The war on drugs, and more specifically the prohibition on cannabis, spread anti-cannabis propaganda far and wide remarkably fast. After thousands of years of using cannabis, some countries made the innocuous plant illegal overnight, disregarding both religious and cultural use. Many of our senior citizens were exposed to the peak of this propaganda, and still foster a distrust towards cannabis and all its derivatives today.

One of the active components in cannabis, Cannabidiol or CBD has gained a lot of media attention in recent years, due to its seemingly miraculous array of medicinal properties. It's been proven to treat seizures, and piles of anecdotal evidence are suggesting it can also treat chronic and constant pain, as well as other common ailments. Those elderly who are still vehemently against cannabis and its related products are undeniably missing out, as the symptoms it can treat are common to their age group.

Here is a look at how you can explain the benefits of CBD oil to elderly family or friends, and hopefully encourage them to make use of it to improve their quality of life.

The ABC’s of CBD and THC

Unlike when we explain things to children, it’s always best to be completely transparent when explaining things to our elderly family and friends. Here are some quick definitions which you can print for them to read, or read out to them from your phone or computer.

There are two active components in cannabis which give the medicinal and recreational properties people seek through either ingestion of an oil or the smoking of the plant. They are CBD, which we’ve already mentioned, and Tetrahydrocannabinol which is more commonly known as THC.

CBD

Typically derived from the stems, flowers, and leaves of the cannabis plant, CBD is the more socially accepted of the two components, as it lacks the psychoactive properties. Evidence has suggested that a pure CBD tincture can be effective in treating both mild pain and insomnia. However, scientists are now looking at what they call the ‘Entourage Effect’, which implies that the presence of all components of the cannabis plant can be helpful in treating a myriad of ailments.

THC

Perhaps considered the naughty twin of the two, THC is the psychoactive component in cannabis which gives the recreational high when consumed in high enough doses. This property is the most feared by the inexperienced, and has been the source of controversy in the use of full spectrum CBD in treating seizures in children. Unlike the pure CBD tincture, a full spectrum CBD oil includes all components of the plant and can offer relief from a broader variety of ailments such as depression and lack of appetite.

Zero to Sixty In Their Own Time

While a full spectrum CBD oil may be more appropriate in treating the ailments your elderly friend or family member is suffering from, the presence of THC may be daunting. Instead, you may consider graduating them from a pure CBD tincture, to a broad spectrum, and finally onto a full spectrum CBD, to allow them to adjust accordingly. The broad spectrum contains all components of the cannabis plant, with the THC removed or in minimal doses, offering an introduction to the ‘Entourage Effect’ without the psychoactive effects.

Further Discussion

If an explanation isn’t enough to sway them, then you may consider one of the following approaches to explaining its effectiveness and relevance to their ailments.

CBD vs Opiates

A common problem the elderly will have with CBD is that it’s derived from a well-known drug. Although many elderly will already be taking painkillers which come from the same plant that heroin comes from. These painkillers are often heavily synthesized, and come with uncomfortable side effects from fatigue to constipation. Unlike opiates, CBD isn’t fueling an epidemic, and extractions are often clean enough that you can still taste the plant in the medicine. CBD also has much more manageable side effects, which can range from alertness to peckishness. 

Alleviate Side Effects from Other Medication

Most elderly people will be taking a cocktail of medicines each day to mitigate the discomfort that comes with aging. These medications often come with side effects such as nausea, which can be hard to manage by oneself. CBD oil can help to alleviate nausea and other common side effects from medication, allowing them to live their glory days more fully.

Final Thought

Don’t push them! The saying “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” exists for a reason, so be sure to practice kindness and patience with them. Be sure to also look into the different ways that they can take it too, as sublingual ingestion may be an uncomfortable idea at first.