What Is Medical Weed?
Medical weed comes in various forms. However, they all include cannabis plant components containing a large amount of cannabidiol (CBD). Most medications infused with marijuana have only small amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or none in them to avoid psychoactive side effects for patients using medical weed.
Besides those, about a hundred other chemicals found in medical marijuana work as cannabinoids responsible for mapping over the human endocannabinoid system (ECS).
The ECS regulates every person’s gut immunity, together with its limiting mechanisms that inhibit the immune system from attacking the healthy flora. It also modulates cytokine signaling, which is responsible for the body’s immunoregulation and inflammation properties.
Is it Safe to Use Medical Marijuana?
Since the CBD present in medical marijuana has such small amounts of THC, it is safe to use medical weed even if you are a senior, because you won’t have to worry about any psychoactive effects, such as confusion or mood swings.
Medical marijuana also has anti-oxidants, which give relief for seniors experiencing liver inflammation from Hepatitis C, pains from lupus, and other serious medical ailments that cause oxidative problems and inflammation.
How Does Medical Weed Benefit Seniors?
Unfortunately, many seniors experience different conditions during this time of their lives. That’s why having something like medical marijuana can help them manage the side effects of their diseases, including pain and inflammation.
However, there’s more to those benefits of medical weed for seniors. Check these other advantages of medical cannabis for the elderly.
1. Glaucoma happens when fluid surrounds the back of the eye with a pressure that can ruin the optic nerve. However, thankfully, research shows that smoking marijuana can lower the interocular pressure experienced by patients with glaucoma, which means cannabis can potentially treat said illness.
2. According to a study by the American Association of Retired Persons, medical weed can be an alternative to painkillers. This discovery means that older adults can now opt to use cannabis pills, lotions, or ointments to remedy several conditions like arthritis, muscle pains, and other autoimmune problems that cause joint pains.
3. Alzheimer’s Disease is another common disorder experienced by senior citizens because plaque clouds the connection of a person’s brain cells leading to poor memory. However, according to the Pharmaceutical Journal, limited research has shown the positive effects of medical marijuana in reducing the “plaque” found in people with Alzheimer’s.
However, it is important to note that there are still ongoing clinical trials to study the effects of cannabis on Alzheimer’s.
How To Get Medical Marijuana As A Senior
If you are a senior planning to invest in medical cannabis, this part will guide you to get your medical marijuana as an older adult.
1. Plan your visit to your primary health care physician.
Yes, it’s essential to seek advice from your doctor before trying any medical marijuana or recreational cannabis when you are a senior. This is because your maintenance medications might not go along with the weed.
2. Ask your physician for a health evaluation so that you can apply for a medical card.
Thankfully, some states let seniors go directly to their primary doctor for a health evaluation for their medical card. However, there are also states that require you to go to a licensed medical marijuana doctor for an assessment.
3. Apply for a medical card to become a registered medical marijuana patient.
Most states require a patient to create an account with the help of a medical marijuana authority. You can do this after your doctor approves your request. Once you get your recommendation, you have to pay a fee that ranges from $50-$100 depending on which state you are in.
Take note that in some states, you will have to pay an annual registration fee of $50 to apply for a medical card.
4. Wait for your card to arrive.
Some states send out their medical marijuana cards within seven to fifteen business days before a patient can get it via mail. However, some states send an approved medical card through an email, which lets you download a temporary card while waiting for the actual card. As soon as you receive your medical card, you can start using it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Medical Marijuana
1. Is it possible to use my medical cannabis card in another state if that state has a reciprocal agreement?
Sadly, you can’t do that since it is illegal to cross from one state to another with medical marijuana with you. It is best to contact the medical cannabis authority in the place you are planning to visit for their rules and regulations regarding this matter.
2. Does health insurance cover medical weed?
At the moment, health insurance does not cover medical weed. This is because weed is still known as a “schedule I controlled substance,” something that isn’t part of the list of drugs covered by insurance companies.
3. Is it possible to be allergic to marijuana?
If you have a pollen-like allergy, you should be cautious when using marijuana as it contains an allergen that can trigger the said allergy.
4. What are the other ways I can enjoy the benefits of marijuana besides using medical cannabis?
Here are different ways you can use cannabis as a senior:
- Edibles
- CBD-infused snacks
- Vaporizers
- Tincture
- Topicals
In conclusion, medical marijuana can benefit seniors in many ways, like helping them deal with pain using cannabis or treat other conditions such as Glaucoma and Alzheimer’s. I hope you learn from this how-to guide to using medical weed for the first time as a senior.
You can also visit Altitude Organic Cannabis, a reputable marijuana dispensary in Colorado Springs for a variety of cannabis treats. We have all you need, from medical marijuana to CBD oils, edibles, topicals, and many more.
