Cannabis and older adults: what families should know
More parents and grandparents are asking about cannabis. This page doesn't tell anyone to use it. It tells you how to stay safe if they do.
Five rules that matter most
1. Tell the doctor firstCannabis can interact with common medicines, including blood thinners, sleep aids, and anxiety or pain medications. The prescribing doctor or pharmacist should know before anyone starts.
2. Start low, go slowOlder bodies process it differently. The smallest dose on the package is the starting point, not the average.
3. Edibles are slowThey can take one to two hours to work. Taking a second dose because "nothing happened" is the most common mistake.
4. Watch for dizzinessFeeling lightheaded raises the risk of falls. First tries should happen sitting down, at home, with someone nearby.
5. Licensed shops onlyLicensed product is lab-tested for pesticides, mold and heavy metals, and the label says exactly what's inside. Check any shop →
Lock it upEdibles look like candy. If grandchildren visit, keep everything locked and out of sight.
An adult 21 or older can buy for themselves. A patient 18 or older can buy with a doctor's recommendation. If you are the one driving to the shop, you may want the medical card in your parent's name. How a medical card works →
Many of our cities have no licensed shop at all
Glendale, Burbank, La Crescenta, Montrose and several other cities do not allow cannabis stores. A shop operating there is not licensed. Licensed delivery is the safer option. Licensed delivery services →
This page is general information, not medical advice. Questions about whether cannabis fits a specific health condition or medication belong with a doctor.