trendiest health food at the moment, but you only truly start to feel good when your brain functions at its best.
According to a recent study, the cannabinoids within marijuana are promising for longevity among the elderly. The researchers from Britain analyzed data from 11 preclinical studies as well as 7 human trials that determined the impact of cannabinoids, especially THC and CBD, on aging populations. They found optimistic results: “THC enhances memory, reduces inflammation, and offers neuroprotection, while CBD extends lifespan, improves motility, and promotes autophagy in preclinical models,” they reported.
“Both cannabinoids highlight potential for longevity and cognitive resilience, though careful dosing is crucial to minimize risks. Additionally, their combined antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties might offer synergistic benefits for healthy aging,” the researchers wrote.
They concluded by saying that cannabinoids are indeed promising for aging and can enhance the quality of life among the elderly.
This is one of many studies that support the use of cannabinoids by the elderly. It’s no surprise that cannabis is increasingly being seen as beneficial for our grandparents; after all, we can understand that it has a broad therapeutic profile and is fairly gentle.
Additionally, in 2024 survey data published in the Clinical Gerontologist journal, researchers found that almost 1 in every 5 elderly adults between the ages of 50 to 64 admitted to using CBD within the last year. Meanwhile, 1 in 7 adults aged 65 and up have done so.
According to investigators from the University of Texas, a little over 18% of elderly adults aged 50 to 64 acknowledged consuming CBD within the last year. They added that CBD use is common among seniors aged 65, and they use it for both medical and nonmedical reasons.
Trump Endorses CBD For Seniors
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive and potent anti-inflammatory cannabinoid that contains numerous benefits especially for seniors. CBD is widely used for pain relief, relaxation sleep enhancement, anxiety, and neuroprotection among many other benefits. In addition, CBD has been touted for its ability to improve quality of life among seniors, without worrying about getting high.
Recently, marijuana stocks saw a massive jump after US President Donald Trump endorsed CBD for older adults through his Twitter post.
The post talks about how cannabis can help slow down the progression of disease among seniors, and can be seen as an alternative to conventional medications. A month before that, he implied possibly reclassifying marijuana when he was at a private dinner. According to sources, he said that it’s something that needs to be reviewed, and that “It’s something we’re considering”.
The future of marijuana policy in the United States depends entirely on the administration; even though Trump signed the 2018 Farm Bill, which already eliminated many obstacles on hemp production and CBD, cannabis is still a Schedule 1 substance which means it’s still illegal in the eyes of the federal government. Despite being in office for over 8 month, he still hasn’t taken action on reclassifying marijuana.
But by publicly promoting CBD for the aging population, it might be a sign that reclassifying marijuana and the necessary regulatory changes that the industry has been waiting for, might actually happen sooner rather than later. That said, we must keep in mind that there are still no guarantees that cannabis policy will change soon.
We can never tell when it comes to Trump. The endorsement could actually be strategic or even symbolic as of now.
CONCLUSION
Cannabis, especially CBD products, is being embraced more by the aging population. It helps older adults feel good inside and out, as it supports physical comfort by reducing pain and inflammation. However, it also has powerful mental health benefits, and supports their moods and emotional wellness through gentle, natural ways.
Cannabis just might be what we are all looking for when it comes to aging gracefully: with vitality and joy, even. It can help us restore a sense of well-being that we all needed, which is reflected in our physical health too.
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