Pickleball and Medical Marijuana - Did Seniors Using Cannabis Help Fuel the Pickleball Phenomena?

pickleball medical marijuana seniors

Pickleball is easily the fastest growing sport in the United States today. Marijuana use is booming among seniors right now, the fastest growing customer group for medical marijuana. Coincidence?

Pickleball is an incredibly fun sport that people of all ages can play; it combines various elements that are used in badminton, tennis, and ping-pong into one exciting game that is also social and friendly. It’s easy for beginners though those who are more advanced into the game can easily level it up into a more competitive game.

Pickleball has become an attractive exercise option especially for seniors, and there are many reasons behind this: it benefits hand-eye coordination, anyone can do it, and it’s generally low intensity. Because of these, it’s easy to see why seniors have become so attracted to this sport, plus they can play it with their friends!

According to the Tennis Industry Association in 2019, there were 1.15 million seniors (aged 55 and up) playing pickleball, and that number only continues to grow. The average age of most players these days is 55, even though the sport can easily be played by all ages.

But other than that, it’s interesting to note how seniors are increasingly using CBD after a game of pickleball. So the rising trend isn’t just seniors playing pickleball – they play pickleball and medicate with weed.

Why Do Seniors On Weed Play Pickleball?

Any type of exercise can be challenging for seniors to do. They aren’t as strong as they used to be, and are prone to many age-related problems including arthritis as well as bone and joint injuries. CBD is a non-psychoactive solution that helps them relieve pain, enabling them to live a healthy, fit lifestyle without compromising their bones, muscles, and joints.

It’s no wonder that more seniors are using CBD, because it’s helping them get more years out of their life. They get to exercise and have fun without having to worry too much about the impact of sports on their bodies. Here’s more insight into the benefits of CBD for seniors who want to exercise:

Bone health: Having weak and fragile bones severely impairs the elderly’s ability to enjoy any kind of sport. They are already at high risk for suffering fractures due to poor reflexes, so they are prone to falling much more compared to younger individuals. Even without regular exercise, seniors still have to deal with the looming possibility of osteoporosis, which weakens the bones gradually because age results in the loss of minerals. CBD consumption has been shown to reduce inflammation in the bones, improve healing time for fractured bones, and promote cell repair.

Pain management: A majority of the American population suffers from pain of some kind, and many of them also have arthritis. CBD is a great non-psychoactive way for seniors to medicate for their pain, and there is a wide array of ways that they can choose to do so. Topical CBD ointments for localized treatment of sore muscles and joints, capsules and pills for pain prevention, oral CBD, and so much more. Being able to manage pain effectively is key in keeping seniors motivated enough to stick with a fitness routine and play sports, such as pickleball.

Better sleep: Getting your regular dose of shut-eye every night is critical to recovery not just for athletes but seniors too. Studies show that individuals who consume CBD have a better chance of sleeping better at night and report more restful sleep. This is also beneficial for seniors who suffer from anxiety, which can prevent us from getting a good night’s sleep.

Delayed onset of muscle soreness: Many athletes use CBD for its ability to treat delayed onset of muscle soreness. No matter how old you are, you’re prone to temporary inflammation from exercise and seniors are even more vulnerable to this. It’s part of recovery, but if the body is unable to fix the inflammation on its own, excess inflammation can result in secondary muscle damage because free radicals from active neutrophils are released. But CBD is already a natural anti-inflammatory substance that can provide tremendous relief for seniors after a game of pickleball.

Given these benefits, we can understand how seniors are gravitating towards a lifestyle of health and fitness by combining cannabis and pickleball. It’s a combination you can’t lose with: you get to stay active with pickleball, and you have CBD to help you with the aches and pains afterwards.