Marijuana, Once Divisive, Brings Some Families Closer

[groovedaddy]

To the rites of middle-age passage, some families are adding another: buying marijuana for aging parents.

Bryan, 46, a writer who lives in Illinois, began supplying his parents about five years ago, after he told them about his own marijuana use. When he was growing up, he said, his parents were very strict about illegal drugs.

“We would have grounded him,” said his mother, who is 72.

But with age and the growing acceptance of medical marijuana, his parents were curious. His father had a heart ailment, his mother had dizzy spells and nausea, and both were worried about Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. They looked at some research and decided marijuana was worth a try.

Bryan, who like others interviewed for this article declined to use his full name for legal reasons, began making them brownies and ginger snaps laced with the drug. Illinois does not allow medical use of marijuana, though 14 states and the District of Columbia do. At their age, his mother said, they were not concerned about it leading to harder drugs, which had been one of their worries with Bryan.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/10/us/10pot.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

[tridim]

1. I'm a responsible medical user forced to move to a non-medical state.

I still don't know what I'm going to do about that (I'll still need the medicine), but I do have plans to let my senior parents know that I use Cannabis. I expect a minor freak-out, but maybe they'll be cool like this guy's parents? If not, they have a medicine chest full of powerful pharmaceuticals that I can use as my defense. Cannabis is much more mild than the least powerful med they take.

Yes, we have Alzheimer's in our family.

[Uncle Joe]

2. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, groovedaddy.

[groovedaddy]

3. My pleasure. n.t

[RainDog]

4. you are always so kind in your replies

I hope I can keep your example in mind when I'm frustrated.

This is interesting - the elderly are the most entrenched anti-marijuana voting group. When they see the benefits this inexpensive herb can bring to them in the form of relief from the aches and pains of aging - hopefully they will, as a group, also come around.

The research into Alheimer's is interesting too. Most people may be motivated to change their erroneous thinking when they see a medical advantage the legalization of something provides them in their own lives.

The elderly are an important group to address with facts rather than drug war distortions.

Anyway, thanks, Uncle Joe, for your post. :)

[Uncle Joe]

5. Thank you RainDog.

However I must confess, it's actually somewhat self-serving.

I believe it's easier to change the world that way, and if I can't change the world; to at least give it something to think about.

I also totally agree with you re: the elderly.

Peace to you and thanks again.:hi: