Medical Cannabis and Seniors

“I don’t want to get high! I don’t want any of that THC stuff”

SO many of the conversations I have with seniors about cannabis start with these words that I’m going to address it right off the top.

This has often been said on the news when they're talking about cannabis, they'll say THC gets you high and CBD is the medicine or therapeutic.

This is the CBD MYTH

The myth says that:
CBD = NO High, Oil, Medical, Good
THC = High, Inhalation, Recreational, Bad

The problem with this is, it just isn't true. THC is the most therapeutic cannabinoid as far as we know. THC works for many conditions where CBD does nothing. THC is the cannabinoid that interacts directly with your ECS; CBD doesn't! THC is just a little riskier because of the psychoactivity, so CBD is a bit less scary to take.

We all have this fear of THC that was created by the Americans. A fear based on racism, bigotry, and ignorance, not science. Thankfully we're at the tail end of the 80+ year prohibition era. Still, the stigma remains, especially for seniors who have listened to the nonsense the longest.

I've  embedded a short video below from Business Insider that looks at the racist origins of prohibition.

This misplaced fear of THC has robbed millions of people the possibility for dealing with migraines, nausea, and vomiting, IBS, Tourette's, neuropathy, or arthritis; areas where THC is so much better than CBD. All because of the fear that there might be some little bit of something in there that might make someone feel a wee bit happy. This is daft.

THC directly addresses the underlying causes of chronic pain and inflammatory disorders as well as causing apoptosis or programmed cell death, in cancer cells.

YES, you read that right, cannabis fights some types of Cancer! And if it doesn't help your type; it will help with the unpleasantness of chemo.

THC is great as a sleep aid, managing glaucoma, reducing muscle spasms, and protecting the nervous system. It does that so well the US government had a patent  on cannabinoids as neuroprotectants.

THC does have potential side effects, but they're most often the result of a newbie taking too much. 

THC's common side effects are:

As with many medications, the effects of THC are dose-dependent. Meaning, the more you take, the more you're going to feel THC's psychoactive effects. While, in lower doses, combined with CBD, which modulates THC, you can get all the benefits without getting high.

CBD

Now, after all that, I don't want you to think CBD is all hype; it isn't!
CBD is powerful medicine, and while it does not directly target your ECS, it has dozens of other metabolic targets. Through these other channels, CBD has many of the same effects as THC. Things like reducing anxiety, pain, seizures, inflammation, and nausea.

The truth is that both of these chemicals have amazing therapeutic qualities; and when they work together, is when the magic really happens.

Cannabis PSYCHOACTIVITY - What is it like?

This is the thing that scares people the most, so let's look at it.
I want you to keep in mind that using cannabis medicinally is about re-engaging with your life, whatever that means to you, not withdrawing from it.  

What it's like to be "high" varies from person to person and depends on the type of cannabis consumed, the dose, the way you take it, and a few other variables.

So, the THC in cannabis makes you "stoned" or "high"? 

Yes, consuming cannabis can cause a psychoactive effect, which, believe it or not, the VAST majority of people enjoy and describe as feeling happy and relaxed and they have a "brightening" of their senses. Music is more enjoyable, colours are a bit brighter, food is tastier, laughter comes easier.

Still, it can include less pleasant effects like sleepiness and paranoia when too much is taken by a cannabis naive user. This is why you are always counseled to "start low and go slow."

Cannabis TOLERANCE - Why it's a good thing

If you are a medical patient dealing with a chronic condition, we need to talk about tolerance.

 I know this sounds counter-intuitive because we've all read about how bad tolerance is, but for medical cannabis patients, it is a crucial component of their cannabis use.

With tolerance, medical patients don't suffer from the same disorienting effects that leave occasional users unable to accomplish everyday tasks.

The adverse side-effects that bother cannabis naive users will not be a problem for you because, with my help, you will slowly build up a tolerance to YOUR dose.

What that means is that any slight feelings of discomfort you may feel initially, things like cloudy thinking, problems with memory, or being clumsy, will just go away as your body adjusts and learns what to do with the cannabinoids.

I heard it explained like champagne; when you first pop the cork, there's lots of sounds, bubbles, and activity. If you put the cork back in the bottle, it doesn't come out with near the vigor the next time or the next. Within a short period, there is no more" POP." It is replaced by a feeling of ease and relaxation.

Like the majority of medicines, you will be taking it daily, possibly more than once. Following my guidance and dosing protocols, any strange or uncomfortable feelings will dissipate within a few days. You'll no longer be bothered by the side effects. Yet, you'll still feel relief from pain and anxiety, and you'll be thinking clearly and feeling pretty much normal.

It sounds hard to believe, but that is how it works. This is a blessing for people dealing with chronic health issues because you can get the relief you need from your medicine and perform everyday tasks and function normally.
Cannabis is not something seniors need to be afraid of. Cannabis is an extremely safe and versatile medicine that can positively affect every system in your body, and not one person has ever died from taking cannabis. Not one. Ever.

Cannabis use among seniors is growing as there is more public acceptance and reduced stigma. Those looking for an effective option for managing insomnia and chronic pain are increasingly looking at cannabis. Most of the adverse effects associated with cannabis are dose-dependent. It's important to know the potency of the cannabis you're using and to "start low and go slow". This means you start with a low dose and take your time slowly working your way to a dose that eases your symptoms with a minimum of side effects.