Cannabis Isn’t a Vice—It’s a Smarter Form of Care
Why the plant we dismissed might be the care we need most
In Part 1, I covered a view of what aging really looks like—and how our medical system is failing older adults by defaulting to sedating, high-risk medications for treatable problems like chronic pain, poor sleep, itching skin, and low appetite.
Now it’s time to talk about what does work.
Because cannabis isn’t one thing. And it’s not a joke...
Part 2:
👣 Want to see what change looks like in action?
I’m working to bring cannabis access to older adults on a national scale—because care should age as wisely as we do. Learn more about The Commonwealth Project, or check out our recent Fox News Health feature covering our push to expand access for seniors.
Good news: We happen to be on the short-list of witnesses that the DEA selected to testify in Washington:
Cannabis Is Not One Thing—It’s Many, and It’s Customizable
It’s Not About Getting High—It’s About Getting Helped
If the word cannabis still conjures up images of smoke-filled dorm rooms or giggling twenty-somethings with the munchies, you’re not alone. That’s the picture decades of policy and pop culture painted.
But that picture is outdated. And dangerously incomplete.
The truth is: cannabis today is not one thing—it’s many. And for older adults, it’s not about escape. It’s about support.
A Smarter Toolbox, Not a Blunt Instrument
Cannabis isn’t a single drug. It’s a plant that contains over 100 active compounds—called cannabinoids—that interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system helps regulate pain, sleep, mood, inflammation, appetite, and even skin health.
Two of the best-studied cannabinoids are:
CBD (Cannabidiol) – non-intoxicating, anti-inflammatory, calming
THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) – mildly intoxicating at higher doses, but at low doses can reduce pain, aid sleep, and ease restlessness
But how these cannabinoids are delivered makes all the difference.
Beyond Smoking: Forms That Actually Make Sense for Seniors
Today’s cannabis is available in:
Topicals – creams, balms, and roll-ons for joint pain, itching, and skin irritation
Tinctures and oils – measured liquid drops taken orally for flexible, low-dose regimens
Capsules or softgels – easy for those who prefer standard formats and steady dosing
Edibles – such as gummies or lozenges with precise THC/CBD content
Patches – discreet, controlled-release options for all-day symptom relief
These aren’t wild guesses—they’re calibrated tools. And in most cases, seniors aren’t aiming for intoxication. They’re aiming for function—to move more easily, sleep more soundly, itch less often, and feel just a little more like themselves.
Personalization Is the Point
The power of cannabis lies in its flexibility:
You can target specific symptoms—like arthritis in one hand or sleep fragmentation at night
You can adjust the dose slowly over time
You can choose formats that align with comfort, discretion, and routine
And you can avoid what you don’t want—like feeling altered or drowsy—by sticking to the right cannabinoid ratios and delivery methods
This Isn’t a Gateway Drug. It’s a Gateway to Relief.
What makes cannabis particularly compelling for older adults isn’t that it’s flashy or alternative. It’s that it allows for:
Fewer pills
Lower doses of riskier medications
More targeted care
More control over how and when relief happens
For those who’ve spent years handing over their autonomy to rigid treatment plans and rushed clinic visits, this is no small thing.
Cannabis—done right—isn’t a risk.
It’s an invitation: to participate in your own care, on your own terms, with tools that match your real-life needs.
Same Problems, Better Options: Five Ways Cannabis Supports Healthy Aging
Where Cannabis Fits—and Why It Matters Now
If cannabis were invented today—backed by the science we already have—it would be hailed as one of the most promising breakthroughs in senior care.
Why?
Because it speaks directly to the problems older adults face daily—and solves them without the collateral damage so common with standard medications.
Here are five of the most universal, persistent problems in aging—and how cannabis may offer a better way forward.
1. Sleeplessness Without Sedation
The problem: Half of all adults over 65 report chronic sleep issues. Many wake frequently through the night or rise feeling unrefreshed.
The status quo: Ambien, trazodone, or over-the-counter antihistamines like diphenhydramine—meds linked to grogginess, confusion, and falls.
What cannabis offers:
Low-dose THC or CBN can support sleep onset and reduce night waking.
CBD may reduce anxiety-related insomnia without sedation.
Used wisely, these tools help promote restorative rest without the dangerous hangover.
“Cannabis helps quiet the body without turning off the mind.”
2. Pain Without Polypharmacy
The problem: Chronic pain affects up to 80% of seniors and is the leading driver of limited mobility and decreased independence.
The status quo: NSAIDs, opioids, muscle relaxants—often stacked together, often long-term.
What cannabis offers:
CBD and THC work synergistically to reduce inflammatory and neuropathic pain
Topicals can relieve targeted joint pain without affecting cognition
Microdosed oral THC can be used to lower reliance on stronger drugs
“Instead of a pill for the whole body, what if you treated just the knee that hurts?”
3. Skin Relief Without Steroids
The problem: Aging skin becomes thin, dry, itchy, and slow to heal—often leading to ulcers, infections, and chronic discomfort.
The status quo: Petroleum jelly, steroid creams (which thin skin), or antihistamines
What cannabis offers:
CBD and THC have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and barrier-repairing properties
Cannabinoid receptors are present in the skin—meaning localized treatment makes biological sense
Cannabis topicals are non-systemic, non-intoxicating, and easy to apply
“A balm that soothes, strengthens, and doesn’t compromise the skin further? That’s care, not cover-up.”
For more on the amazing skin relief options within cannabis, check out The Doctor-Approved Cannabis Handbook
4. Appetite and Digestive Support Without Trade-Offs
The problem: Many seniors eat less, lose weight, or suffer from GI discomfort and inflammation
The status quo: High-risk appetite stimulants like megestrol acetate (linked to blood clots and heart issues)
What cannabis offers:
THC is a well-known appetite stimulant, especially useful in wasting or cancer care
CBD has been shown to modulate gut inflammation and motility, potentially supporting IBD and IBS-like conditions
Low-dose, consistent use may support both nutrition and digestion safely
“Helping someone enjoy a meal again is more powerful than we realize.”
5. Calmer Days Without Cognitive Decline
The problem: Anxiety, social withdrawal, and agitation are common in aging, especially in neurodegenerative conditions
The status quo: Benzodiazepines (like Ativan), SSRIs, or antipsychotics—many of which increase fall risk and accelerate cognitive decline
What cannabis offers:
CBD is well-tolerated and non-intoxicating, with anti-anxiety and calming effects
Low-dose THC, especially in balanced THC:CBD ratios, may promote engagement, mood elevation, and emotional regulation
Used correctly, it helps seniors feel more themselves, not less
“This isn’t about changing someone’s personality. It’s about helping them reconnect with who they’ve always been.”
A Clearer Choice—If We’re Willing to See It
For each of these issues, cannabis offers not a cure—but a smarter option. A tool that fits the body more naturally, with fewer cascading risks. One that honors the complexity of aging rather than medicating it into silence.
What’s the Alternative? The Real Cost of Doing Nothing
We’re Not Just Ignoring Cannabis—We’re Paying for It
Let me show you how this plays out.
Let’s say nothing changes
Let’s say we stick to business as usual—and I’ve seen where that leads
More medications
More side effects
More falls
More hospitalizations
More frustration
Less joy
What happens?
We See More Seniors Falling—Literally and Figuratively
Falls are the leading cause of injury and injury-related death in adults over 65.
Many of these falls are triggered or worsened by the very drugs meant to help: sedatives, opioids, sleep aids, antihistamines.
Cannabis—especially topicals or low-dose oral options—can often reduce pain or aid sleep without impairing balance or cognition.
Annual cost to the healthcare system from falls alone? Over $50 billion.
And that’s just one consequence of the way we’re “treating” aging.
We Feed the Polypharmacy Problem
Over 40% of seniors take five or more prescription medications.
Every new symptom risks becoming a side effect of the last pill—followed by yet another pill to treat that.
Cannabis, used wisely, has the potential to replace or reduce medications for sleep, pain, anxiety, appetite, and inflammation.
We don’t need more drugs in the system. We need better ones—and smarter strategies.
We Keep Using the Wrong Tools for the Right Problems
Dry, cracked skin is treated with steroid creams that weaken skin over time.
Painful joints are flooded with systemic NSAIDs that damage kidneys and stomach linings.
Appetite loss is met with risky stimulants.
Anxiety or restlessness is dulled with benzodiazepines linked to memory loss and sedation.
This isn’t just ineffective. It’s harmful.
We’ve normalized it because we’ve run out of ideas. But cannabis is an idea—one we’ve been too slow to take seriously.
Caregivers Burn Out. Families Watch Loved Ones Fade.
There’s an emotional cost, too.
When you watch a parent lose sleep, lose appetite, lose joy—you lose something, too.
You lose time. You lose peace of mind.
And often, you lose them before they’re really gone.
Cannabis isn’t a miracle. But it is, for many families, a lifeline. A way to make someone just a little more present. A little more comfortable. A little more here.
So No—Doing Nothing Is Not Neutral
Every day smarter solutions are delayed, I believe we’re complicit in a system that:
Sedates more than it supports
Prescribes more than it listens
Accepts decline rather than asking: Could this be better?
Cannabis may not be perfect. But it’s progress. And in the face of the status quo, progress is overdue.
A Matter of Dignity, Not Drugs
Cannabis Isn’t a Vice. It’s a Choice.
There’s a lie we tell about aging.
That it’s supposed to feel like this. That pain is natural. That sleep will vanish. That appetite fades. That independence shrinks. That “grumpiness” just happens. That there’s nothing to be done but manage decline with more pills, more appointments, and less vitality.
But what if I told you aging doesn’t have to feel like a slow surrender?
What if I told you that real care includes agency—and most seniors are being denied it?
Because that’s what cannabis represents for many older adults—not a thrill, not a trend, but a chance to reclaim something small but sacred: control.
Relief You Choose, Not Just Receive
There’s something radical about being able to say:
“This cream helps my knees.”
“That oil helps me sleep.”
“I use this when I feel off.”
Cannabis allows for participation, not just prescription.
It lets seniors become the agent, not just the patient.
No permission slips. No groggy side effects. Just a tool that works with the body to bring back a little comfort, a little steadiness, a little lightness.
Support That Preserves Selfhood
This is about more than biology. It’s about identity.
Feeling pain-free enough to walk to the garden? That’s selfhood.
Sleeping deeply enough to wake up alert? That’s selfhood.
Not needing help to eat, dress, or remember? That’s selfhood.
When we rob people of these small dignities with treatments that sedate, immobilize, or confuse them—I’ve seen what happens when comfort is stripped—we don’t just dull pain, we erode the person underneath.
Cannabis, when used wisely, helps protect that.
“I’m not trying to get high,” one patient said. “I just want to feel like myself again.”
Stigma Is a Distraction. The Real Question Is: Does It Help?
Forget the headlines for a moment. Forget politics and culture wars—I certainly try to
Here’s the real question:
Does cannabis help people feel better, function better, live better—without hurting them in the process?
If the answer is yes—and for many, it clearly is—then the stigma isn’t just outdated. It’s unethical.
And that stigma? I’ve watched it stand in the way of better days for people who deserve far more.
Care That Honors the Whole Person
Cannabis won’t replace your doctor. It won’t reverse time.
But it can offer something rare in medicine today:
A tool that meets you where you are
That adapts to their needs—or yours, if you’re the one aging through this
That respects your limits
That restores some sense of agency in a system that often forgets what it’s like to be on the receiving end
And that’s not a recreational substance.
That’s a quietly revolutionary kind of care.
So Why Isn’t This Mainstream?
The Real Barrier Is Inertia—Not Evidence
If a new drug hit the market tomorrow that could help seniors sleep more soundly, move more easily, eat more willingly, and feel more present—without making them groggy, dependent, or confused—it would dominate headlines. Medicare would scramble to cover it. Providers would rush to prescribe it.
And yet, that drug already exists. It’s been here for decades. It’s safe when used wisely. It’s accessible in many states. It’s already changing lives.
It’s cannabis.
So why isn’t this already standard care? It’s a question I keep asking.
It’s Not a Medical Problem. It’s a Cultural One.
The science is strong. The testimonials are countless. The risks, when compared to common prescriptions, are remarkably low.
But the problem is baked into the system:
Doctors weren’t trained to understand cannabis—so most don’t engage with it.
Seniors weren’t raised to see it as medicine—so many still fear it.
Caregivers don’t want to overstep—and so they stay quiet.
Regulations remain inconsistent—so even those willing to try often don’t know where to begin.
This isn’t resistance based on reason—I’ve seen that up close. It’s habit. It’s fear. It’s inertia—and it’s costing people comfort, function, and quality of life.
The Good News? Change Doesn’t Need Permission
Cannabis isn’t stuck in a lab. You don’t need a biotech IPO or an NIH grant to access it. In many cases, you don’t even need a prescription.
You can walk into a dispensary and ask for a low-dose topical cream for your arthritic wrist.
You can try a 1:1 THC:CBD tincture for sleep.
You can speak to a clinician who’s versed in cannabis care and get real guidance—safely, legally, affordably.
This isn’t fringe anymore. But it remains overlooked in the settings that need it most.
And the people it could help most? They’re still waiting—often silently—for someone like me to say: It’s okay to try
We’ve Waited Long Enough
This post isn’t about hype. I’m not here to push a trend or a movement
It’s about a simple idea that’s been buried under fear and inertia for too long:
Older adults deserve options that work.
Options that soothe without sedating.
That empower without overwhelming.
That restore dignity, comfort, and autonomy.
Cannabis, when used wisely, offers that.
So the question isn’t whether it’s time—I’ve already seen the time come and go in too many exam rooms.
The real question is how much longer I have to keep watching people suffer needlessly—while the better tool has been right in front of us
Key Takeaways:
The problem isn’t aging. It’s how we treat it.
Sleep issues, chronic pain, fragile skin, restlessness, and appetite loss are common—but too often, they’re managed with sedating, risky, or ineffective drugs.
Cannabis offers safer, smarter, symptom-specific support.
When used appropriately, cannabis can support rest, reduce inflammation, calm anxiety, ease localized pain, and improve appetite—with fewer side effects and greater control.
Topicals, tinctures, low-dose capsules, and patches are ideal for seniors.
These formats are non-intoxicating, low-risk, and easy to incorporate into daily routines.
The real barrier isn’t safety or science—it’s stigma and inertia.
Most doctors weren’t trained in cannabis. Most seniors weren’t raised with it. But that’s changing—and it should.
Cannabis isn’t about escape. It’s about engagement.
For many older adults, it’s a path back to movement, comfort, sleep, and selfhood. Not getting high. Getting helped.
We wouldn’t blink if a new drug hit the market tomorrow claiming to relieve pain, improve sleep, support digestion, calm anxiety, and protect skin—all without sedation, dependency, or confusion.
But because this tool is called cannabis, we hesitate.
Sometimes, a little relief can change everything.
A good night’s sleep. A morning without pain. A meal that tastes like something again.
That’s not just comfort.
That’s dignity.
And cannabis—done right—can offer exactly that.
👉 To learn more about expanding access for seniors, visit The Commonwealth Project or watch our Fox News Health feature.
