I had been attempting to talk my grandmother, “Taytay”, into trying CBD for years. And like a prized British spy she always managed to elude me time after time. Despite the number of health conditions she suffered from, she still had many, many concerns about trying CBD.
Taytay’s story, unfortunately, is all too common. While advances in CBD research may have piqued common interest, the lingering stigma surrounding all things cannabis remains.
So what happens when curiosity meets stigma? An opportunity for education arises.
Do you have grandparents in your life who could benefit from CBD but are too afraid to get started? Wondering how you’ll ever get through to them? Here’s how to talk your grandmother (or grandfather!) into trying CBD.
Getting Your Grandmother to Try CBD: The Basics You Need To Know
There are several different types of cannabis plants. Each plant produces compounds called cannabinoids.
Some plants produce Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as their primary cannabinoid. THC is psychoactive and can get you “high”.
Cannabidiol (CBD), however, is the primary cannabinoid produced by hemp plants. Hemp plants are a type of cannabis plant rich in CBD. Since CBD is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid, it won’t get you “high” like THC does. Hemp plants must contain less than 0.3% THC by dry weight.
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THC???! But I don’t want to get high!
There, there nana. Even CBD-rich hemp plants produce a very small amount of THC sometimes. The amount of THC in hemp plants, at less than 1%, isn’t potent enough to intoxicate or get you high. In fact, some sources say that a little THC can help amplify the beneficial properties of CBD.
The Beneficial Properties of Cannabidiol (CBD)
CBD isn’t currently FDA approved. That being said, that doesn’t mean CBD doesn’t have recognized therapeutic value. The medication Epidiolex is an FDA-approved formula that contains CBD. It’s used for treatment resistant seizures associated with epilepsy.
CBD topicals will not get you “high”, either.
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Common Concerns To Address
Toward the end of her life Taytay began to suffer from a neurodegenerative disease.
I talked to Taytay and told her that studies showed CBD could help her. She was finally ready to try CBD, she told me, but she was afraid.
We talked through her concerns together, and I’ve summed up our discussions here.
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Concern #1: I don’t want to get high!
CBD is non-intoxicating, so it won’t get you “high” in the same way as THC. However CBD can have a noticeable effect on mood.
Some people can attribute this uplift in mood as a kind of high. This point is super important when getting your grandmother to try CBD
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Concern #2: Is it legal?
Hemp-derived CBD with less than .3% THC was deemed to be legal at the federal level thanks to the Farm Bill passed in 2018.
Concern #3: I don’t want to smoke anything
You don’t have to! This is one of the biggest concerns when getting your grandmother to try CBD. (Or any older person for that matter.) CBD extracted from hemp plants is available in many different forms. You can consume CBD oil, take CBD capsules, eat CBD gummies or even use CBD topical products applied directly to the skin. Many retailers also offer CBD patches for continual 24/48 hour relief.
Concern #4: I don’t know what I’m looking for
CBD on its own (as an isolate) may have a limited therapeutic effect. Full spectrum CBD contains all of the plant’s cannabinoids and is less likely to taper off at a certain dosage the way isolates do. Broad spectrum is similar to full spectrum but contains no THC. This makes full and broad spectrum extracts more beneficial for some users than CBD isolate.
Understanding what type of CBD you’ve purchased is also key to reaping CBD’s benefits. You can do that by learning how to read a Certificate of Analysis (COA) here. A COA tells you more about what’s in your CBD as well as what tests it’s passed. Be sure to only shop for products that have third party COAs available.
Concern #5: How do I use it?
That depends on what you’re using it for, and what type of CBD product you want to use. You can learn more about the different types of CBD products and how to use them here.
Like with many other medications you’ll also need to experiment before finding your ideal CBD dose. This process is called titrating, and it’s essential to experiencing CBD’s full therapeutic benefits. You can use a CBD journal to help find your just right dose. You should speak with your doctor to discuss and appropriate CBD dose and titrating schedule.
Concern #6: Side effects
From what we know currently, CBD has relatively minor side effects compared to many other conventional medications. The most common side effects include weight/energy changes, increases or decreases in appetite, drowsiness and or diarrhea.
Concern #7: Drug testing
Will I fail a drug test? It is possible. But the chances are extremely slim if you’re using CBD isolate. Using full and broad spectrum extracts may potentially cause you to fail a drug test but it’s unlikely.
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Getting Your Grandmother to Try CBD: In Conclusion
CBD affects everyone differently. CBD also has a number of unique drug interactions which everyone should discuss with their doctor before using.
In the end I finally managed to convince Taytay to try CBD oil and topicals. We were both elated to discover they relieved a lot of her pain and daily aches. Her mood also seemed to lift, as is so commonly the case with those experiencing relief thanks to CBD. We explored different types of products together and bonded in our shared CBD experiences.
In short, it’s not easy to get the majority of grandmothers and grandfathers to try CBD. I hope my experience with Taytay can help you have that discussion with your grandparents. And I hope they’ll find peace in using CBD just like she did.
This article has been medically reviewed by Anthony Fanucci, Pharm.D.
Janelle Lassalle is a writer and content creator that specializes in cannabis. She’s also an insanely passionate advocate and expert in all things CBD. You can find her work featured in a variety of publications such as Healthline, The Huffington Post, Leafly, Forbes, and High Times. Check out her portfolio, or follow her on Instagram @jenkhari.
