More baby boomers use medical marijuana, but they want their doctors to get wise to the risks and benefits
Baby boomers’ marijuana use has edged upward in the past decade, but recent research suggests some still have a hard time getting a hold of the drug.
Older adults want more education, more research and greater openness with their health-care providers about using medical marijuana, according to a qualitative study of older cannabis users and non-users in 15 Colorado cities.
What’s more, some participants in the 17 focus groups reported difficulty accessing medical marijuana — even in Colorado, where medical marijuana has been legal since 2000 — as their primary doctors couldn’t or wouldn’t provide the necessary certificate for them to get a medical cannabis card.
Stories you may be interested in
States with medical marijuana laws saw 20 percent drop in some opioid prescriptions
States with active medical marijuana laws saw certain opioid prescription rates drop nearly 20 percent compared to states without medical marijuana programs, according to a first-of-its-kind study out of Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center. Authors said the findings underscore the importance of providing patients with pain management alternatives, such as cannabis, in efforts to reduce…
Read More 
Medical Marijuana Faces Acceptance Barrier by Hesitant Medical Schools
A new study shows a growing interest by university pharmacy programs in teaching about medical marijuana in their curriculum, while medical schools seem to lag behind. Sixty-two percent of U.S. pharmacy school respondents queried in a new survey said they included medical marijuana in their doctorate of pharmacy curriculum. That’s according to a nine-page study co-authored by…
Read More 
Florida medical marijuana dispensary now sells the state’s first cannabis tablet
Even though Florida residents can finally smoke medical marijuana, one of the state’s largest cannabis companies is now offering it in tablet form. The company Curaleaf released the state’s first cannabis tablet on Sunday. The company’s two Orlando locations, at 775 N Semoran Blvd. and 12402 S Orange Blossom Trail, sell the mint-flavored tablets for $35 for a 30-quantity, child-resistant package. Read…
Read More 
An Alternative Treatment for Parkinson’s Patients
April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month and an opportune time to highlight the disease and how medical marijuana may be a beneficial treatment option for those living with the condition. Many Parkinson’s patients find themselves desperate for alternative treatment options that provide sufficient relief of their symptoms and help avoid or postpone the need for surgery…
Read More 
Survey of oncologists finds knowledge gap on medical marijuana
As more states legalize medical marijuana, two key groups — researchers whose job is it to understand its benefits and drawbacks, and physicians charged with advising potential users — are struggling to catch up with policymakers. Ilana Braun, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and chief of the division of adult psychosocial…
Read More 
After 50 Years, U.S. Opens The Door To More Cannabis Crops For Scientists
After more than 50 years, the federal government is lifting a roadblock to cannabis research that scientists and advocates say has hindered rigorous studies of the plant and possible drug development. Since 1968, U.S. researchers have been allowed to use cannabis from only one domestic source: a facility based at the University of Mississippi, through a…
Read More