More Seniors Are Turning to This Treatment for Their Joint Pain

By: Devon Andre



Many channels you turn on, papers you flip through, and even signs you walk by are now promoting marijuana for health. Many people in the U.S turn to cannabis as a treatment option for a variety of ailments including glaucoma, IBS, Crohn’s disease, and seizures.

With more awareness of cannabis and what it can do for the medical community, it’s starting to spark the interest of seniors, especially those who are seeking alternatives for treating joint pain.

Although the bulk of marijuana users are millennials, a recent survey found that cannabis use among seniors rose 250 percent between 2006 and 2013.

In California, marijuana is legal, so many events are held to educate the senior population on how to use it and its benefits.

Dispensary Manager Danny Kress explained, “As availability of cannabis medicine increases, we want to do our best to limit any negative effects someone might have by just simply not getting the education that might be required.”

Kress said that many of the seniors that attend his educational seminars are interested in using cannabis to treat inflammation and relieving chronic pain.

Reports by the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute at the University of Washington outlined that marijuana use is linked with chronic bronchitis and can speed up heart rates and disrupt blood flow.

Because each person is different, Kress recommends that seniors start off slow to reduce the risk of side effects.

Animal and small human studies have found marijuana to have substantial analgesic effects.

It’s currently being studied on multiple sclerosis and cancer patients as a means to determine if it can relieve pain in these individuals. One human trial involving 56 individuals found a 30 percent reduction in pain after smoking marijuana.

Marijuana can be injected in several different ways from smoking and eating to even drinking it, so there are plenty of options available that are best suited to your needs.

If you’re looking to try marijuana for pain relief, you should find a reputable dispensary and speak to your doctor about whether it’s safe for you or not.

More states and more countries are legalizing marijuana, so it continues to be a hot topic. It’s no surprise that seniors would want to jump on the bandwagon, especially since it offers a more natural alternative for pain relief than typical painkillers.