The face of cannabis has changed dramatically…even if the stigma hasn’t caught up (YET). Banks may not easily accept cannabis companies, you can’t get credit cards and may be switching banks often, BUT the Canna Granny has and so have many others that may not have ‘touched the stuff”, or admitted to it even a few years ago. Who does this include? And why does it matter to the health of the industry?
Your grandparents: Last spring, an analysis based on the National Survey of Drug Use and Health found that marijuana use in the prior year among people over 65 had jumped 75 percent from 2015 to 2018. Why are people over the age of 65 interested in cannabis? Anxiety, sleep apnea, back pain, even boredom through the Covid years. They also credit cannabis with helping to wean off prescription medication.
Retailers are catering towards seniors, offering discounts and different ways to entice them into their stores. And seniors aren’t necessarily looking for prescriptions to get their hands on the goods. Sons, daughters, someone they know from their community centre or gym, but always from someone they trust.
Athletes: Not weekend warriors, I’m talking NFL, NBA, NHL (not necessarily smoking, but different options with CBD…and sometimes smoking). Cannabis use appears to be at its highest in the NFL, with one-time Dallas Cowboys tight end Martellus Bennett claiming that nearly 90 percent of professional football players rely on it, mostly to manage pain, instead of dabbling in opioids that can lead to serious side effects and addiction.
Cancer patients: Clinical trials have shown that both dronabinol and nabilone work as well as OR better than other drugs to relieve nausea and vomiting.
They benefits aren’t limited to cancer patients but can include MS and Parkinson’s, Epilepsy and Crohn’s Disease.
Our pets: A survey of participants conducted by the VIN News Service found that 63 percent of veterinarians reported that they were asked about CBD oil for pets at least once a month.
But veterinarians aren’t always willing to discuss it — those who advise clients on using CBD for their pets can risk penalties and license suspension in some states.
In other states, veterinarians have a little more freedom. California recently passed a law that prevents state regulators from penalizing veterinarians for talking with clients about using cannabis for their pets, including potential side effects and toxicities.
Celebrities and Executives: Ya that’s right as much as we read about how some turn up their noses at the industry, here is a short list.
We have been involved in this industry for decades, like many of you, some days it feels like one step forward and one step back, but it is a community we believed in 20 years ago and one we still support today for all of its benefits. I hate the word mainstream, truly, but the more widely accepted all forms of weed become the more the industry as a whole benefits from it.
Every day we hear from someone who has used it to improve their health and their life both mentally and physically, people that have started to grow to learn more, but ultimately just to find some relief. The industry changes monthly and there is hope for future progress and greater acceptance, the world is waiting!
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/20/health/cannabis-marijuana-elderly.html
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/patient/cannabis-pdq
https://nypost.com/2021/09/18/why-more-professional-athletes-use-and-rely-on-cannabis/
https://www.healthline.com/health/cbd-for-dogs#veterinarians
https://herb.co/news/industry/successful-ceos-who-have-enjoyed-the-herb/
