Several groups say cannabis may help aging Americans manage pain [Video]

For the first time ever, more Americans are using marijuana daily than those who drink alcohol every day. 

That’s according to the Society for the Study of Addiction. 

One group that has sharply increased its marijuana use is senior citizens over the age of 65. Many are using the substance for ailments in place of prescription drugs, but they are having difficulty accessing medical cannabis.

MORE AMERICANS SMOKE MARIJUANA DAILY THAN DRINK ALCOHOL, STUDY CLAIMS

“There is very real psychopharmacology associated with cannabis, and I hadn’t learned anything about that in medical school,” said Dr. Zachary Palace, a board-certified geriatrician. 

“As I started to learn more about it, I realized it’s a medication that can really be used very safely in the geriatric population.“

Palace is featured in a new video, alongside other physicians, patients and politicians, by the Commonwealth Project. Howard Kessler is founder of the effort, which is working to make medical marijuana more widely available, especially for senior citizens.

“Every day we are letting …