Cannabis In Nursing Homes

The medical cannabis industry is on the up and up in the United States right now. There are currently 34 states that have legalized medical marijuana in some form. Oftentimes these states have different programs that allow only certain types of marijuana strains or certain products. Either way, it is safe to say that more people have access to medical marijuana and its benefits than ever before. This also includes old people and senior citizens. Believe it or not, much of the medical marijuana that is consumed in this country is used by citizens that are 65 years of age or older. This is because many older medical patients are dealing with chronic conditions that cause them great discomfort throughout the day.

By turning to medical cannabis, patients are able to manage and treat their pain and other symptoms without experiencing some of the harmful side effects that are found in other common medications. What does this mean for senior citizens who are living in a nursing home? Surely nursing homes simply follow the legal standard set by their state for medical marijuana? Well, unfortunately we are seeing that this is not always the case. In many nursing homes across the country, the contradiction between federal and state laws are quite stark.

This is becoming an ongoing obstacle for seniors who are attempting to use medical marijuana to treat various symptoms. To put it simply, even citizens who qualify for medical marijuana and can get it through their state's medical program may be blocked by the federal policies within the nursing home they reside. This is a huge problem for patients dealing with chronic pain, inflammation, insomnia, nausea, and other chronic health conditions that become more commonly found in older people. Why would someone who could benefit from medical cannabis be denied, especially after they have been approved and supervised by a doctor?

Every nursing home has rules and regulations that prohibit smoking for all of its residents and staff. This makes sense, since we have long come to realize the negative effects of smoking and the problems it can cause later in life. When talking about the medical marijuana component with older citizens in nursing homes, smoking marijuana would definitely not be practical given the health conditions and fragility of older people’s bodies. However, there are plenty of other methods of consuming cannabis that do not involve inhalation - and just because smoking is one method of using marijuana does not mean that nursing homes should ban medical cannabis altogether. In fact, there are so many different types of products out there that can be used to safely consume cannabis that do not have anything to do with inhalation.

Tinctures, which are a form of liquid CBD or a blend of CBD and THC are popularly used by people who would rather not smoke cannabis. Tinctures are administered by simply putting a drop of the oil under the patient's tongue. This could be done by a staff member or even by a resident themselves if it was allowed. Tinctures are used under the tongue because the blood vessels under the tongue are close to the surface, meaning that they absorb into the bloodstream faster and start to provide symptom relief in just about 30 minutes.

This is a great option for older patients, and these tinctures can be found in a variety of flavors or completely unflavored if so desired. There are also THC or CBD edibles that can be consumed like any other food, and these are also great ways to consume cannabis without actually having to smoke it. Not to mention, creams, ointments, and other cannabis topicals exist that can use to treat chronic diseases and other conditions. 

Marijuana on Athletes

Athletes and marijuana is a very popular debate, with some people saying that cannabis is good for athletes because it works for performance and helps with focus.  It also does dull the senses though according to others, which does hinder performance. What does the science believe on this? Read on to find out a little bit about cannabis, and how it benefits athletes. 

How Marijuana Works on People 

For some, they may not know the effects of marijuana on athletes. Others say that it may be good or bad for them, and it’s something that’s hotly debated. Marijuana is something that uses CBD and THC in order to create the effects that it does. When you have it go into the body, the receptors bind to this, creating different effects, from relaxation to dulling pain to even increasing or improving your appetite. The effect on this is something that’s mostly unknown, but there are scientists attempting to make this work. 

How it Affects Performance 

While there are a lot of athletes that are in support of this, saying that it helps with relaxation and pain, there is sme debate on the overall performance of athletes Some people get more excited to begin exercising based on the strains that they get. There is something called a “lazy strain” which makes someone feel tired and lethargic.  Most of the time, if you have a strain that gets you going, you will spend more time at the gym exercising. 

What about recovery though? There is some studies which show that marijuana reduces inflammation and pain. it also might interfere with your deep sleep, a major part of the repairing of muscles, so the effect of this is something that isn’t super simple, and in fact is a bit contradictory as an issue. 

The effects are mostly based on strains though, and it’s something that you should definitely do research on before you consume cannabis as well. 

Long-term Effects? 

The effects of this are still kind of unknown, but there are some people who are concerned about the long-term effects, including constant smoking and how it causes the development of lung problems, including lung cancer. There is also some people who worry that the weed strain may impair your recall and memory, so as more and more people are getting this, and more places are legalizing it, you should definitely look at the long-term effects from this. 

As for athletes, cannabis is something that’s tested usually through blood or urine test, where they find the CBD, THC, and also the metabolites that are in marijuana. There is the issue too that it might cause false positives as well as you go along. Right now though, as more and more studies are actually in support of this, there are also possible side effects that come with this.  

Is’ already become a substance that isn’t banned by a lot of the major sports areas. However, there are other places that still are a bit on the fence about legalizing it.  The NBA still believes it’s a substance that should be left illegal in the NBA.  

Right now though, we’re starting to see the rippled effect of marijuana in the sprots world, and more people in staunch support of this, which means that we may be able to, with this, see a change in the rules. Right now, marijuana is still something frowned upon in the world of sports, but as we see more and more leagues in support of it because of this, and the drug policies changing, it may change over time. 

CBD vs Marijuana for Anxiety? Which one is Better?

One of the things that a lot of people struggle with is anxiety. The pandemic ended up making things worse as well. Thankfully, more attention has started to turn towards mental health in America, and people that struggle with certain mental health disorders are able to get more resources available to them. It is estimated that almost 1 in 3 Americans have experienced a mental health or anxiety disorder at some point in their lifetime. 

While there are of course normal levels of anxiety that everyone experiences from time to time, anxiety disorders are a totally different animal. Most people don’t really have a good way to identify with people that have anxiety because they simply do not understand it. For people that actually struggle with something like anxiety, it can make trying to do normal things and just get through the day an extremely difficult task.

Treatment for anxiety can vary in effectiveness depending on the patient - some things work for some people, while others do not see them as effective. Currently, the normal treatment options for anxiety disorders include things like therapy and prescription medications. However, there are some concerns for people who use these prescriptions, as they can sometimes make conditions worse and have some negative side effects as well. As an alternative to these medications, it is becoming increasingly popular for people to use medical marijuana for treating anxiety disorders and that sort of thing. Today, we are going to talk about if using CBD and marijuana can be an effective way to manage anxiety symptoms.

So when it comes to CBD and marijuana, which one is better for treating anxiety? Well, the unfortunate part of the medical marijuana industry is that there are not a whole lot of clinical studies and trials that have been done. Since cannabis has been illegal for so long in the United States, there is no a whole lot of data available that can make it easy to distinguish which one is necessarily better for treating anxiety (that is, CBD or marijuana). 

However, there are a few things to consider when picking between the two. We do have limited research and some testimonials from people who have used these things for anxiety. One of the more notable side effects of using THC is actually that it can cause anxiety. This does not happen for everyone, but it is pretty well known that using certain THC strains can cause anxiety instead of having the calming effect that we are going for.

However, certain strains of cannabis can be very effective at reducing symptoms of anxiety, especially when one is using an indica dominant strain. CBD is also used to treat anxiety, and some studies suggest that the cannabinoid content found in cannabis can lower feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress in certain patients. 

This is a huge win for people that struggle with anxiety from day to day. One thing to keep in mind when picking whether you want to use CBD or marijuana to treat your anxiety is the state that you live in. As many of you are already aware of, medical marijuana is not legal in all places around the United States. Some people do not have the option to try using certain THC strains because of the laws that are in place in their state. 

However, CBD has been federally legalized for quite some time because it is considered to be a hemp-derived product by the United States government. If you are someone that has been struggling with an anxiety disorder of some kind, make sure that you about trying marijuana as a treatment option.

Does CBD Reduce Its Effect Over Time

CBD or cannabidiol does lose the effect over time due to the product being expired, or even your tolerance to this. But here, we’ll look at how to overcome it.

Why it doesn’t Work anymore 

Usually, it happens due to the expiration of the oil, where it’s not usable, or less effective. There are a few factors that do impact this, and they include: 

• The process of extraction, as some of the methods are better than others. Carbon dioxide is the best method, as it offers the best CBD for the product, and keeps it for longer. Look for the products that are made this way.

• The ingredients. The low-quality ingredients result in a faster expiration usually. Don’t get anything with flavorings either, as this can reduce the shelf life.

• If the product is not in a dark or amber glass bottle, it’s going to degrade faster due to the light and the heat that’s there. also make sure that it’s never in direct sunlight whenever you purchase it.

• The quality is bad. Some of the factors that go into this include the condition of the oil, ingredients used, and whether it’s been analyzed by a third-party lab. If it hasn’t, it’s not going to have as good of quality.

• The storage is bad. Make sure it’s out of the sun, and in a container that's airtight.

Usually, you can tell by the smell that’s there. it’s usually earthy. If it tastes bad, it’s degraded, and you probably shouldn’t have it period. You should also look at the thickness of it. If it looks really thick and cloudy, chances are the oil did degrade, so don’t consume it. You might wonder if you’re going to get sick having old CBD. The answer is no, because it won’t make you sick unless it’s got mildew and mold on there, but it just tastes terrible, so don’t have this. 

CBD Tolerance 

Another reason that you may not get the most out of CBD is because you developed a CBD tolerance. This means you need to take more to get the same effects, and it happens due to homeostasis. It’s not dependance, but it’s just you have to take more to get the same effect. Over time, when you use CBD, it tends to become more resistant within the body. THC definitely does have a similar effect that CBD does when it comes to tolerance. If you notice you need to take more to get the same effects, it’s going to definitely be a sign of tolerance issues.

How to Lower your Tolerance 

The best way to lower it is to stop taking it for a couple of days, allowing the tolerance to dip down, and giving the body the “reset” that it needs. You may want to reduce how often you use it, since if you take this multiple times a day, maybe taking it once a day can help.

You also may want to use THC to help with this, but this can sometimes be hard, and may lead to a tolerance of THC. You can also consider using a strain that’s different, or something with lower CBD within it, in order to lower the tolerance that’s there. Sometimes, you just have to make a shift, and from there, you’ll start to see the difference. Tolerance to CBD is common in long-term users, and some people notice this faster than others. That’s why, if you start to see this, take the steps you need to lower the tolerance as well.