With the legalization of medical marijuana and the growing popularity of over-the-counter CBD oil, many older adults are turning to these cannabis cousins to treat a variety of ailments. But what does the research say about their efficacy? And what risks might be associated with them? To help answer these and other questions, we turned to Erica Gray, Pharm. D. She’s a pharmacist in the Diamond Drug Information Center and, as you’ll learn in the episode, something of their resident expert on medical marijuana and CBD. We delve into basic pharmacology, clinical concerns, use in the long-term care world, and much more.

Some articles referenced in the show, plus recommendations for further reading:

https://www.wolterskluwercdi.com/blog/cbd-oil-and-medical-marijuana-pharmacists-need-know-high-points/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/howardgleckman/2019/09/18/psychedelics-and-seniors-can-drugs-such-as-marijuana-and-psilocybin-improve-their-quality-of-life/#12b96f3b76f9

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/07/health/seniors-marijuana-cannabis-pain.html

https://www.drugtopics.com/cannabidiol-cbd/cbd-products-confusion-hype-and-hope

https://health.usnews.com/wellness/articles/2018-03-01/what-is-cbd-oil-and-should-you-use-it

https://health.usnews.com/health-care/patient-advice/articles/2018-03-16/medical-marijuana-for-older-adults

https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2019/08/26/dea-announces-steps-necessary-improve-access-marijuana-research