How Can Medical Marijuana Benefit Older Adults?

A review published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society describes the signs and risks of medical marijuana use for older adults, reports EurekAlert . Although the drug appears useful for the treatment of pain and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, it has neuropsychiatric side effects. However, medical marijuana's positive and negative effects on older adults have not been rigorously studied. "There is a dearth of evidence supporting the use of cannabinoids for medical indications in older adults," says Duke University Medical Center's Dr. Joshua Briscoe. "Common sense practices are applicable here though, including performing a thorough assessment for side effects and expecting that lower doses will have a greater impact. As younger generations age, it is also important to expect that they have experience using marijuana in recreational contexts, which will affect their approach to its use in a medical setting."