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DENVER — It’s been months since President Trump signed an order declassifying marijuana. Now, a new pilot program is looking at the benefits of medicinal hemp.
Experts said after the go-ahead from the FDA, some seniors on Medicare will be able to get some cannabis medications from a doctor and be reimbursed.
“It’s really amazing to see the federal government finally changing their attitude on cannabis,” said Shannon Donnelly, adjunct professor of cannabis at the School of Hospitality, MSU Denver.
A pilot program with the Center for Medicaid and Medicare is allowing some seniors to access hemp products with the go-ahead from the FDA.
Donnelly said that allows organizations in the program to be able buy hemp products and offer it to select patients.
“What that truly means is that individuals here in Colorado over 65 can start having a conversation with their doctors to see if they can get access to these products,” Donnelly said.
Clearly cannabis is legal in Colorado.
But instead of hitting a dispensary for marijuana, this would allow patients to go through their doctor to seek hemp.
Donnelly said the pilot would allow access to hemp products with up to 3 milligrams of THC, that is, if hemp is legal in your state.
It’s not enough to get high, she said, but enough to treat conditions like cancer and anxiety. Medicare would help make that happen for seniors.
“Medicare wouldn’t be the one that’s covering it, but the individuals who are on these different programs based on their policies could see up to $500 of hemp products covered on a yearly basis,” Donnelly said.
Melissa Gisbert, affiliate professor with the Department of Health Professions and Aging Services Leadership Program at MSU Denver said this program is a long time coming.
“Absolutely. I do think it is overdue,” Gisbert said. She said cannabis use is climbing in seniors. What’s less known is how it could impact their other medications.
“With this population, there is a higher likelihood of people using multiple prescriptions,” she said. “There is not a lot known about how cannabis would interact with a high blood pressure medication, for example,” Gisbert said.
She said cannabis can be an alternative to opioids, studying its use in this pilot will be vital. “So, if we see positive results, which could be better symptom management, improved quality of life, or even the reduction of the number of medications an older adult is on, that could really open the doors for broader adoption overall,” Gisbert said.
Donnelly said these changes federally could impact Colorado’s marijuana industry by allowing seniors to get their CBD products outside a dispensary. It will open up a new lane for interstate commerce, which could be a big area for the cannabis industry as a whole.