The recent interest and use of medical cannabis (MC) are growing substantially in many countries. Current public opinion is that cannabis has the therapeutic potential to treat and cure a long list of diseases, but there is a large gap between that opinion and the current evidence in the medical literature. Recreational use of cannabis by older adults is also increasing substantially, especially in the United States.
Relief of suffering and promotion of functional status and quality of life are major goals of geriatric medicine. Sedative hypnotics can cause psychomotor impairment, dizziness, confusion, increased risk of falls, next-day somnolence, impairment of driving skills, orthostatic hypotension, and blood electrolyte impairment. Opioid treatment causes constipation, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, delirium, sedation, anticholinergic effects, falls, and respiratory depression, which is the most serious potential adverse effect.
Older individuals with psychiatric disorders are increasingly using cannabis, largely in the form of prescribed medical marijuana and cannabidiol (CBD). Since then, it is estimated that 6.4% of adults aged 45 to 55 and 3.7% of those 55 or older have used CBD at least once. Although the cannabis sativa plant contains hundreds of chemicals known as cannabinoids, the 2 main active chemicals are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and CBD. For example, a study looked at the use of an oral spray containing THC and CBD for peripheral nerve pain and found that it was well tolerated and showed a trend toward improvement in pain and sleep.
Medical marijuana use has been associated with some improvement in both movements and neuropsychiatric symptoms in individuals with Parkinson disease. One small case series found improvement in behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia from cannabis oil containing THC. A related randomized control trial of 50 individuals with dementia and associated neuropsychiatric symptoms did not see any benefit from THC, but did find it was well tolerated and with no appreciable effect on memory. Despite these limited data, agitation associated with dementia is a qualifying condition for medical marijuana in several states.
Older Adults & senior citizens are among the fastest growing group of cannabis consumers. The rising number of elderly Americans using cannabis makes sense, as many seniors have serious health concerns for which cannabis might be useful. Other seniors are looking for safe recreational aids to enhance their golden years and stay active with less pain and suffering.
First things first - do you know the difference between the terms
“cannabis”, “marijuana”, and “hemp”?
It’s OK if you said no! These terms are often used almost
interchangeably in the media without clear mention of what makes them different.
Well…what if we told you “cannabis”, “hemp” and “marijuana” are all
sort of the same thing?
It’s true!
We’ve created a quick chart to help break it down
Cannabis is the parent plant type of both “marijuana” and “hemp”. It refers to a class of resinous plants with 7 leaves growing in a wide range of physical characteristics which give rise to different “strains”. Different cannabis strains have unique percentages of a range of active compounds called cannabinoids & terpenes, giving them distinct scents, flavors and effects when consumed.
Cannabis has been used medically & agriculturally for many thousands of years, and for recreational enjoyment as a safe intoxicant for almost as long. In fact, stigma against cannabis has only flourished within the last 90 years under American-led cannabis prohibition.
So how did we get from the cannabis of old to “marijuana” and “hemp”? Marijuana is a slang term used to refer to “street drug” cannabis that causes a euphoric “high” on consumption due to its THC content. High THC cannabis has many nicknames thanks to its near-century of black-market use, including weed, pot, grass, and others you’re likely familiar with from pop culture. Marijuana can also possess CBD, though typically in much lower concentrations than THC.
Hemp is a government term for cannabis or marijuana with less than 0.3% THC, meaning that consuming hemp will typically not produce any euphoric psychoactive effects. Historically used for industrial purposes, hemp production for CBD oil extraction & consumption has exploded in popularity since the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill.
Now that you understand the difference between marijuana and hemp is really only in active chemical percentages, and the fact that they are both the same plant called cannabis, let’s explore these active compounds in cannabis which produce the effects and medical benefits of marijuana & hemp.