Dr. Victoria Crenshaw, co-founder of Cannability Consulting, is helping senior citizens in Virginia Beach navigate the use of cannabis products. She shared with WHRO’s Another View that older adults often turn to cannabis to improve sleep, manage chronic pain, and seek relief at the end of life.
Crenshaw has witnessed cannabis aid cancer patients in regaining their appetite and assist individuals with dementia in calming their anger. Personally, she uses cannabis to relieve knee joint pain that she once thought would require surgery. She noted that many seniors are looking for alternatives to medications like Ativan, expressing dissatisfaction with their side effects.
The 2024 University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging revealed that 35% of individuals aged 50-64 used cannabis products within the past year, while 18% of those aged 65 and older reported the same. Crenshaw mentioned that older clients typically seek cannabis for various issues, including sleep disturbances, anxiety, chronic pain, and conditions like dementia and end-of-life care.
According to the same University of Michigan survey, adults aged 50 to 64 mainly use cannabis, in forms such as oils and edibles, to relax. Over half of these respondents discussed their cannabis use with healthcare providers. Both age groups showed a preference for consuming THC through edibles, beverages, or tinctures.
Crenshaw noted that it can be challenging to persuade senior citizens to consider cannabis as a medical treatment. She explained that sometimes the conversation starts with older individuals themselves, while other times, it is initiated by their adult children. Additionally, she highlighted that older adults of color may be more skeptical about cannabis due to historical mistrust in the healthcare system.
In Virginia, personal marijuana use and the cultivation of a limited number of plants are legal. Possession of small amounts of marijuana has been decriminalized, meaning individuals found with it will not face criminal charges. While there is legislation in place for a retail cannabis market, the regulatory framework to govern it has not yet been established.
Virginia’s Cannabis Control Authority manages the state’s medical cannabis program, which served 104,000 people from June 2023 to June 2024, though demographic data is not publicly available. Crenshaw’s consulting firm focuses on educating individuals over 21, especially senior citizens, and she often recommends hemp-derived products due to their low THC content.
