When you think about CBD oil, and who uses it, you may not think about seniors. With all the gummies, edibles, vapes, and flavored CBD oils out there, CBD seems like a product for young folks.  However, CBD is growing in popularity among seniors, and the reasons for this are not surprising. 

While millennials may be one of the biggest consumers of cannabis products, they use them for completely different reasons than seniors.  Baby boomers are the fastest-growing segment of CBD consumers, surpassing Millenials in their use of CBD products.

​Seniors have more health conditions like arthritis, dementia, Alzheimer’s, and heart disease.  Cannabis is a completely natural plant. The more it is researched, the more seniors are discovering how much potential CBD has to improve their health and wellness.

In 2020, there was a record number of research studies published on cannabis.  Over 23,000 peer-reviewed articles have been published on cannabis, and more research is coming out every month.  While we don’t yet fully understand how CBD works, the research on its therapeutic uses and benefits is promising. People over fifty are most affected by chronic illnesses and health conditions, so it’s not surprising that they are interested in trying it.

This took some convincing though.  After being exposed to years of misinformation about cannabis, many baby boomers were reluctant at first.  Up until recently, most older people only knew about the psychoactive component of cannabis, THC.  Now that researchers have really started investigating the non-psychoactive properties of cannabis, CBD, people are discovering how amazing the cannabis plant really is.

Cannabis use is no longer taboo

Many seniors only knew about marijuana and knew very little about hemp. Most baby boomers grew up in a time where the only thing they were told about cannabis was that it was a gateway drug or that it was only used by people who wanted to get “stoned”.  Because of social media and more information being published about CBD, the endocannabinoid system, and CBD’s health benefits, CBD is no longer considered taboo. 

Cbd oil is made from hemp and only contains a trace amount of THC, the part of the cannabis plant that makes you feel high.  Some CBD oils don’t contain THC at all.  With study after study being published showing that CBD has numerous health benefits that people were never told about before, more seniors are curious about how CBD can help them.

The FDA changed its position on cannabis

Another reason there has been a boom in CBD use among seniors is because the FDA updated its position on cannabis.  In 2018, a lot of big changes happened that made seniors more comfortable with CBD.  The FDA recognized that there were potential therapeutic uses for cannabis-derived compounds and many of the restrictions preventing consumers from purchasing CBD products were removed.  

Even though hemp contains only a trace amount of THC, up until 2018, it couldn’t be grown in the US due to the Controlled Substance Act.  With the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp was removed from the CSA, making it legal to grow cannabis plants that contain less than 0.3 percent THC.  With hemp no longer classified as a Schedule 1 drug, farmers were able to grow more strains of hemp to keep up with the demand for new CBD products.

The FDA’s removal of restrictions and change in position may have opened the minds of seniors who were previously concerned about using CBD.

More seniors are trying CBD now and recommending it to friends.  According to a survey by Remedy Health, 51 percent of seniors who have tried CBD said that it improved their quality of life and 89 percent said they would recommend it to a friend.  

​CBD oil is completely natural and seniors have discovered that it is useful in managing health conditions they deal with regularly.

Probably the biggest reason seniors use CBD is to manage pain from arthritis or other chronic conditions.  CBD may help reduce inflammation and the pain associated with arthritis. While we presently only have animal studies to support this, the Arthritis Foundation, suggests that some people who have tried it have noticed an improvement in pain. They recommend consulting your doctor before using CBD and provide some guidelines for using it on their website.

While we do not have scientific data to prove that CBD oil prevents or reverses the symptoms of Alzheimer’s or Dementia, there have been a few small-scale studies that support the use of CBD oil as a promising treatment option. 

One study found that the use of MCO, or medical cannabis oil, significantly improved the CGI score of the study’s participants.  While it may not be a cure, the study found it to be a safe option for treating patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia and that it may reduce symptoms such as agitation and aggression.

CBD may improve bone density and bone health in seniors. The central nervous system controls the neurotransmitters involved in the regulation of bone metabolism.  A number of neurotransmitters influence bone cell activity and bone health.  

New research has shown that endocannabinoid receptors in the endocannabinoid system play a role in bone metabolism.  A study in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research found that CBD oil significantly improved the healing process of bone fractures in rats.  Most of the research on bone health has been conducted on animals. However, the research suggests that CBD may assist in bone healing and bone health.  

Researchers now know that the endocannabinoid system helps to regulate our mood, appetite, and sleep. Loss of appetite is a concern for older people. Not eating can cause weight loss, muscle weakness, and loss of energy.  CBD may improve sleep, appetite, and energy levels in seniors.  

According to the American Sleep Association, using CBD oil may improve sleep.  This is good news for seniors, as getting quality sleep is an important aspect of good health.  Sleep becomes even more important as we age. We need sleep to feel restored and for our body to heal and repair itself. 

Depression and anxiety are unfortunately very common in seniors. Older people often have very different symptoms than younger people.  Family and friends might not recognize these symptoms as depression.  Instead of appearing sad, they may sleep more or feel tired all the time or act irritable and grouchy.  If they have medical conditions, it’s not uncommon for these conditions to make them feel more depressed.  

CBD may relieve some of the symptoms of anxiety and depression without the side effects that occur with pharmaceutical antidepressants. In addition, it may work faster than typical anti-depressants.  Research suggests that, unlike anti-depressants that take weeks to start providing noticeable relief, CBD oil may provide an immediate improvement in depression symptoms, even after just one dose.

If you are one of the millions of people in the U.S. that suffer from migraines, you may be interested in what the research says on CBD oil for migraines.  Migraines affect over 38 million people in the U.S.  They are not just a headache.  Researchers once thought that migraines were primarily caused by the dilation and constriction of blood vessels in the head, but newer research suggests that migraines are a neurological disorder caused by abnormalities in the brain.   Migraine sufferers brains do not process pain the same way others do when responding to inflammatory agents.  Migraines can be triggered by hormones or environmental triggers that cause inflammation around the trigeminal nerve.  Researchers believe that because of abnormalities in a migraine sufferer’s brain, their threshold for pain signaling drops when they respond to inflammatory agents.

One of the reasons CBD may help to relieve migraine pain is because of the way it works with the endocannabinoid system in the brain.  The endocannabinoid system is an important biological system involved in the regulation of neurotransmission.  CBD attaches to receptors in the endocannabinoid system, a regulatory system found in the brain body, and connective tissues. Because the endocannabinoid system has only recently gained attention there have not been a lot of scientific studies on how it works or the potential it has to relieve pain.  

Endocannaboids and phytocannabinoids (cannabinoids that come from the cannabis plant) directly and indirectly influence a variety of systems within the body.  Activation of the endocannabinoid system has shown benefits for numerous diseases and conditions including pain, nausea, inflammation, anxiety and depression.  There are no clinical studies on the effectiveness of CBD oil for treating migraine, but based on a cross-sectional survey of cannabidiol users, it is believed that cbd may have a broad therapeutic value for treating pain and other conditions.  

CBD is a naturally occurring compound found in the sativa cannabis plant.  One of the reasons people like CBD for migraine is because it is a natural remedy.  CBD oil from hemp is legal in all 50 states and doesn’t require a prescription from a doctor.  Unlike opiates that have the potential for abuse, addiction, and have potential side effects and drug interactions, CBD has a very good safety profile and doesn’t have psychoactive effects.  

Most people use CBD oil regularly as a prophylactic treatment for migraine.  Some find significant relief with just cbd alone, while others use cbd along with other pain relievers.  There are no scientific studies that provide dosage recommendations.   However, it’s a good idea to start with the smallest recommended dose and see if it helps.  If you need to increase the dosage, do it gradually and monitor your symptoms to see if you notice an improvement.. Every person has a different pain threshold, so it may take a little time to figure out the best dosage for you. 

Another important thing to consider is the type and quality of cbd you are using. While cbd is available in stores in many states, cbd products are not regulated by the FDA.  Some products contain very little CBD.  Before you purchase any cbd products online or in a store, make sure they have third party lab results to confirm the quality and amount of CBD you are getting.  

If you are interested in trying CBD oil for your migraines give us a call for a personal consultation.  

CBD is growing in popularity. You might have had a friend or family member suggest that you try it.  The CBD market is growing.  As the market grows more people are starting to shop for CBD online.  If you live in Michigan, buying CBD oil online is easy, but there are some things you should know before you purchase CBD from an online store. 

​In Michigan it is legal to buy hemp-derived CBD oil in stores and online.    In 2018, the Hemp Farming Act removed hemp from the definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substance Act making it legal to buy CBD oil derived from hemp in stores and online in most states.  CBD oil that is made from hemp is legal in all 50 states provided that the THC content is below 0.3 percent. Even though it is legal on a federal level to sell CBD oil products made from hemp, there are a few states that still prohibit the sale of any CBD products including Idaho, Iowa, and South Dakota.

In Michigan CBD products are available in gas stations, video stores, and health stores.  Why would you want to shop online?  Shopping online is much more convenient. It allows you to research the CBD products from the privacy of your home, while also providing you with a greater selection of products.

• Online stores give you access to higher quality CBD products
  As of right now, CBD products are vastly unregulated.  Because of the lack of regulations, consumers need to do their own research on any cbd products they purchase.  In 2019, the FDA tested a number of CBD products and issued warning letters to 22 companies.  Many did not contain the amount of CBD levels that they claimed.  Because of the lack of regulations, you may not be getting a high-quality product at your local gas station or video store.You should also research the quality of any CBD product you purchase.  A reputable company will provide you with detailed lab reports from a third-party testing lab.  A lab report will tell you more about the product including its potency (how much CBD and THC it contains) and purity (for example, does it contain any pesticides or residual solvents like butane or ethanol).
  
• You have more privacy when you shop online
  While CBD products are growing in popularity, some people are still hesitant to buy them. Purchasing CBD products through an online store allows you to privately shop for CBD oil and other products. 
  
• Greater selection of CBD products
  One of the biggest benefits of ordering online is that an online store usually has a much greater selection of products. CBD oil is only one type of CBD product. There are also vape oils, skin care products, edibles, coffee, and even products for your pets. You won’t find this kind of selection at your local vape store or health food store.

CBD or cannabidiol is a component of the cannabis sativa plant. Unlike THC, CBD does not produce any psychoactive effects or make a person feel “high”.  CBD is generally made from hemp, although sativa strains of marijuana also contain CBD.  Hemp contains a much higher percentage of CBD and extremely low amounts of THC (less than 0.3%), which is why most CBD products are made from hemp.  

People are turning to CBD for a variety of reasons. We cannot discuss the health benefits of CBD or make any medical claims due to FDA regulations.  The products sold at CBDStoreMI.com are intended to be used as a supplement.  We encourage you to talk to your doctor and do your own research on the potential health benefits of CBD.  

We offer a wide variety of CBD products including oils, vape oils, beauty items, pet products, and even coffee.  If this is your first time buying CBD, consider calling us for a personal consultation. This will not only answer your questions, but you help you to find the best products for your needs