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There are only a couple of things in this life that can be considered to be “sure things”: we’re going to have to pay for things we don’t want to – looking at you taxes! – and we’re going to get old as we near the end of our journeys. The ‘death and taxes’ sentiment is a little overdone, but it’s a sad truth that not much else is par for the course for everyone on this spinning rock. If we’re all going to grow into elderly folks someday, you’d think that our ability to take care of seniors would be top-notch, right? Sometimes, this is the case, but others not so.
Elderly care is in a very strange state these days. Some old folks homes are vibrant community centers where elderly people can thrive throughout the final years. In other cases, some senior care homes simply stick our oldest citizens in a living space with the TV on and three basic meals a day – sounds a lot like prison, doesn’t it?
Not only are many senior Canadians left to fend for themselves, but their healthcare can also leave something to be desired. Instead of focusing on physical & mental fitness at an age when they need it most, the majority of elderly people face daily pill regiments and weekly visits to the doctor’s office. Modern medicine has its advantages, but just filling people with pharmaceuticals is definitely NOT one of them.
One of the ways in which many senior citizens are taking charge of their long-lived lives is with cannabis. Edibles for dementia, Alzheimer’s cannabis strains, and a variety of THC products for elderly people can be found in many circles of our oldest relatives. Does weed help with dementia? What can edibles do for Alzheimer’s disease? What are the top trends in medical marijuana for the elderly?
Whether you’re wondering on behalf of someone you care about, or you’re a senior citizen yourself, let’s take a trip down memory lane and see how cannabis habits with the elderly have changed in recent years.
How Can THC For Elderly Care Be Beneficial?
The first thing you think about when you consider medical marijuana for the elderly is a bit hilarious and equally scary: stoned grandparents. Think of the life-changing conversations you could have if Nana or Gramps were to get ripped with you over the holidays?! For many Canadians, this is a likely reality because senior citizens are amongst the fastest growing demographic in the cannabis sector.
It makes sense that THC for elderly care is increasing in popularity when you personally know the benefits of medical marijuana. For those who don’t appreciate the wonders of weed, however, this trend paints an alarming picture of inebriated seniors who are falling victim to the potential “dangers of dro”. This is an outright fallacy, but unfortunately stigma still exists strongly throughout many parts of the country. That’s why blogs like this are written for both our elderly customers AND their families – to help break down the barriers of cannabis stigma, and help more and more Canadians get their hands on the best weed to suit their needs.
If you’ve ever wondered ‘does weed help with dementia?’ or ‘why do seniors take edibles for Alzheimer’s?’ then you’re not alone. There are so many uses for cannabis that it can seem like it’s too good to be true, and yet an ever-increasing number of senior Canadians are turning to this plant medicine and others for their health & wellness.
Cannabis and hemp products like ointments, balms, oils, gummies, capsules, sprays and many others are extremely popular with the elderly. Generally speaking, senior Canadians shy away from traditional cannabis products like smoking flowers, vaping or shatter, but there are a lot more elderly using THC products like these than you’d assume.
Many people who suffer from debilitating health conditions will stick with the absolute healthiest options – such as edibles for dementia, high-potency Alzheimer’s cannabis edibles, or THC topicals to stop pain where/when it happens. Let’s go through all the popular ways in which medical marijuana benefits the elderly in 2023, broken down in a few categories: cannabis for neurological health, quality of life cannabis, and marijuana products that reduce pain & inflammation.
Cannabis Edibles for Dementia?!
Cannabis and Alzheimer’s disease or dementia has received a ton of bad press over the years. For years, marijuana was wrongfully accused of contributing to the onset of this serious neurological disorder. The decades haven’t been kind to cannabis’ reputation on our brains – for many years it was assumed that smoking reefer “rotted the mind” and “turned unsuspecting users into zombie-like dopes”. These kinds of buzz-words are triggering, to say the least, but today they’re being replaced with positive terms like “neurogenesis” and “calming” when describing the effects of cannabinoids on the brain.
Cannabidiol (CBD) has received the most positive press with regards to cannabis edibles for dementia – this is obviously going to continue, as CBD does not have the problem that THC does with psychoactive effects on our brains & bodies. Nevertheless, both THC, CBD, CBG, CBN and many more phytocompounds are being researched for their potential benefits on our cognitive abilities.
In terms of how edibles help for dementia or Alzheimer’s, studies are ongoing and waiting for suitable conditions to further human trials. Many research projects have concluded that definite links to the slowing down of the effects of dementia can occur through consistent cannabinoids treatments – specifically, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The most famous instance of this kind of study is being carried out by a renowned neuroscientist named Andreas Zimmer.
In his research, Zimmer found that consistently managed doses of THC can help to stave off the symptoms of Alzheimer’s and dementia, such as “agitation, aggression and lethargy”. This symptom in particular, agitation, is one of the most detrimental symptoms of dementia. If you have an elderly loved one with Azlheimer’s, you’ve undoubtedly encountered agitation. Agitation usually manifests as quick tempered, anxiety, nervousness, mood swings, headaches, inability to focus, and the obvious forgetfulness. Agitation is a real problem for many seniors because it is something they can’t control – the nature of their dementia makes it nearly impossible for them to recognize when they’re frustrated or agitated for no apparent reason.
THC treatments, administered in smaller, regular doses, were shown to decrease the onset of agitation and feelings of anxiety. Tetrahydrocannabinol is known to induce relaxing states in the mind & body, so this comes as no surprise. Where this becomes quite shocking, however, has to do with cannabis’ potential neuroprotective qualities. Zimmer and others are looking into the possibility that consistent cannabis usage can actually protect the brain from the degenerative effects of Alzheimer’s. What an about face THAT would be – from the demonized plant medicine that apparently “rotted young minds” transforming into the natural remedy for “protecting old brains” from long-term damage.
There still remains a ton of work to be done before we have any concrete results that can be translated into cannabis for Alzheimer’s or edibles for dementia. Nevertheless, we’re on the right path as the need for long-term dementia treatments continue to push the scientific research envelope.
THC for Elderly Fun
How are old people having fun with cannabis? Well, you could say they’re doing just about everything that everyone else is doing, albeit a little slower or in smaller doses – generally speaking. There are so many ways in which cannabis can enhance a person’s mood, behavior or personality, but weed is also extremely adept at upping the fun factor. In most cases, watching movies, listening to music, stargazing, heck even knitting or crocheting can be made more enjoyable through cannabis pursuits.
Fun is very personal, so this list isn’t meant to be exclusive. That being said, here are some ways in which elderly family members of your favorite online dispensary came up with for their favorite ways to have fun with THC for the elderly:
Why Music Sounds Better When You’re High
Baking While Baked
Hosting With The Most
Brain Games & More
Medical Marijuana For Elderly Chronic Pain
Lastly, but certainly not least-ly, is medical marijuana for elderly pain management. This is a topic we’ve covered extensively in numerous other blogs that we’ll link to for your reading convenience:
How to Heal Your Gut With Cannabis
How Medical Marijuana Helps With Pain
Cannabis Massage Oil for Muscle Pain Relief
How Seniors Can Benefit From Medical Marijuana
Quickly to summarize this article let’s touch on the kinds of pain that seniors are using cannabis for. For most seniors, the idea of smoking weed doesn’t fit their current health status/plan, so a lot more elderly Canadians are turning to edibles for Alzheimer’s treatment. Both CBD and THC for elderly remedies are prominent, but Cannabidiol has no high effects so it’s definitely making the rounds at many senior care/living facilities.
On the flipside, experienced cannabis users continue to light ‘em up, bake their own bud-filled brownies, brew some weed tea and mix up a concoction of THC creams. Grandma’s secret recipes don’t just apply to delicious family dinners – there are so many cannabis remedies and edibles found in the cozy homes of Canadian seniors. It brings a tear of pride to this writer’s eye to think of all the forward-thinking senior citizens that have accepted cannabis into their lives with such grace & respect for the plants themselves.
The elders in Canada are truly magnificent people, and we hope that this blog can lend a helping hand to anyone who is considering cannabis for their aches & pains. To those who already have both feet firmly in the pool of cannabis medicine, we raise our joints to thee.
