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Marijuana Outreach At Retirement Communities
We know baby boomers have begun to embrace cannabis in recent years, thanks to legalization and awareness trends. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the 50-and-over crowd increased “significantly” from 2006 to 2013. The numbers started to drop with the 65-and-over crowd. However, that trend could change in the coming years thanks to further marijuana outreach campaigns within legalized communities. A chain of Seattle retirement homes recently took its residents on a Pot for Beginners tour to learn more about cannabis—and buy some, if the resident were so interested. The goal was provide information about the methods of consumption and the various applications marijuana can have in treating medical ailments.
You can only play so many games of bingo,” Connie Schick told the Guardian. “My son thought it was hilarious that I was coming here, but I’m open-minded and want to stay informed. Cannabis has come so far from the days when you smoked a sly joint and got into trouble if they found out. We used to call it hemp then and didn’t know its strength. It just used to make me sleepy, so I didn’t see the point.”
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Why more seniors are requesting cannabis help
Concern about side effects of narcotics and interest in more legal medical choices are leading to more seniors looking into cannabis options.
According to the National Survey of Drug Use and Health, between 2011-14 in Washington state, the number of people who have used cannabis over the age of 65 increased from 0.9 percent to 2.4 percent.
At Cannabis & Glass, a Spokane retailer, none of the senior customers interviewed wanted to comment due to concerns about marijuana’s lingering social stigma and the current political climate. However the store staff said business from people in their 60s, 70s continues to grow.
“I have a 93-year-old customer that comes in a couple times a week,” said budtender Jacob Falconer. “She uses it for her arthritis because she doesn’t want to use opiates.”
Falconer said many older customers prefer cannabis that’s high in CBD, a molecular compound that doesn’t cause psychoactive reactions – the “high” associated with marijuana – but is believed to reduce pain and anxiety.
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