Medical cannabis for seniors vs opioids

Seniors are a growing group of cannabis consumers in the US. A national survey analysis put past-year cannabis use among adults 65 and older at 2.4% in 2015 and 4.2% in 2018. Opioid prescribing moved the other direction. CDC data show US opioid prescriptions peaked at 255 million in 2012 and fell to about 142 million in 2020.

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The pick: medical cannabis first, with limits

For a senior with chronic pain who lives in a state with a medical program, cannabis is the better first trial. A 2017 National Academies review found substantial evidence that cannabis relieves chronic pain in adults. Side effects include dizziness, dry mouth, and confusion. Falls are the main risk above age 65. Start with low THC and high CBD, and work with a clinician who knows the patient's other drugs. Cannabis can raise the effect of sedatives and blood thinners such as warfarin.

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Cannabis is not FDA approved for pain. Epidiolex is approved for seizures. Dronabinol and nabilone are approved for nausea and weight loss. Federal law lists cannabis as Schedule I. A 2024 proposal to move it to Schedule III is not final.

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Option 2: opioids

Opioids still fit some cases: cancer pain, end-of-life care, and short-term pain after surgery. CDC counted about 81,000 opioid-involved deaths in 2022. Risk rises with age because kidneys clear drugs slower. Constipation, falls, and slowed breathing are common. Naloxone should be in the house.

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Option 3: non-opioid, non-cannabis care

  • Acetaminophen, up to 3,000 mg per day for most adults over 65.
  • Topical NSAIDs such as diclofenac gel.
  • Physical therapy and strength training.
  • Nerve blocks and joint injections.

How to choose

Ask three questions. Does the pain last more than three months? What other drugs does the patient take? Does the state run a medical program with lab-tested products?

Eden Cannabis sells lab-tested flower, tinctures, and capsules through an online menu and in-store counters. Labels list THC and CBD percentages. Bring a state ID and, in medical-only states, a physician's certification.