EMERALD MAGAZINE EMERALD MAGAZINE EmeraldCANNABIS LIFESTYLE CANNABIS LIFESTYLE LIFESTYLE CANNABIS BABY BOOMERS ARE GROWING THEEMERALDMAGAZINE.COM Senior Citizens Are One of the Industry’s Largest Demographics RADICLE HEALTH How One Geriatric Nurse COMFORTABLY Turned to Alternative Healing NUMB AGING BETTER Online Marketplace for Seniors With Octavia Wellness Searching for Solutions Cannabis Remedies THE SENIOR ISSUE PALEOLITHIC PIPES T HEE MERALDM AGAZINE.COM From the Stoned Age LEFT CENTER RIGHT PUBLISHER Christina De Giovanni EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Dave Johnstone MANAGING EDITOR Adolph Ward EDITOR-AT-LARGE Brad Turner COVER SHOT Jan Mika ADVERTISEMENT DESIGN Nathan Wells GIFT GUIDE DESIGN Vero Avant RECIPE DESIGN Yedah Merino CANNABIS LIFESTYLE THE SENIOR ISSUE Emerald GET CONNECTED TheEmeraldMagazine.com [email protected] Facebook.com/TheEmeraldMagazine Twitter.com/TheEmeraldNews Instagram.com/TheEmeraldMagazine ADVERTISING [email protected] Jody Tessler, [email protected] John Knecht, [email protected] Next Ad Deadline: November 20, 2018 Next Month’s Theme: The Outsider Issue Published by Emerald Media Group Inc. P.O. Box 320057, San Francisco, CA 94132 © Emerald Media Group Inc. 2018 All rights are reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the written permission of Emerald Media Group Inc. is strictly forbidden. Ground floor Cannabis opportunities in ARK-LA-TEX Letter from the Publisher Dear Reader, Thank you for picking up the November issue of the Emerald Magazine. This month, we shift our focus to one of the industry’s largest demographics, senior citizens. Since the 1950s, people have been living longer, better and happier lives than ever before. Many in the baby boomer generation are reaching a pivotal age when medication and quality of life become important factors. With the pharmaceutical industry playing a primary role in the opioid crisis in the United States, cannabis has brought along alternative relief for many of the ailments people face. The number of cannabis users over age 50 has nearly doubled in the last decade, making it undeniable that senior citizens play a major role in this emerging market. This month, we explore organizations such as Octavia Wellness, which pro- vides information and resources for seniors who are newly exploring their options. From all of us at the Emerald, we wish you a safe and happy fall season. Join us in December for our Outsider Issue, where we will meet industry leaders who have stepped out of their lane for the greater good. High Regards, Christina E. De Giovanni Publisher LITTLE ROCK STATEHOUSE CONVENTION CENTER Come hear me speak at the 2018 Imperious Cannabis Business Expo on December 12th and 13th in Little Rock, AK! DECEMBER 12-13, 20 18 ImperiousExpo.com CONTENTS The Senior Issue 18 10 BABY BOOMERS ARE GROWING by Melissa Hutsell Baby Boomers Are Growing Into One of the Industry’s Largest Demographics 14 PALEOLITHIC PIPES by Zoe Jon Alejandra Handcrafted Smoking Implements as Old as Humanity Itself 22 | AGING BETTER WITH OCTAVIA WELLNESS 48 by Zoe Jon Alejandra 42 26 | A RADICLE OPTION HEMP AND CBD by Zoe Jon Alejandra 54 by Justin Keller 38 | MINDFULLY HIGH and Amber Les COUPLES USING CANNABIS by Molly Cate Legal or Not? 52 | T’OAKALND SENIOR CANNA CLUB by Zoe Jon Alejandra By John Selby PHOTOGRAPHERS 59 | HEALING HARBORS by Zoe Jon Alejandra KOLDUNOV ALEXEY 57 62 | Cannabis-Infused Pumpkin KONSTANTIN KOLOSOV Spice Pie MICHIGAN’S CANNABIS by MARK MCKENNA Edibles Magazine NURSE 64 | INFUSED GRILLED VEGGIES AND JAN MIKA by James Priest FRENCH ONION STARDUST SOUP CANNA OBSCURA by Edibles Magazine How One Activist Is Working Toward Safe Patient Access 66 | SUPER STONEY SOUTHERN FRIED CHRISTOPHER PAGEL CHICKEN VINICIUS TUPINAMBA by Edibles Magazine BABY BOOMERS ARE GROWING SENIOR CITIZENS ARE ONE OF THE INDUSTRY’S LARGEST DEMOGRAPHICS MELISSA HUTSELL CANNABIS USE IS growing among nearly The fact that aging Americans are drawn to every age group in America. Seniors, however, cannabis is unsurprising; baby boomers in have become one of the fastest-growing particular have a long history with it. In fact, at populations of new (or returning) users in the least half of participants ages 50 through 64 in industry. the study above reported using it by age 21 or younger. However, aging populations aren’t as interested in getting high as they are the plant’s EMERALD MAGAZINE Baby boomers—those born between 1946 therapeutic properties. CANNABIS LIFESTYLE and 1964—are no strangers to the cannabis 12 plant. They’ve been rolling joints and getting 13 high since the 1960s and 1970s. But their In a personal reflection published in interest in the herb waned over time. As Cannabis Now, baby boomer Allan Erickson, members of this generation enter their golden 62, best sums up his generation’s experience years, more are reaching for cannabis again. with cannabis: The increase in cannabis use among the “While we recreated with cannabis, the middle aged and older is significant, according government was building an anti-cannabis to new research published in the journal of juggernaut… Tens of millions of us have been Drug and Alcohol Dependence. The data arrested, harassed and generally labeled as show that use among adults ages 50 through lazy couch-sitting layabouts... And somehow 64 doubled from 4.5 percent to 9 percent in along the way, we’ve not just reconciled our the decade between 2006 and 2016. Nearly use in spite of the cannabis bigotry so carefully 3 percent of Americans aged 65 and older nurtured by the prohibition bureaucracy, but reported trying cannabis at least once in we have also unleashed the power of cannabis the last year—up from .04 percent in 2006, medicine on a society desperate for safe and according to a report on the study by Science effective pain relief.” Daily. Cannabis itself has changed over the past few decades. A recent analysis by the Society of Biological Psychiatry found that THC content has steadily since increased between since at least the mid-1990s. Nearly 10,000 boomers turn 65 every day in the U.S. More than 31 million Americans suffer from arthritis. Half of all Americans suffer from at least one chronic disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Almost Today, cannabis has taken on a whole new As the local organizer for Ellementa, Riedinger The most common chronic health concerns There’s a world of opportunity for aging one-third of the population lives with more than one condition, reports meaning, especially for baby boomers, explains hosts monthly, educational events for women of among baby boomers and older populations Americans in the cannabis industry. More Anna Maria Riedinger, the local organizer for the all ages in California’s Central Valley. She has include cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s cannabis-based products and services for seniors the National Healthcare Council. Central Valley chapter of Ellementa, a nationwide noticed that more women her age attend these disease and stress, according to Scripps Health, are popping up all over the nation. There are networking group for women interested in learning events and are interested in the plant’s medicinal a San Diego-based, nonprofit medical facility. networking groups, educational seminars, tours The top chronic conditions in the U.S. are Alzheimer’s disease, about cannabis. As with many, Riedinger’s views properties. “This generation is basically talking More and more research shows that cannabis can and dispensary services geared specifically toward EMERALD MAGAZINE depression, arthritis, osteoporosis, cancer, high blood pressure, on cannabis have shifted over time. Cannabis was about the same thing—arthritis, pain, sleep, effectively treat the symptoms of these conditions patients over 50 (such as Harborside Health CANNABIS LIFESTYLE known purely as a recreational substance during inflammation,” she added. “They’re tired of and more. Center or iCANN Berkeley in the Bay Area). diabetes and alcohol-related health issues. 14 15 her youth. The term “medical marijuana” was taking pills. Pills aren’t working anymore. In fact never used in Riedinger’s world, she said. “There they’re causing a lot of more problems. People Cannabis is most commonly used to provide relief from pain, nausea, was no medicinal talk about it, ever.” want alternatives.” According to Eaze’s 2017 State of Cannabis The baby boomer generation is one of the largest Data Report, middle-aged and older americans demographics in America. Every day, nearly cancer, glaucoma, arthritis, insomnia, spinal cord injuries, PTSD, are spending more on cannabis products now than 10,000 baby boomers turn 65, according to the epilepsy and appetite loss, among other issues. She first tried cannabis when she was a teen. Across the board, this is why baby boomers are in previous years, a trend that “is due to people Pew Research Center, which also finds that 18 “I grew up with teenagers in the sixties,” she turning to cannabis, Riedinger explained. The looking for wellness and therapeutic options.” percent of the U.S. population will be 65 or older said. “Of course, as I matured, then had my own demand for alternatives comes at a time when The report finds that spending on cannabis by 2029. The aging of this population will have children ... I felt like I needed to be a good parent substance abuse among older Americans is also products by boomers grew 19 percent year over significant effects on the country … and on the by demonizing [cannabis] as well.” Riedinger, on the rise. Aging populations are more likely year, the largest increase among any generation. cannabis industry. now 60, said she was re-introduced to cannabis than other age groups to suffer from chronic Generation X-ers (those born between 1965 and five years ago—this time, as a medicine. She has health conditions and are therefore more likely to 1980) followed with an increase of 13 percent.