There’s a tidal wave coming. No, it’s not red or blue-though we’ll be seeing a lot of that one in the next 9+ months, I’m sure. No, this tidal wave is gray and green and you’d better get ready for it, because it’s taking the industry by storm.
Gramps & Ganj, Gma & Gmo, Boomers with Bongs, your grandparents are getting excited about the chance to puff down on a marijuana cigarette.
Everyone grows old. This simple knowledge has led to inspire a plethora of great individuals. For many people, though, it can also bring fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of the mental health, and the physical health issues that can come up in our later years. Sometimes it leads to the question: what does “quality of life” really mean?
To me, it means being able to consciously enjoy and experience the later years of life to the fullest extent possible, happily and willingly. I don’t want to spend the last few years of my life in and out of the hospital just trying to extend my years by a couple of minutes. I would rather spend my time enjoying every second I can with family, friends, and myself. Enjoying nature, and all of the little things I may have come to take for granted. That is my idea of a wonderful quality of life.
In the last year, I’ve noticed quite the uptick in my older clientele. First they seem intimidated, then curious, then overwhelmed, then curious again, until they find what works best for them and relish the relief that it provides them. Perhaps it was relief that they never thought they could achieve. Watching someone take their discomfort level from a 7 to a 2-3 can change their day to day, and even the relationships they have with those around them.
Literally getting to see people turn their frowns upside down is one of the greatest parts of my job. It’s amazing to truly get to see in their eyes that they feel better than they have in years.
Cannabis. That’s what’s bringing all of this relief, all of this quality of life. A flowering plant.
The best part, for those who develop lung or breathing issues, you don’t even have to smoke it. Smoking means you’d be inhaling plant material and other foreign bodies that could easily irritate the lining of your lungs. With topicals, or even edibles, you don’t deal with those same risks. You can enjoy spot relief, and even the aid of daily prevention with no more than using a lotion or eating a mint (plus, bonus, fresh breath).
For truly deeper relief, a suppository or sublingual may be the direction you wish to take. Those exist in this market, too. The relief that can help bring genuine quality of life is just a quick visit away. A local, licensed provisioning center can help you find what you’re looking for, and help steer you on the right path.
I’ve met women who used to turn their nose at any mention of the word “cannabis”, who now can’t wait to get home to eat their little pieces of chocolate and get a full night’s sleep. I’ve seen men who have battled with joint inflammation and pain throughout most of their lives, finally see a decrease in their discomfort within 15 minutes after using a sublingual (keeping something-an oil in this case-under your tongue).
The conversation is not always an easy one to begin. The stigma surrounding cannabis still runs strong, so many of the older generation aren’t always keen to talking about it. With that being said, it’s an important conversation to have. Especially when we see those we love and care for continuously suffering. It can be excruciating to watch them endure such everyday pain, but we have to also remember that this journey has to be taken at one’s own pace.
The worst thing we could do is push, push, push something on someone when they are neither comfortable nor ready. This does nothing but further their sense of uncertainty, and fear surrounding the very products that could have them living nearly fearless lives. I want our loved ones to come to these products willingly, looking to enjoy the comfort and relief that they can provide. It’s as simple as that.
Finding pain-free moments of joy in the later years of your life shouldn’t be such a hard task to take on, and shouldn’t be such a taboo subject to talk about with your loved ones.
