Many healthcare workers and doctors are seeing more and more silver-haired patients bring up the topic of medical marijuana for a variety of reasons. But, unfortunately, these patients aren’t jumping at the opportunity, more so looking to discuss the pros and cons of using marijuana in their old age.

These patients are usually in their 60s to 90s and are hoping that medical marijuana will help them out in terms of pain and discomfort. Some are those who’ve experienced kidney failure and can’t take certain pain medications, and others are simply looking for a good night’s sleep. So if your grandpa continues complaining about his chronic pain or lack of sleep, show him this article; we’d be happy to help.

Many of these older patients were children or teenagers in the 1960s, so they’re somewhat comfortable with the concept of using medical marijuana for pain, but others warm our hearts as they ask for permission and think they’re breaking the law. A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found a steady increase in patients 65+ using cannabis.

The study mentioned that from 2015 to 2018, the increase in elderly cannabis users went from 2.4% to 4.2%. The most notable factor responsible for this increase is simply the destigmatization that cannabis has seen since various states have deemed it legal. However, especially regarding medical marijuana, the stigma seems to be disappearing slowly but surely.

The study also noted that 94% of Americans supported legal access to medical marijuana, and a majority of that 94% were struggling from pain, insomnia, neuropathy, and anxiety. So these are the first steps when discussing cannabis use with an elderly family member. First, ask them what help they need and what remedies they’ve received.

We want to stress that we’re not encouraging you to grab your grandma and take her outside to share a joint, but if that’s how your family dynamic is, then props to you. However, we want to help ease the pain and burden that old age can bring with help from the valuable medicinal benefits that cannabis offers.

If all goes well, hopefully, your grandparents will be open and willing to experience the beautiful effects of cannabis, so much so that they might want to attend some bad-ass senior parties that celebrate the plant in all its glory. If they’re not as eager as you’d expect, introduce them to the various ways we can consume cannabis without harming our lungs.