Like many baby-boomers, my youthful experiences with cannabis tapered off when I was in my twenties. Now, all these years later, re-discovering cannabis is like running into an old high-school boyfriend – but my, how amazingly well he’s aged!
Cannabis today is not only more attractive, sophisticated and nuanced than it was when we were kids. It is also proving to be a wonder-plant, with a wealth of medicinal properties that scientists are only beginning to explore.
More and more people are recognizing how cannabis can improve their quality of life. Yet the stigmas and disinformation surrounding it are difficult to dispel. Because as long as cannabis is federally prohibited in the United States, researchers here will continue to find their hands tied as they try to pursue the serious medical research needed to counter those misconceptions. Fortunately, rigorous research in other countries is shedding light on how cannabis can be useful in treating an entire range of illnesses. And the tide is shifting here in the US as well. A report on the health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids by the American Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, which reviewed thousands of studies found “There is conclusive or substantial evidence that cannabis or cannabinoids are effective for: the treatment of chronic pain in adults,” and also made a compelling case for the need for a more open research policy. So, If you hear someone claiming there is no proof of the medical benefits of cannabis, they are simply uninformed.
In the meantime, it is exhilarating to see the groundswell of demand for cannabis by people of all ages and walks of life, across the nation and around the globe. Many have lost faith in pharmaceuticals, and have found in cannabis a more natural and effective approach to healing.
In this blog I will be presenting information that is important to know about the fast-developing medical cannabis space, particularly as it applies to those over 50. I will consult with physicians who specialize in cannabis medicine, and present the latest findings from medical cannabis research, in language that the lay person can understand. And particularly for my fellow boomers and those in their seventies and above, these posts will hopefully help you find your way in the brave, new, but often confusing, world of medical cannabis.
A go-to site for cannabis and health developments will be of interest to the younger set too.
Great start to an important and exciting source of information!
LOVE your blogs in general & this one in particular. As an organic gardener in BC Canada, growing our own cannabis is a part of our annual herb garden design/plan. Thanks for your insights and info.