Ask Dr. Leigh: What should older adults consider before using medical marijuana?

Q: My grandmother is asking about medical cannabis. Before I ask her doctor about it, I’m wondering: What should seniors consider when deciding whether to use medical marijuana? A: The fastest growing segment of medical cannabis patients is in fact, senior citizens, with a 75% increase over a three-year period as more states started passing legislation allowing it. And this number…

Ask Dr. Leigh: What is the difference between cannabis legalization and decriminalization, and how does it impact medical marijuana users?

Q: What is the difference between cannabis legalization and decriminalization, and how does it impact medical marijuana users? A: Many people mistakenly think that decriminalization and legalization are interchangeable terms when it comes to cannabis law, and they are not. Decriminalization removes criminal penalties for personal use of small amounts of cannabis, which still remains an illegal…

Ask Dr. Leigh: How addictive is cannabis?

Q: How addictive is cannabis? A: As an emergency physician in inner cities such as Detroit and Baltimore for the last 25 years I am, unfortunately, very familiar with caring for patients with addiction.  Over the years, I have seen the nomenclature change from “drug abuse” to “substance abuse” to, now, “substance use disorder.” I became interested…