I am starting up a podcast and thought I would test out some material with you, my reader – the podcast will be called Talking Old. Of course, this first effort will focus on cannabis and our elders. What is it with this fear and doubt of our elders? So, much hysteria over Biden; so many children who think their older parents should just move off into the twilight. Are the “Youngers” just afraid of the acquired wisdom of the “Olders?” Sounds like the start of a science fiction movie.
Seniors are the fastest growing segment of cannabis users – why? Probably the most relevant reason is simply that the pharmaceutical industry that they have found themselves prey to is not organized to help them. It is organized for profit and not for health. Nothing is more motivating than your fear of incapacitation or death – it tends to force people to think outside the box when they find the drug they are taking doesn’t solve the problem and the “professional” doctor tells you to just take another drug to fix the “side-effects” caused by the first fix. And it is a particularly sad and confusing situation when you actually need what the profession prescribes. Or do you?
Take, as an example, blood thinners; did you realize that citrus juice in its various forms will thin your blood? Has your doctor ever told you that? What about our veterans? Apparently, the medical profession will prescribe psychotropic concoctions at the drop of a hat that are worse than the problem our vets face. And then, here comes pot riding to the rescue – ask any vet. Now, lemon juice and pot are not the end all and the be all, but the medical profession has not done themselves any credibilty favors.
And it turns out that many seniors, myself included, were “children of the 60’s” and thinking outside the box isn’t that hard. We were all fed up with the corporate take on things which we saw leading straight to dependence. And we have been less impacted by the stigma that society continues to plague cannabis with. Just look at Prop 64, which seems crafted as if we are all a bunch of criminals; talk about shooting the messenger. Did you know that the AARP now supports cannabis use for us “elders”?
Ok, ready for a long list? Since cannabis became legal and before that, research has indicated a plethora of positive applications for pot; this includes relief from pain, from insomnia, from neuropathy and from anxiety. Of course, just stoning out isn’t the way, you need to carefully educate yourself. But it is worth it; my Nano had glaucoma and he died blind; my Dad died from Alzheimer’s (a horrid disease) and all of us “Elders” suffer from increased pain, whether from life’s pile on, bone health or cancer. We have come a long way understanding cannabis use and we have a long way to go. Don’t think that you won’t need to educate your doctor still.
This article won’t be able to go into terpenes, but they are central to our understanding of the positive effects cannabis can bring to us. Yet, you don’t need to be a rocket scientist and go all chemical with this. Just take chronic pain, which I have more of than I care. Take Granddaddy Purple (a personal fav), OG Kush, Jack Herer and Sour Diesel; do you know any of these? Of course you do; you can hardly smoke or ingest pot without knowing. They are right there for you. I know, it can get so confusing, there are so many strains (which I personally think is bullshit) that you can hardly know what to do. Thank the Spirit for the internet.
But we will go into erectile dysfunction – ew! But there it is, or isn’t. Pot is well known to elevate mood, and to increase arousal and desire; but research has revealed a bit of a surprise or surprises. Apparently Viagra is inhibited and in combination with it increases the risk of heart problems. So that is one bummer, but I think a little research will reveal something other than Viagra that you can use. If you want to make a baby, you should probably refrain from your joint since cannabis lowers sperm count – the more the better, eh? All in all, it isn’t what we old hippies might think and if you aren’t getting satisfaction, back off from use and see if it helps.
Consumption, oh, consumption, be it joints, hash, gummies, cookies, brownies, tincture or salve, you can get your medicine if you reach out for it. Your problem is the possible danger (low at all times, but still a concern); and this comes down to dosage; and that comes down a little at a time until you, you, know what is right for you. The classic scenario is like this, “Honey, I don’t think it is working. I’m going to take some more.” For Spirit’s sake, don’t do that, you will little bit, little bit yourself right into an uncomfortable spot; ask a friend who has already been there what to do. Especially with those brownies, they taste so good. Now, I really don’t think overdose is an issue, probably most that would happen is you would fall asleep. But everyone is different, so mind your P and Q’s.
Steve Dodge owns Homegrown Farms and Humboldt Growers Network. Besides The Cannabis Show, he is on substack (https://nevergiveup.substack.com/) and Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/home_grown). Been in the biz since 1978. His farm comes equipped with Gizmo, the black cat and Leda, the really big Rottweiler. Oh, did he mention the gold fish that got him in trouble? Yeh, the CDFW threw a fit.
Feature photo credit: Steve Dodge
Oh, Lordie, it’s Harvest Time!