A sizeable portion of the U.S. population over the age of 50 admitted to recreational cannabis use in a University of Michigan (UM) study published Thursday.
A surprising 21% of participants in the UM study admitted to using cannabis to (1) relax/deal with stress, (2) help with their sleeping habits, (3) increase their happiness, (4) help with pain relief and (5) help their overall health or mood. As former PhD consultant, I cannot stress how massive the under-reportage of things like recreational cannabis use amongst all populations, so this number is likely far higher (if you’ll pardon my pun).
While many conservative Americans don’t want to hear it, the God-given cannabis plant has limited side effects when compared to the leading synthetic substances used to treat these ailments. Being anti-cannabis legalization, at this point, is on par with being pro-Big Pharma, anti-veteran and pretty anti-actual-science. Cannabis is legal in some way across 38 states, and more will decide on legalization in November. There’s no escaping this wonder plant that somehow survived millions of years of human consumption.
While the Bible is clear that intoxication is a big no-no, most people don’t want to use cannabis to get high. They want it because it’s a natural plant and therefore far cleaner than anything manmade.
But take it from the woman who wrote her dissertation on this stuff: Lawmakers and voters have a lot to consider when it comes to full legalization. Thankfully, this UM study gets right into the gritty on what we need to do to safely legalize and grow this incredible industry.
NEW: 21% of older adults use #cannabis products containing THC, our new poll shows.
But 20% of those who use it say they have driven within 2 hours.
A similar percentage reported at least one sign of potential addiction.
More: https://t.co/3LUIcyHbu8 pic.twitter.com/WHu5uLqzcc— U-M IHPI (@UM_IHPI) September 12, 2024
Speak to any regular cannabis user (and some cops, who asked to remain nameless) and they’ll tell you a stoner behind a wheel is like driving with a grandma. Though most don’t think this is dangerous, it is. More accidents happen because of people driving under the speed-limit than over.
Legislators need to ensure that no one behind the wheel is high. Quite frankly, no one should be using cannabis outside of their own private residence.
Education is the next step. With 72% of respondents thinking one can become addicted to cannabis, it is important to differentiate the plant from physically addictive substances, like alcohol, heroin and junk food, which can kill you just through use. In contrast, no one has ever died from overdosing on cannabis, ever, according to the DEA.
In layman’s terms, if you’re an addict, you can get addicted to pot. If you’re not an addict, you probably won’t get addicted. And even if you do become addicted, you won’t ever have to worry about dying or killing someone unless you operate heavy machinery.
I’d argue more people in America are physically and psychologically addicted to junk food and don’t even realize it, than are psychologically dependent on pot, just given the ease and prevalence of junk food. And yet we don’t have laws about people fattening themselves to death and taking the healthcare industry down with them. I bet everyone reading this article knows someone, likely a family member, slowly killing themselves with a shitty diet. I’ve always found it interesting that the non-vegetable-eaters are often the first to say they don’t like cannabis use, as if they’ve a leg to stand on.\
Junk food and drinks are highly linked to mental illness, whereas this study shows most cannabis users see it as a medicine against poor mental health.
No matter how you feel, cannabis legalization is coming to a state near you soon. It’s up to you which side of history you want to be on: the one with Big Pharma and a bunch of scrunchy people who hate freedom and love government control; or you can choose to be a part of a revolutionary industry that could save lives and bring millions of jobs back to America.
The cannabis question is literally that simple to answer.
