The Vine

An exploration of wellness + plant based medicine

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Cannabis Over 60 for Improved Quality of Life

By: Elizabeth Sheldon

Friday, November 20th

It's no surprise that seniors are curious about cannabis. Many seniors are exploring with plant medicine to seek wellness and a better quality of life, and the research results are very positive showing that cannabis can help in many ways! A recent article, “First Time Cannabis Users Over the Age of 60 Skyrocket Says New Senior Study” discusses a recent study from University of California San Diego that found that older cannabis consumers use it to fight the ‘symptoms of aging.' Here is an excerpt from the article that is worth sharing.
Why Cannabis works better for older folks

For people who have abstained from cannabis consumption, odds are they are experiencing some form of endocannabinoid deficiency. This is theorized to be a root cause in a wide range of illnesses and seeing that the human brain significantly reduces endocannabinoid production after the age of 25, most people who do not consume cannabis are at risk of cannabinoid deficiency.
What does this mean? Considering that the endocannabinoid system is responsible for maintaining homeostasis throughout the body, one could imagine that a deficiency in endocannabinoids could manifest in a wide array of diseases.

Many of these issues could be expressed via stress, anxiety and of course insomnia. When seniors consume cannabis for the first time, their reactions are essentially uniform. “I feel ten years younger” and “It puts a kick in my step” are but two of the phrases uttered by those of a more advanced age.
When a senior suddenly receives fresh new cannabinoids, obtained from the cannabis plant – they suddenly feel a boost in their endocannabinoid system. As the ECS kicks into high-gear, different bodily functions are affected and numerous underlying symptoms seem to vanish.

When we get to a “certain age” all kinds of things happen: anxiety, difficulties sleeping, suffering from aches and pains, and the list goes on. Thank goodness the over 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 crowd has access to cannabis and other plant medicines to help manage all of the fun things in store for us as we navigate the “golden years.” 

Since I am getting close (still a few weeks away) to a number that will classify me as a senior I figure if nothing else I now have the ability to speak on the topic with some authority. Reginold Reefer put it best, “Technically, we’re all terminal cases so when they ask “What medical condition do you have?” you can simply respond, “I’m getting older by the second…I’m f-ing dying yo!” Now, that I am joining the ranks of fellow seniors you will be hearing more from me on the topic.