Medical Marijuana Use Increasing among Elderly Patients

 Several studies demonstrate that Americans aged 50 and above have a higher chance of using cannabis now than they did three decades ago. The rate of utilization among younger generations stayed the same across for those aged 30 and above. Scientists discovered that individuals born before World War II hardly ever used marijuana at any point, but the amount of usage significantly increased among subsequent generations, especially among Baby Boomers born from the late 1940s through the early 1960s. This generation of individuals used cannabis during their teen years, and which means they are still doing it to date.

Currently, as the Baby Boomers turn 60 years and above, most of them may return to consuming cannabis, which was popular but illegal in their youth but has now become legal in several US states. A 2013 study from the National Council for Aging Care revealed that four out of five doctors approve of medical marijuana and almost all medical marijuana patients acknowledge that it helps to treat their conditions. The study mostly consisted of seniors, with more than 2,300 respondents.

Medical marijuana is gaining popularity partly among the silver-haired set partly because of its ability to relieve pain without little or no side effects. Symptoms such as arthritis, joint pain, back pain, nerve damage, headaches, and muscle spasms can be relieved by consuming medical marijuana topically, i.e., through lotions, rubs, and creams. Patients suffering from depression, anxiety, Alzheimer’s Disease, and degenerative diseases like Parkinson’s Disease and multiple sclerosis can also gain relief from using marijuana. Medical marijuana also reduces nausea and vomiting that comes from cancer treatment such as chemotherapy and radiation.

 

Medical marijuana is also an effective appetite medicine and helps with eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia, which mostly affect the elderly. The reason for the inability to eat is due to poor body image or other psychological reasons, and anorexia kills about 80 percent of elderly people. The common treatment for eating disorders among the elderly include antipsychotics and antidepressants, but these medications have been reported to worsen symptoms rather than relieve them making most doctors begin considering medical marijuana as a safer alternative to traditional prescription drugs.

Apart from pain relief, medical marijuana may also be beneficial for the aging brain. A study conducted in Germany showed that a group of older mice performed better than younger mice in cognitive tests after being ingested with THC, insinuating that medical marijuana may increase functioning among the elderly.

While Baby Boomers prefer to use medical marijuana to ease pain, lift depression, and reduce anxiety, our current generation prefers to use cannabis recreationally. Most baby boomers used marijuana in their teens due to the popularity of the plant at that time. But with the legalization, cannabis no longer carries the stigma of being socially unacceptable.

People aged 50 and above can use medical marijuana as a safe alternative to pharmaceutical pills. Cannabis is safer and more effective than most prescription drugs. It also offers pain relief and treats insomnia for the elderly without any negative side effects.

Men, Women, and Cannabis: Different Reactions to the Same Substance

 

The male and female are different from each other in terms of appearance, physical traits, hormonal activities, and reproductive processes. The male and female systems also have different reactions to cannabis compounds such as cannabidiol (CBD) and THC. This article will explain how and why both sexes react to cannabis as well as how they manifest themselves in terms of user behaviors and health benefits.

How Men and Women React to Cannabis
Men and women tend to have varying reactions to cannabis. Men tend to experience high amounts of appetite, for instance; they have a high chance of getting “the munchies” after consuming cannabis. Women tend to become more sensitive to cannabis effects like visual distortion. While women seem to experience powerful withdrawal symptoms when they quit cannabis, at the same time, they can develop a high tolerance to cannabis consumption than their male counterparts. This high level of tolerance can make women develop marijuana dependency more easily than men.

In addition to cannabis, other substances like nicotine also affect men and women in different ways. When males smoke cannabis, it affects a brain structure called the ventral striatum, while in females it affects a brain structure called the dorsal striatum. Both males and females also have different layouts of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which regulates several biochemical reactions — including dopamine production in the brain. Research also shows that males tend to have more CB1 receptors than females, but the female CB1 receptors work more efficiently. On the systemic level, the male body metabolizes cannabis differently from the female body.

How Cannabis Usage Differs Between the Sexes
The differences in cannabis reactions in both sexes may explain the reason for the different usage tendencies between the sexes. Research shows that men like cannabis in the form of joints and vapes while women like cannabis in edible and topical forms. Women are also more likely to use cannabis for medicinal purposes like anxiety relieve or pain relief, while men are more likely to use it for recreational purposes. Men also have a higher probability of using cannabis than women, possibly because of male testosterone levels which prompts them to take risks.

How Sex Hormones Influence the Effects of Cannabis
Sex hormones are influential in how cannabis affects the bodies and brains of both sexes. For instance, the same testosterone that prompts men to take risks also suppresses the reward response in the brain, which provides a better answer to why men can use more cannabis without experiencing unprecedented changes in tolerance levels. On the other hand, a woman’s reaction to cannabis may depend on her current estrogen level, since estrogen can lessen the effects of cannabis to an extent.

Bottom line
Men and women experience cannabis in different ways, but one thing is clear, both sexes will still gain the same relief when using cannabis for medical purposes such as relief from anxiety, nausea, anorexia, stress, muscle spasms, insomnia, and more. No matter your sex, cannabis will still be useful in your everyday life.

Cannabis and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

 PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) also known as PTSS (Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome) is a severe mental health condition suffered by many individuals. This condition is characterized by recurrent nightmares which are difficult to stop even with prescription medications.

The US has a high rate of PTSD sufferers and an estimated 1 in 13 individuals develop the condition at a certain stage in their lives. The military has one of the highest rates of PTSD sufferers because of their experiences during wars. It's estimated that about 11%-30% of veterans experience PTSD at some point in life.

What Is PTSD?
PTSD is a psychological condition that results from a disturbing or horrific incident. PTSD is common in individuals with past experiences with interpersonal trauma, and its chances are high when the person experiences the event repeatedly.

The symptoms of Post-traumatic stress disorder are more severe in women than in men. Some individuals can experience it only for some time while others experience it for several years. PTSD can make life difficult by affecting well-being, mental state, and work. Sufferers are forced to quit school and work due to the difficulties that come with the condition. If not treated immediately, PTSD can lead to depression, and suicide.

How can Medical Cannabis Relieve PTSD Symptoms?
Medical cannabis binds with endocannabinoid receptors found in different parts of the body and helps to prevent the traumatic events that lead to PTSD. Medical marijuana can help promote sleep and relaxation in PTSD patients.

The endocannabinoid system controls memory building and stress response which are the major elements of PTSD. The CB1 receptor in your brain is responsible for extinction learning, which means that it can replace old memories with new ones. Therefore, consuming cannabis can remove horrific experiences that make PTSD more severe.

The main cannabinoids responsible for PTSD relief include CBD and THC. These compounds work to reduce PTSD symptoms by enhancing several factors of the endocannabinoid system such as memory retrieval and consolidation. CBD and THC interact with CB2 and CB1 receptors found in the nervous system, leading to the production of neurotransmitters responsible for good memory, sleep, and pleasure.

Cannabinoids can prevent the brain from regaining traumatic memories that cause PTSD. Consuming cannabis can also improve emotional wellness and quality of life.

Research on medical marijuana and PTSD
Medical marijuana is considered the best alternative medicine for patients with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). While research on medical marijuana and PTSD is still restricted by the federal government, PTSD patients who previously consumed cannabis for their symptoms have acknowledged the benefits of medical cannabis in relieving anxiety and insomnia from PTSD.

According to a 2014 study published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, medical cannabis was found to effectively reduce symptoms of PTSD. The study showed that PTSD patients who consumed medical marijuana were free from PTSD symptoms. While current research is hopeful, there is still a need for more studies on cannabis's ability to combat PTSD symptoms.

Bottom line
While medical marijuana can help to relieve common symptoms of PTSD, limited research on the subject makes it difficult for patients to use cannabis. Nonetheless, If you want to use cannabis for PTSD consult your local physician.

Why More Athletes are Using Marijuana

 Cannabis has gained a lot of attention over the last couple of years. After decades of being considered a gateway drug, many states are now legalizing it again. This has attracted many users including athletes to consider using the miraculous plant.

Cannabis contains chemical compounds that offer benefits to athletes. When your body undergoes five to ten workouts in a couple of days, you will experience some wear and tear. These effects can be disturbing for some athletes especially after leaving it for long and it has made many athletes begin searching for alternative treatments to traditional medicines to help relieve the aches, pains, and inflammation that comes from doing heavy workouts.

 

How CBD and THC Work for Athletes
CBD and THC are the primary cannabis compounds responsible for the potent effects of cannabis. CBD is known for its powerful medicinal effects suitable for patients who want relief while THC offers strong psychoactive effects suitable for recreational use.
Athletes can’t use THC before training or workouts due to its ability to make users high. Also, the high THC can make athletes fail a drug test. Therefore, athletes are recommended to use cannabis strains with higher concentrations of CBD and also try to use high-quality CBD oil free from any additives.

The Benefits of CBD for athletes
• It increases productivity during training
• It boosts stamina
• CBD lessens pain and soreness
• It reduces inflammation
• It relieves anxiety in sports
• CBD enhances sensory perception
• Helps with Insomnia and other sleep problems

Most athletes that consume cannabis for either recreational or for their workout regimen claim that it can enhance their performance.

Marijuana vs Alcohol for athletes
Although cannabis can improve performance in athletes when taken in the form of joints or CBD oil, most serious athletes usually consume cannabis as a way to relax their bodies when they’re not training. Most athletes are now substituting alcohol for cannabis due to the following reasons:

Cannabis isn’t metabolized the increase urine production as alcohol does, which means you won’t be running off urinating after cannabis use.
Hangovers from alcohol can be bad for athletes especially when they have training. Nonetheless using cannabis as a better way to relax won’t result in any hangovers.

Cannabis can enhance sleep and relieve you from any negative thoughts. Unlike alcohol, cannabis won’t make you dehydrated. This makes cannabis a great alternative for athletes who want to relax.

Should cannabis be used by all athletes during training?
As with most other drugs, cannabis use in athletes also has some setbacks. Most athletes find it difficult to control their weight after alcohol use. This is because cannabis reduces your weight and increases your appetite. Therefore, if you are an athlete hoping to control your weight, cannabis can work against you. Furthermore, like any other drug, cannabis isn’t permitted in sports. If you consume cannabis for competitive activities, then you might get banned. To avoid law issues, try to use cannabis only for recreational purposes and avoid taking it to the field.