Cannabis and Older Adults
Learn about the unique risks for older adults, including interactions with medications.
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Lesson Outline
Older adults are now the fastest-growing age group of cannabis users. As cannabis use becomes more common among older adults, many questions arise: Can it help with chronic pain or sleep? Is it safe with other medications? What are the real risks?
By taking this interactive lesson, you'll learn:
- How cannabis affects older adults differently.
- Why today's cannabis is much stronger than it was decades ago.
- How cannabis can interact with common medications - sometimes dangerously.
- Why using CBD is not risk-free.
- What the latest research says about cannabis for chronic pain, sleep, and mood.
- How to prepare for a safe, stigma-free conversation with your healthcare provider.
Meet Margaret, who is considering trying cannabis to treat her chronic arthritis pain, and find out what her doctor recommends.
(Estimated time to complete - 20 minutes)
Are you interested in learning more about what the research says about medical cannabis for common conditions such as chronic pain and sleep? Check out our video posts below or visit McMaster University's Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research website.
Cannabis and Older Adults
This summary handout includes questions to consider when preparing for a conversation about cannabis with your healthcare provider.
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Authors
Iris Balodis, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University; Associate Director of the Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research; co-lead Bud Talks
Deirdre Querney, MSW, CCAC, CPGC
Registered Social Worker, City of Hamilton's Alcohol, Drug & Gambling Services; co-lead Bud Talks
_jpg.jpg?sfvrsn=bcb0dd6_2 "Anthony Levinson")
Anthony J. Levinson, MD, MSc, FRCPC
Neuropsychiatrist, Professor; Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University
About this Project
This e-learning lesson was developed by the Division of e-Learning Innovation in the Faculty of Health Sciences. It was reviewed and assessed for accuracy by Dr. Iris Balodis, Deirdre Querney, and Dr. Anthony Levinson. There are no conflicts of interest.
This lesson is based on ‘BUD TALKS: Cannabis & Older Adults’ authored by Dr. Iris Balodis, Deirdre Querney, and Jean-Pierre Joubert. 'Bud Talks' is an initiative of the Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research at McMaster University and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. Their mission is to make understanding cannabis easy, approachable, and backed by science.
If you have questions or comments related to this resource, please contact us at info@mcmasteroptimalaging.org.
Disclaimer
This resource has been provided for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for advice from your own healthcare professional. This resource may be reproduced for not-for-profit educational purposes only. Any other uses must be approved by the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal (info@mcmasteroptimalaging.org).
Anyone using this information is doing so at their own risk, and releases and agrees to indemnify the Division of e-Learning Innovation of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University, the Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, McMaster University, and all individual subject matter experts who worked on this lesson from any and all injury or damage arising from such use.
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