Seniors Are Seeking Out States Where Marijuana is Legal

[Tudo]

<FIGCAPTION class=image-caption>Norma Jean Gargasz—Alamy</FIGCAPTION></FIGURE>
The top moving destination in 2014 was Oregon, which voted to legalize marijuana last November.

When choosing retirement locales, a few factors pop to mind: climate, amenities, proximity to grandchildren, access to quality healthcare.
Chris Cooper had something else to consider – marijuana laws.
The investment adviser from Toledo had long struggled with back pain due to a fractured vertebra and crushed disc from a fall. He hated powerful prescription drugs like Vicodin, but one thing did help ease the pain and spasms: marijuana.
So when Cooper, 57, was looking for a place to retire, he ended up in San Diego, since California allows medical marijuana. A growing number of retirees are also factoring in the legalization of pot when choosing where to spend their golden years.
“Stores are packed with every type of person you can imagine,” said Cooper who takes marijuana once or twice a week, often orally. “There are old men in wheelchairs, or women whose hair is falling out from chemotherapy. You see literally everybody.”
Cooper, who figures he spends about $150 on the drug each month, is not alone in retiring to a marijuana-friendly state.
Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia have laws legalizing medical marijuana use. A handful – Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and D.C. – allow recreational use as well.
The U.S. legal marijuana market was $2.7 billion in 2014, a figure expected to rise to $3.4 billion this year, according to ArcView Market Research.
Figuring out how many people are retiring to states that let you smoke pot is challenging since retirees do not have to check off a box on a form saying why they chose a particular location to their final years.

But “there is anecdotal evidence that people with health conditions which medical marijuana could help treat, are relocating to states with legalized marijuana,” said Michael Stoll, a professor of public policy at University of California, Los Angeles who studies retiree migration trends.

He cited data from United Van Lines, which show the top U.S. moving destinations in 2014 was Oregon, where marijuana had been expected to be legalized for several years and finally passed a ballot initiative last November.
Two-thirds of moves involving Oregon last year were inbound. That is a 5 percent jump over the previous year, as the state “continues to pull away from the pack,” the moving company said in a report.
The Mountain West – including Colorado, which legalized medical marijuana in 2000, and recreational use in 2012 – boasted the highest percentage of people moving there to retire, United Van Lines said. One-third of movers to the region said they were going there specifically to retire.
Lining Up for Pot
The image of marijuana-using seniors might seem strange, but it is the byproduct of a graying counterculture. Much of the baby boom generation was in college during the 1960s and 70s, and have had much more familiarity with the drug than previous generations.
Many of the health afflictions of older Americans push them to seek out dispensaries for relief.
“A lot of the things marijuana is best at are conditions which become more of an issue as you get older,” said Taylor West, deputy director of the Denver-based National Cannabis Industry Association. “Chronic pain, inflammation, insomnia, loss of appetite: All of those things are widespread among seniors.”
Since those in their 60s and 70s presumably have no desire to be skulking around on the criminal market in states where usage is outlawed, it makes sense they would gravitate to states where marijuana is legal.
“In Colorado, since legalization, many dispensaries have seen the largest portion of sales going to baby boomers and people of retirement age,” West said.
The folks at the sales counters agree: Their clientele has proven to be surprisingly mature.
“Our demographic is not punk kids,” added Karl Keich, founder of Seattle Medical Marijuana Association, a collective garden in Washington State. “About half of the people coming into our shop are seniors. It’s a place where your mother or grandmother can come in and feel safe.”
Read next: Can You Buy Marijuana With a Credit Card?
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[aridbud]

"Seniors" were the hippies of the 60's....go figure! ;o) Only stands to reason. Of course, there's numerous of us on this forum, "seniors" recalling 1960's (maybe prior) and onward. Was aware of politics from '65 on....watching, participating in causes.

Now if we don't elect a conservative right wing cannabis bashing President, members of Congress....progress will continue.

 

[Jhhnn]

Being one myself, I can safely say that legal weed is every old 60's hippie stoner's dream come true. Yeppers.

So when people get to a place where they can retire & want change, legalization is def a factor. Call it going back to one's roots or living out a teen fantasy, it really is quite cool. Just play by the clearly defined rules for zero paranoia. That's easy for people who've lived with dumber rules their whole lives.

Retirees also bring their own money & medicare, for the most part, meaning net economic gain for wherever they go.

 

[DTFuqua]

I'm just waiting till 2016 to see if Florida gets it's self together. If not, I will sell my house and move somewhere I won't have to worry about jail because I can't take the drugs the docs want me to take, I am disabled and fear for my freedom every day just because cannabis is the safest, most trouble free thing I can use to ease my pain and anxiety.

 

[aridbud]

I'm just waiting till 2016 to see if Florida gets it's self together. If not, I will sell my house and move somewhere I won't have to worry about jail because I can't take the drugs the docs want me to take, I am disabled and fear for my freedom every day just because cannabis is the safest, most trouble free thing I can use to ease my pain and anxiety.

Hope it pans out for you (and Florida).

 

[DTFuqua]

I'm not holding my breath. These idiots elected one of the biggest white collar criminals in Florida as governor.

 

[Sam_Skunkman]

Well I understand why they want to move to a legal medical state, but what would help most is if every smoker that could moved to states with the most resistance to legal medical or recreational. Then we can alter elections where it is needed not in Calif, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, they don't need the help, like the other states do.


1. Alaska 1998 1 oz usable; 6 plants (3 mature, 3 immature)
2. Arizona 2010 2.5 oz usable; 0-12 plants
3. California 1996 8 oz usable; 6 mature or 12 immature plants
4. Colorado 2000 2 oz usable; 6 plants (3 mature, 3 immature)
5. Connecticut 2012 One-month supply (exact amount to be determined)
6. DC 2010 2 oz dried; limits on other forms to be determined
7. Delaware 2011 6 oz usable
8. Hawaii 2000 3 oz usable; 7 plants (3 mature, 4 immature)
9. Illinois 1013 2.5 ounces of usable cannabis during a period of 14 days
10. Maine 1999 2.5 oz usable; 6 plants
11. Maryland 2014 30-day supply, amount to be determined
12. Massachusetts 2012 60-day supply for personal medical use
13. Michigan 2008 2.5 oz usable; 12 plants
14. Minnesota 2014 30-day supply of non-smokable marijuana
15. Montana 2004 1 oz usable; 4 plants (mature); 12 seedlings
16. Nevada 2000 1 oz usable; 7 plants (3 mature, 4 immature)
17. New Hampshire 2013 Two ounces of usable cannabis during a 10-day period
18. New Jersey 2010 2 oz usable
19. New Mexico 2007 6 oz usable; 16 plants (4 mature, 12 immature)
20. New York 2014 30-day supply non-smokable marijuana
21. Oregon 1998 24 oz usable; 24 plants (6 mature, 18 immature)
22. Rhode Island 2006 2.5 oz usable; 12 plants
23. Vermont 2004 2 oz usable; 9 plants (2 mature, 7 immature)
24. Washington 1998 24 oz usable; 15 plants


What about Texas and Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, N Carolina, Virginia, Indiana, Tennessee, Missouri, Wisconsin, Alabama, S Carolina, Louisiana, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Iowa, Mississippi, Arkansas, Utah, Kansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, Idaho, S Dakota, N Dakota ?? They need the focus. It is a waste of time preaching to the converted, use the time to reach the rest, or use your vote if you can live there for a few years.
One way or another the change is coming, it is about time.
-SamS

 

[oldchuck]

I'm convinced that the biggest economic and political impact of legal Cannabis could be in regard to elder health care. Old folks spend an enormous amount of money on pills. Pharmaceuticals that, for the most part, simply alleviate to some extent debilitating and painful symptoms of normal aging. Cannabis doesn't cure old age but it sure can make aging easier to take.

Right now weed is too high priced to make much of a cumulative impact on the ridiculously high priced American health care system. Legalization could make a big difference but not if prices stay high and Cannabis comes under the control of big government and big pharmaceuticals. Ironically, the strongest opposition to legalization seems to be among us aging baby boomers, the group that could most benefit.

By the way, I'm in my 70th year and spend about $5 a month on prescription meds.

 

[dddaver]

I'm not holding my breath. These idiots elected one of the biggest white collar criminals in Florida as governor.

Exactly. But I have serious doubts whether he was even elected by a true popular vote. It was an off year election anyway. How is it at all legal that guy Edelstein, a legal resident of Nevada, who owns a Las Vegas casino, but buys $5 mil. of Republican biased TV political airtime in FL in 2014? They bought the election.

I even predicted the exact number (58%) that MMJ would LOSE by on that ballot, even though polls showed 80% in favor.

The governor here even once was instrumental in putting his brother in the White House. By what stretch of the imagination was Jeb ever even eligible to be governor in Florida? I thought he was Texan. Or does he also have residence now in Kennebunkport, Maine at the Bush family compound besides his FL mansion, where-ever that is?

Something is very wrong here.

 

[Jhhnn]

Well I understand why they want to move to a legal medical state, but what would help most is if every smoker that could moved to states with the most resistance to legal medical or recreational. Then we can alter elections where it is needed not in Calif, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, they don't need the help, like the other states do.


1. Alaska 1998 1 oz usable; 6 plants (3 mature, 3 immature)
2. Arizona 2010 2.5 oz usable; 0-12 plants
3. California 1996 8 oz usable; 6 mature or 12 immature plants
4. Colorado 2000 2 oz usable; 6 plants (3 mature, 3 immature)
5. Connecticut 2012 One-month supply (exact amount to be determined)
6. DC 2010 2 oz dried; limits on other forms to be determined
7. Delaware 2011 6 oz usable
8. Hawaii 2000 3 oz usable; 7 plants (3 mature, 4 immature)
9. Illinois 1013 2.5 ounces of usable cannabis during a period of 14 days
10. Maine 1999 2.5 oz usable; 6 plants
11. Maryland 2014 30-day supply, amount to be determined
12. Massachusetts 2012 60-day supply for personal medical use
13. Michigan 2008 2.5 oz usable; 12 plants
14. Minnesota 2014 30-day supply of non-smokable marijuana
15. Montana 2004 1 oz usable; 4 plants (mature); 12 seedlings
16. Nevada 2000 1 oz usable; 7 plants (3 mature, 4 immature)
17. New Hampshire 2013 Two ounces of usable cannabis during a 10-day period
18. New Jersey 2010 2 oz usable
19. New Mexico 2007 6 oz usable; 16 plants (4 mature, 12 immature)
20. New York 2014 30-day supply non-smokable marijuana
21. Oregon 1998 24 oz usable; 24 plants (6 mature, 18 immature)
22. Rhode Island 2006 2.5 oz usable; 12 plants
23. Vermont 2004 2 oz usable; 9 plants (2 mature, 7 immature)
24. Washington 1998 24 oz usable; 15 plants


What about Texas and Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, N Carolina, Virginia, Indiana, Tennessee, Missouri, Wisconsin, Alabama, S Carolina, Louisiana, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Iowa, Mississippi, Arkansas, Utah, Kansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, Idaho, S Dakota, N Dakota ?? They need the focus. It is a waste of time preaching to the converted, use the time to reach the rest, or use your vote if you can live there for a few years.
One way or another the change is coming, it is about time.
-SamS

That's an interesting perspective, but there's no way I'd recommend anybody moving to Oklahoma to further the cause because I sure as hell wouldn't do it myself.

Prohibition in this country was only structurally sound because it was universal. It survived largely on fearmongering & projection simply because the effects of legalization on American society were unknown and unknowable because of universal prohibition, catch 22.

That's changed thanks to voters in several states & the wisdom of the Obama Admin. Now facts matter because they're available. All kinds of metrics about crime, mental health, domestic abuse, traffic, incarceration rates, revenues, you name it.

By nearly all metrics, CO is better off than before legalization. That really can't be hidden. Even people who were opposed found out that it doesn't change their lives enough to matter. In many respects, it's like nothing happened, a trumped up non-event after all the hoopla passed. Well, except for people making money & collecting tax revenue. That's a big deal, and influential people in a lot of places are becoming envious.

Greed motivates power holders like nothing else, particularly when social stigma & legal constraints attached to money making opportunities are removed.

Shee-it, Sherlock- they sell firepower to crazy people, so why not sell cannabis to Joe Sixpack?

 

[Sam_Skunkman]

Well I can't say I would either but it would create the change faster.
Change is needed in the states that deny medical Cannabis, we can wait until they wise up, or force the change by altering the voters in the state. Do I expect it to happen maybe not, but I wish it did.
They are the states that need the changes, starting with Texas and Florida, if I was a wealthy man I would reeducate the voters with a massive add program, and offer a cash bonus to any smoker that would move to Texas and vote for one or two years, after it passed in Texas I would do it in Florida, screw them.
Prohibition in this country will continue until it is torn down and thrown away as a failure. In the states I mentioned it is structurally sound as the majority of the voters are opposed to Cannabis for any reason. It matters little what the other states are doing they are entrenched in their positions and will not change easily, they can be outvoted if the electoral alters with an influx of new pro Cannabis voters. That or publish scientific proof that Cannabis works better then viagra to get old guys a boner and it would be legalized in a few days.
-SamS

That's an interesting perspective, but there's no way I'd recommend anybody moving to Oklahoma to further the cause because I sure as hell wouldn't do it myself.

Prohibition in this country was only structurally sound because it was universal. It survived largely on fearmongering & projection simply because the effects of legalization on American society were unknown and unknowable because of universal prohibition, catch 22.

That's changed thanks to voters in several states & the wisdom of the Obama Admin. Now facts matter because they're available. All kinds of metrics about crime, mental health, domestic abuse, traffic, incarceration rates, revenues, you name it.

By nearly all metrics, CO is better off than before legalization. That really can't be hidden. Even people who were opposed found out that it doesn't change their lives enough to matter. In many respects, it's like nothing happened, a trumped up non-event after all the hoopla passed. Well, except for people making money & collecting tax revenue. That's a big deal, and influential people in a lot of places are becoming envious.

Greed motivates power holders like nothing else, particularly when social stigma & legal constraints attached to money making opportunities are removed.

Shee-it, Sherlock- they sell firepower to crazy people, so why not sell cannabis to Joe Sixpack?

 

[oldchuck]

You know, Sam, we already did that in my state. It took more than 40 years. In the early 70s sometime I think, Playboy Magazine, I think, (memory not so good) ran an article about all the hippies moving to Vermont. Well, there was no organized movement for it but that's what happened. Vermont went from a conservative Republican traditionalist environment to the most liberal state in the country. No, the hippies didn't take over. They fit in and we are now a powerful influence. Now we have an almost viable so-called hippie candidate for President. Recreational weed will be legalized next year by the legislature and hopefully will be the best plan yet.

But you can't change an embedded culture by shifting a few bodies. It usually takes multiple generations and a fertile seedbed. The American south is a toxic seedbed and no changes in weed law will change that.