Are you finding yourself dazed and confused about your options for trying medical marijuana or CBD (which is a compound found in cannabis, a plant species that includes marijuana and hemp)? In recent years, with the explosion of states legalizing medical marijuana and several states (and even countries like Canada) legalizing recreational marijuana, it may be daunting to try to figure out what’s legal, what’s not and what’s potentially valuable for helping with the aches, pains, and anxieties of getting older.

While there are still a limited number of studies that scientifically prove the benefits (or harms) of medical marijuana and CBD, there are some growing signs that show a positive impact on seniors in states that have medical marijuana laws. For example, a recent study out of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that in states with medical marijuana laws, there is less pain reported and better self-assessed health among older adults, as well as an increased number of older adults participating in the workforce. For more insight into the implications of this research, inhale and click here. And for some good overview articles about the range of potential benefits (and possible complications) from ingesting medical marijuana or using CBD in its various forms, take a look here and here. Of course, no one should begin to use medical marijuana or CBD products without a candid conversation with your personal health care provider.

For older people in particular, there is a lot of anecdotal evidence of substantial help obtained, especially for relief of insomnia and chronic pain, through the use of cannabis. Next Avenue recently published a piece outlining the benefits of “micro-dosing” which means utilizing just enough cannabis to medically help without inducing the euphoric effects of the THC found in marijuana. For some seniors, such as the ones profiled in this recent Philly Voice article, cannabis use has become an essential component to maintaining a comfortable and active lifestyle in their later years. And for real thrill seekers, there are now cannabis tours, including those profiled in this recent article about Canadian cannabis use among seniors, which makes one point very clear: with disposable income, concerns about legalities and questions about the quality of the product, seniors are becoming the largest and most savvy consumers of legal cannabis around.