Introducing elderly parents to pot

If you’re like most people, your parents had to have The Marijuana Talk with you when you were younger. And if your parents grew up in a certain time and place, then they also had to have the same talk with Nana and Pop Pop.

It’s a tough conversation for any parent to have with their kid… informing them about the dangers of cannabis, while trying to choke down that feeling of hypocrisy; especially if you still partake. But what if the roles were reversed? More and more adult children are sitting down with their aging and elderly parents to reintroduce them to the new “Mother’s Little Helper.” It’s the secret sauce that’s helped us stay grounded through the stresses of Vietnam to the first Bush Administration to everything that’s come since. It can also help alleviate physical pain, nausea, it improves sleep and appetite. Yes it’s fun, but it’s also medicine. It’s legal and the stigma is gone.  So now that you’re an adult with a career and responsibilities, how do you introduce your parents to cannabis in a way that won’t intimidate or frighten them off?

First off, yes cannabis is stronger than it was when your parents were your age. It’s a lot stronger. So as much as you may want to see your mom clear a bong rip like a champ, you may be better off making it a little more accessible. Walk into any dispensary in a legal state and you’ll see dozens of strains of cannabis, concentrates, CBD, oils, tinctures, capsules, candies, pastries, powders and more. It can be daunting for a generation of folks who lived through the 1970s one gram of ditch weed at a time.

Looking around at all the options and choices, your impulse is to reach for the funkiest, loudest strain that hits harder than the comet that killed the dinosaurs. But that’s not a great choice for a septuagenarian with a heart condition. This is where doing your homework comes in handy. Do a little research and head to the dispensary. Your budtender will be delighted to answer all your questions (seriously, there’s nothing cannabists love more than talking shop). Look for a hybrid strain that offers a more balanced high for a first timer. Also consider skipping the THC entirely and go with a high CBD strain of hemp flower. A strain of hemp flower that is high in CBD but low in THC may be all they need.

A throwback way to kick things off is to roll a joint (or fill a cone if you can’t get the hang of rolling either). One or two hits from a J or one hitter is a safe and manageable method to getting acquainted (or reacquainted) with the effects of a much stronger strain of cannabis than anything that was around back in their day. It’s also fun to see if they can remember how to roll. Give them a few rolling papers, a crutch and a jar of oregano out of the kitchen pantry to practice. Consider staying away from anything too complicated or intimidating. Leave the dab rigs, multi-chambered glass pieces and other high tech pieces in the closet for now.

If your aging parent is looking for a more micro solution, consider a vape pen with a high quality oil. Operating it is as simple as pushing a button and inhaling. And once they get the hang of it, a couple of puffs throughout the day is all it takes. The highs associated with oil pens are very regimented and tight. New users should expect a rapid ascent, followed by a slow return to Earth over two hours.

So once you get them acclimated and comfortably high, now what? Besides the classic activities like watching movies, listening to music or painting, try unplugging entirely. You have this small, quiet, special time with them. Use it to bond over memories and shared experiences old and new. Talk to them about your childhood and theirs. When our walls are down and the scent of cannabis is in the air, we can gain a whole new perspective of the people we’re with at that moment. What better way to bridge that generational divide and bond than by introducing them to the new Mother’s Little Helper?