COMFORTABLY NUMB

I go to Pilates at 10:30 on Tuesdays. My teacher studied ballet and, in addition to being a Pilates instructor, he is also a Gestalt therapist. He brings his own mix tape for the 10-minute relaxation period at the end of class. Being Norwegian, he has a melancholy streak, which is manifested in his musical selections. Today he played a mournful tune from Pink Floyd: I Have Become Comfortably Numb. I love this song.

Hello?
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me
Is there anyone at home?

Come on, now
I hear you're feeling down
Well I can ease your pain
Get you on your feet again

Relax
I'll need some information first
Just the basic facts
Can you show me where it hurts?

There is no pain you are receding
A distant ship's smoke on the horizon
You are the only coming through in waves
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying

…

I have become comfortably numb

The last two lines of the last verse of the song really get me. They look back from the evening of one’s life to its morning many years ago and yearn for a second chance:

I cannot put my finger on it now

The child is grown the dream is gone

But, hey, getting old doesn’t have to be a bummer! In 2018, 61% of Americans surveyed backed the legalization of marijuana, and those over the age of 65 were among the strongest supporters. In fact, the fastest growing segment of the marijuana-using population is people aged 65 and over. Even upscale baby boomer potheads are getting into the act. Consider what’s been going on at Rossmoor, an affluent retirement community across the bay from San Francisco. Since 2012, a retired psychologist resident there has been running a marijuana club for her neighbors. When she started the club, there were only about 20 members. Now there are more than 1,000.

So why are increasing numbers of Gray Panthers toking up and what are they getting out of it? There aren’t very many studies on the effects of marijuana on older people, although many of them say it improves their quality of life by relieving aches and pains, helping sleeplessness, and ameliorating other health problems. But that’s medical use. What about recreational use? Truth be told, getting old isn’t a whole lot of fun, so are older people thumbing their noses at Father Time and making fun with marijuana, and if so, are they becoming comfortably numb? A cannabis study authored by scientists at Washington State University resoundingly confirmed YES!

This first-of-its-kind study was carried out by the participants themselves outside the laboratory, at home. It was published in the Journal of Affective Disorders last April. The study assessed how cannabis with varying concentrations of THC and CBD affects a user’s feelings of well being when smoked outside the laboratory. The study found that smoking cannabis can significantly reduce short-term levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Reporting on the WSU study, Science Daily said:

"Existing research on the effects of cannabis on depression, anxiety and stress are very rare and have almost exclusively been done with orally administered THC pills in a laboratory," said Carrie Cuttler, clinical assistant professor of psychology at WSU and lead author of the study. "What is unique about our study is that we looked at actual inhaled cannabis by medical marijuana patients who were using it in the comfort of their own homes as opposed to a laboratory."

The WSU researchers offer these helpful hints on various compounds and quantities:

one puff of cannabis high in CBD and low in THC was optimal for reducing symptoms of depression,

two puffs of any type of cannabis were sufficient to reduce symptoms of anxiety, while

10 or more puffs of cannabis high in CBD and high in THC produced the largest reductions in stress. (DUH?!)

Recreational Marijuana

And, here’s a BONUS! The researchers also found that, while both sexes described decreases in anxiety, depression, and stress, women expressed a significantly greater reduction.

Conclusion: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

Keep it real! (And let the good times roll!)

Marilyn