In the United States, where medical cannabis is legal in 29 states, seniors are increasingly consuming marijuana to relieve various aches and pains of aging.
While in 2006, Americans were only 4.5% of 50-64 year olds to pull a joint at least once a year, today they are 7.1%, according to a study. The number of people aged 50 to 64 who smoke weed has increased by 57.8% in less than 10 years in the United States. If this progression continues at the same level, the proportion of cannabis users over the age of 50 will rise to one in two people within 40 years. “They come in large numbers, curious, looking for something to relieve their pain and sleep problems,” said Marta Macbeth, consultant at Octavia Wellness, a start-up that targets seniors in particular.
This phenomenon is largely explained by the legalization of medical cannabis.. “I woke up often because of the pain. This does not happen to me anymore”, testifies on France Info Bryna, an 87 year old Californian suffering from arthritis. There, the weed has been legal for 20 years, and since last January, even more prescriptions are needed. “I was taking Vicodin (a pain reliever medicine) but wanted to quit. And after a few months I was able to quit. I found that using the spray before going to bed made me sleep longer.”
In retirement homes
In California alone, the legal marijuana industry is expected to generate $ 6.5 billion by 2020. Numerous specialty stores have opened, selling cannabis in the form of oil, creams, herbal teas, chocolate. … According to a recent study, nine out of ten seniors are indeed satisfied with the result. “I started when I was in the Navy, explains David, 68. It was a long time ago. Here I am going to look at the edibles. C ‘That’s what interests me. The rest, I’ve been growing at home for a long time. ”
Marta Macbeth even explains that sellers come to present their product in retirement homes, which organize meetings for them. “We had one in San Jose (northern California) recently and there were 400 people who wanted to come in, we were overwhelmed,” she says.
Public health issue
In France, the subject is fashionable among politicians. After the Minister of Health Agnes Buzyn declared that medical cannabis “could arrive in France”, several elected PS, LREM, EELV and doctors demand the legalization in France of cannabis for “therapeutic use” in a column published Sunday, July 8 by Le Parisien.
“Producing cannabis for therapeutic use in France is no longer an option but a necessity. How can we not deplore the national status quo on this public health issue? Why maintain the seal of the ban and the legislative and regulatory arsenal who accompanies it with regard to more than 300,000 French patients who could alleviate their suffering otherwise? “, ask the signatories, among whom are, among others, the PS Senator Rachid Témal, the PS mayor of Strasbourg Roland Ries , the LREM deputies Sonia Krimi, Jean-Baptiste Moreau, and Florent Boudié, the EELV mayor of Grenoble Eric Piolle and the EELV mayor of the 2nd arrondissement of Paris, Jacques Boutault.
Managing chronic pain
Regarding the management of chronic pain not due to cancer, a very recent prospective study published by The Lancet Yet has just shown that cannabis is not effective. The recruitment of the cohort took place from August 13, 2012 to April 8, 2014. 1514 participants were questioned, among other things, on the origins and duration of chronic pain, cannabis use during life and 12 recent months, taking opioids and whether or not you have generalized depressive or anxiety disorder.
After four years of follow-up, 295 participants (24%) had used cannabis for pain relief. Compared to people who did not use cannabis, the researchers found that participants who had used cannabis had “a higher pain severity score.” “We found no evidence that cannabis use reduced the use of prescribed opioids or increased opioid cessation rates,” the scientists add.
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