Pubdate: Thu, 14 May 2015
Source: Boulder Weekly (CO)
Column: Weed Between the Lines
Copyright: 2015 Boulder Weekly
Contact:  http://www.boulderweekly.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/57
Author: Leland Rucker

THE GOLDEN YEARS JUST MIGHT GO BETTER WITH POT

So you're one of the 13 percent of Boulderites who are over 55 years 
of age. It's been almost a year and a half since marijuana 
legalization, and you've sat on the sidelines watching the experiment 
unfold. Maybe you tried it in college. Perhaps you weren't willing to 
break the law when it was illegal. You're curious but not sure how to proceed.

You're not alone. The fastest-growing segment of the population to 
use marijuana is the (wink, wink) "older" demographic. Eight percent 
of people aged 50 to 64 said they had used marijuana in the last 
year, and those numbers are only expected to grow in the next few years.

There's never been a better time for seniors, especially in Colorado, 
to find out about whether or not marijuana might be beneficial. Are 
there good reasons so many Americans use marijuana, and not just as 
medication? Or that more and more states and legislators are opting 
to allow cannabis to be regulated much like alcohol?

The answer to both questions is yes. Marijuana is a drug, and it 
certainly isn't for everybody. I have friends on both sides of the 
fence. Legalization gives you a choice: If you're interested or 
curious, look into it. If you're not, you should stay away.

Basically, what do you have to lose? All those recent headlines about 
cannabis killing brain cells or lowering IQ are, at least so far, 
more wishful thinking than scientific fact, especially if, like most 
people, you're a casual user. You probably saw the recent rash of 
stories about a study that suggested that casual marijuana use is 
linked to brain changes. University of Colorado researchers who 
reviewed those studies found no correlation between cannabis use and 
brain changes when alcohol use, gender, age and other variables were 
factored. (That study didn't get as many headlines.)

One thing to consider is the concept of "getting high." Watching 
television or reading the anti-marijuana literature, you might get 
the idea that cannabis makes you crazy. I have never understood this. 
The feeling, at least for me and everyone I know, is always euphoric, 
always relaxing. Steve Jobs put it best when he once told Pentagon 
interviewers: "The best way I would describe the effect of the 
marijuana and the hashish is that it would make me relaxed and 
creative." That certainly doesn't mean it will do the same for 
everyone, but then again, it doesn't take long to find out if whether 
you like the "high" or not since the effects of smoked marijuana 
happen almost immediately.

Another thing you often read is that marijuana is stronger than it 
used to be. While it might be true that potencies are higher, that 
doesn't mean it's more dangerous - it simply means it's better 
quality. It's not the brick pot smuggled into the country from south 
of the border for decades. Today it's grown in better conditions and 
comes to market fresh. I'd venture that Colorado marijuana is among 
the bestgrown in the world right now. Don't buy into the hype that 
it's more harmful. Growers are developing medical strains that don't 
get you high at all. Some of the significant research is being done 
at CU, including mapping the cannabis genome, which means the quality 
will only get better.

If you're wondering whether you'll look out of place at the local 
dispensary, forget about it. You'll run into people of all ages, and 
you'll find the budtenders especially helpful as you seek out the the 
right strain or edible. Don't be shy about asking questions - that's 
why they're there. Everybody wants you to have the best experience possible.

One of the big surprises for me was learning the differences in the 
many kinds now available and being developed. After years of just 
buying "pot," it's really wonderful to try different strains designed 
to wake you up, give you that mellow creative buzz Jobs was talking 
about or calm you down. Having problems getting to sleep? Talk to 
your budtender about a good indica strain.

The most important thing, of course, is to stay informed. There is an 
abundance of good information and research on the Internet. Spend 
some time with a search engine looking at the research that has been 
done on marijuana and health as it relates to seniors. You might be surprised.

No one has ever overdosed on marijuana, and no one ever will. Don't 
believe me? Educate yourself. Read the literature - pro and con. Be 
skeptical of everything. Make up your own mind.

You can hear Leland discuss his most recent column and Colorado 
cannabis issues each Thursday morning on KGNU. http://news.kgnu.org/weed
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom