Cannabis Considerations: Are You Using Cannabis As An Alternative Therapy?

It’s no surprise that older adults seek out alternative therapeutic options for the aches and pains of aging. A recent study published in The American Journal of Medicine found that 75% of older adults report that they have used complementary therapies for their health, including acupuncture, massage, yoga, psychedelics, and cannabis, and that these options are now a regular part of health care for many. In particular, the use of cannabis by older adults has skyrocketed, with reports that adults over age 60 have increased their use of cannabis more than any other demographic. A recent study published in JAMA Network Open outlines the reasons for this. Whether for pain management, mental health concerns, or sleep disturbances, older adults are turning to cannabis in record numbers, often without discussion with their primary care providers. (Some experts warn that using cannabis for sleep can help you fall asleep more quickly, but can cause problems in the long run as your body needs more and more to stay asleep, and quickly falling asleep does not necessarily mean better sleep for your body or brain.) Many have also turned to cannabis after they have exhausted the benefits of pharmaceutical medications or are unhappy with medication side effects.

While research still lags about the health benefits and risks of cannabis for older adults, there is mounting evidence that, for some older adults, the benefits may outweigh any concerns about risk, though the same cannot be said for younger users, especially those in their teenage years or early adulthood. Recently, The Washington Post ran a series of articles on the effects of daily cannabis use, its impact on the aging brain, and takeaways from the most recent research. Regarding the impact of cannabis use on the aging brain, the most deleterious effects, especially on working memory, seem to come from heavy use among younger adolescents, though in reality, we are lacking long-term data about the impact on memory among older adults. But there is some research among adults aged 40-70 who began using cannabis later in life that cannabis use may have led to brain volume increase, thus providing a “neuroprotective” benefit to older users. In fact, a recent study published in eNeuro examined the role of neuroinflammation that may help drive Alzheimer’s and found that the use of CBD seems to calm neuroinflammation in the brain. While more research needs to be done, this study underscores that we have much to learn regarding how cannabis products may help the aging brain rather than harm it. Mostly, what we can only say with confidence right now is that as regulations and laws loosen on the availability and use of cannabis products, more research will be conducted, which should give us more insight into the benefits and burdens of cannabis use for older adults.

Many physicians have experience guiding and “prescribing” cannabis for their older patients, and are speaking out about the benefits they have found. For example, in a recent commentary on MedPage Today, Dr. Peter Grinspoon (author of the new book, Aging Well With Cannabis) shares his experience with patients who use cannabis for therapeutic purposes. He relays that traditional medications often solve one problem but then can create others, while using cannabis can improve a range of quality of life and physical concerns at once, without some of the nasty side effects that can arise from conventional medications, such as opioids or gabapentin. While Dr. Grinspoon states that cannabis is not for everyone, he also shares his experience with it: “As with all drugs and medications, cannabis doesn’t work for all people. When it does work, it can be transformative.” Adding to this experiential wisdom is a new podcast called “Ganja Granny,” chock full of information about how older adults can access and use cannabis. Started by former NPR journalist Karen Michel, who grows her own cannabis, the goal of the podcast is to report, not evangelize, about the use of cannabis among older adults. As more and more older adults develop their own experiences using cannabis, both good and bad, there’s sure to be updates and insights to be shared about their experiences. For previous agebuzz posts on cannabis use among older adults, click here.