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The mature stoner: why are so many seniors smoking weed?
The Guardian (UK) ^ | January 15th, 2019 | Alex Halperin

Posted on 01/15/2019 8:57:26 AM PST by Mariner

Older people are the fastest-growing group of cannabis users, as stigma fades and some seek an alternative to prescription drugs

As attitudes towards cannabis shift, the fastest-growing group of users is over 50 – and marijuana’s popularity among seniors is beginning to change the American experience of old age.

Why are more seniors getting high? It might make more sense to ask: “Why not?” As adults reach retirement, they age out of drug tests and have far more time on their hands. Some feel liberated to abandon long-held proprieties.

Elegant vape pens and other attractive, discreet products have helped de stigmatize the drug among older Americans. “Legalization seems to make non-users seem a little less scared of it, and perhaps less judgmental,” says Jo, a 56-year-old cannabis user who preferred not to use her real name.

The seniors using cannabis today aren’t your parents’ grandparents. The generation that camped out at Woodstock is now in its seventies. They’ve been around grass long enough to realize it’s not going to kill them, and are more open to the possibility it will come with health benefits. (By contrast, in a survey of one, my 100-year-old grandmother recently said she had no interest in medical marijuana.)

(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: addiction; cannabis; dopefiends; drugs; feminists; freedom; godsplant; hippied; marijuana; medicine; oxymoron; pot; potheads; seniors; socialists; unitedkingdom; weed; wod
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To: KC_Lion

57 and I use cannabis regularly. Helps me sleep at night.


201 posted on 01/15/2019 4:58:11 PM PST by TheStickman (#MAGA all day every day!)
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To: steve86

Smokers are always at risk for Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm. A weak spot that can form on the aorta. Just another minus to all of our vices.


202 posted on 01/15/2019 6:01:42 PM PST by jetson
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To: Mariner

As a responsible firearm owner, I have been following this topic closely. Here is one example https://www.nepr.net/post/feds-pot-and-guns-dont-mix?fbclid=IwAR3COjUmSq_mNl7Tn7eAxVwRLawZ5vV9yeSBfv_SeOSnKBIkV6jiDrm-qts#stream/0


203 posted on 01/15/2019 6:06:07 PM PST by Tom54
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To: Tom54

From your article...

“If you answer falsely on this question here, on ‘question e,’ if you answer no and you actually are, you’re subject to a felony charge for lying on a federal form,” he said.

But O’Shaughnessy said no one has been arrested in Massachusetts for answering the question falsely.”

And if a pot user answers truthfully, they cannot purchase a firearm. That is certain.

But nobody is going to take any firearms you already have and put you in prison because you are a casual or medicinal user of pot.

And that was your assertion. It just hasn’t happened.


204 posted on 01/15/2019 6:35:36 PM PST by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: NobleFree

bnk


205 posted on 01/15/2019 7:00:57 PM PST by razorback-bert (Due to the high price of ammo, no warning shot will be fired.)
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To: jetson

My died died of aortic dissection but he didn’t ever smoke. I use small amounts of marijuana but don’t smoke anything.


206 posted on 01/15/2019 7:10:27 PM PST by steve86 (Prophecies of Maelmhaedhoc O'Morgair (Latin form: Malachy))
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To: EnquiringMind

Everyone can make their own decisions. Whatever they think is best for them.

My point was that smoking pot is NOT the only way to live in old age.


207 posted on 01/15/2019 8:33:37 PM PST by Innovative
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To: LouieFisk

Have you ever quit marihuana?

I’ve known scores who have

It’s not just my experience

Whereas I’ve watched alcohol and opiate addiction cessation upclose

Quite different

Btw not meaning to sound Clintonian but the word addiction tends to be subjective and I know that sounds political

Cause it is


208 posted on 01/15/2019 9:01:28 PM PST by wardaddy (I don’t care that you’re not a racist......when the shooting starts it won’t matter what yo)
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To: wardaddy

shoed about 35=40 times easy to quit. Stayed quit for 38 years


209 posted on 01/15/2019 9:05:52 PM PST by morphing libertarian (Use Comey's Report; Indict Hillary now; build Kate's wall. --- Proud Smelly Walmart Deplorable)
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To: morphing libertarian

smoked


210 posted on 01/15/2019 9:06:19 PM PST by morphing libertarian (Use Comey's Report; Indict Hillary now; build Kate's wall. --- Proud Smelly Walmart Deplorable)
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To: Mariner

Watching candles drip...


211 posted on 01/15/2019 9:39:28 PM PST by Cedar
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To: LouieFisk; wardaddy
Your link says withdrawal symptoms are possible for "teens who use marijuana heavily" and those symptoms are "subtle". Very different animal than opiate or alcohol withdrawal.
212 posted on 01/16/2019 8:02:09 AM PST by NobleFree ("law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual")
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To: NobleFree

I think withdrawals for drug warriors means “hey I miss being stoned today does anyone know where we can get some “

That was a real thing in the early 70s

And you just dealt with it....

Till some weed showed back up from someone usually going to the coast

I was raised in Jackson Miss

After 1974 pot was never scarce again that I recall but and me and another guy made a “run” to Mobile area Bon Secour ... where I knew some shrimpers who had some Colombian thank God and not brick weed

We were heroes lol upon our gallant return


213 posted on 01/16/2019 8:17:58 AM PST by wardaddy (I don’t care that you’re not a racist......when the shooting starts it won’t matter what yo)
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To: trisham

I’ve got 1 of those younger cousins no pain tolerance. 3 failed back surgeries, before they cut off pain meds. So in constant pain, she lives in a Liberal state, so she got all the pain meds she needed. Then she got cut off, finally got them to give her Medical MMJ. A Medtronics Spine Stimulator supposed to interrupt pain, 50% failure rate piece of crap implanted, didn’t work, had it VERY PAINFULLY removed, as the Fake Crisis had hit and inadequate pain control post surgery. She has now had a Morphine pump installed, again VERY PAINFULLY. Next time she needs a MRI she will have to have it removed. In 5 yrs the Battery replaced via surgery. Still needs the MMJ, a therapy dog.

Goes on cruises, vacations trips, last one to France during all those high rapes sprees.

I’m worn out just doing groceries and in to much pain to do anything else. What meals I manage are for 3/4 days just add in a side dish. Or a 1 crock-pot meal that will feed you for 5 days. I can’t get my right arm over my head the rotator tear is to small to fix, but hurts like H. Thumb surgery ruined Fine Motor Skills in dominate hand, Spine never lets up nor ever will. And I’m not Stupid, 2 Neurosurgeon’s said it would crumble if they even touched a degenerative disc. So you learn to do less and live with it.


214 posted on 01/16/2019 8:49:21 AM PST by GailA (Wife of RET. SCPO, GET OVER IT, DONALD TRUMP IS PRESIDENT!)
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To: Mikemurphy

HEMP is NOT Marijuana!! You cannot be this ignorant.

Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa)/THC— IS listed as a Schedule 2 Agent in the DEA listing and US Pharmacopaeia. There IS a difference-— a huge one.

And FRiend, you need to educate yourself before making such pronouncements. The so called “medical” marijuana scam, in CO and CA and elsewhere IS about a federally schedule 2 agent/controlled substance being advocated for “MEDICAL” use. It IS a scam, and I agree with you. I have further absolute PROOF that Big Tobacco is behind this effort- especially R.J. Reynolds and Phillip Morris. John Boehner head lobbyist for the “cannabis” industry is active continuing to glom together the non-psychoactive and NON-listed agent Hemp with the Schedule 2 agent, marijuana THC.

The Agriculture Bill drove a wedge between these groups. And... the DEA and USPharmcopaeia has re-issued the listing and enforcement, federally, still held to by State law enforcement as criminal (except the “legalized” states mentioned before). The “industry” of dope in those states are constrained by Federal Banking Laws about handling the proceeds from the sales- they can’t put them in FDIC or federal bank system banks.

IF the tobacco industry continues to use the “glomming” of hemp with pot... to push through pot growth when HEMP is what is specifically described in the AG Bill— all hell will break loose.

You should learn about this. And learn about the role of the Criminal William Randolph Hearst and his lumber Baron pals of the era— in continuing the FARCE of Hemp being marijuana/pot. It is not. While you’re at it look up the story of Hemp in WWII— and special Congressional Act to waiver it’s growth and production— distinct from marijuana— IN THE 1940’s.

You are completely WRONG about the quantity of THC in hemp— totally wrong. And the AG Bill give the advantage to major industry to utilize GMO seeds of patented varietals that produce ONLY CBD and ZERO (not even “trace”) amounts of THC.

I’m absolutely opposed to marijuana/THC from children up to age 30 or so. Brain development and future addiction to opioids being the central agreed clinical national argument against legalization. It IS the cause of generations of young, including my former one— wasting their minds, lives and vast amounts of US gov. money interdicting it.

My point has always been— the people behind legalization of POT....POT...is Big Tobacco (specifically the rino lying and demorat tax machine— all justified for “taxes they can bring in”. Case in point the moron Cuomo— in his State address advocates for legalization of POT/marijuana— “for the estimated increased taxes of 300 Mill per year or more”— so they can spend THAT, and maintain dem/union machine control through their druggie criminal pals. Case closed.


215 posted on 01/16/2019 9:03:44 AM PST by John S Mosby (Sic Semper Tyrannis)
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To: John S Mosby

Well stated. But it is all dope yesterday , today and tomorrow. It’s dope!!


216 posted on 01/16/2019 9:07:44 AM PST by Mikemurphy
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To: Mikemurphy

No, FRiend... I assure you it no longer IS. There is some seriously great new work— dividing these two. Smart people and big serious LEGAL dollars involved, and not involving the aholes at RJ Reynolds and the “stoner millionaire” wannabees whom I would love to see taught a lesson by the big boys (even as I hate them)— who would (or maybe will) drive all the grower out of bizness... like they did small tobacco farmers. Same criminal trying to get us hooked on something else, crew.
Boehner is their poster boy— the commode hugging, chain smoking drunk golf caddie, what a joke of a person.


217 posted on 01/16/2019 9:19:27 AM PST by John S Mosby (Sic Semper Tyrannis)
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To: steve86

If your dad died of it you can always get an ultrasound to check the condition of yours. If you have insurance just request one.


218 posted on 01/16/2019 1:00:41 PM PST by jetson
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To: marron
"The “seniors” all came up in the hippie/post-hippie era."

Yes, and I bet there are zero first time users. I know I've considered it, now that I have no job where I am subject to peeing in the bottle at any moment.

219 posted on 01/17/2019 8:00:51 PM PST by HangThemHigh (Entropy is not what it used to be.)
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To: ArtDodger
I know a few people that got off that stuff and they smoke weed still. Doctors are actually addicting those kids with opioids for pain. Check the pain scale to see what dose you should give. 😁😃🤨🙄😫😭
220 posted on 01/17/2019 8:10:56 PM PST by CJ Wolf (Free. Wwg1wga)
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