Seniors choosing retirement in states with legal MMJ
- Seniors MMJ Network
- Aug 16, 2015
- 2 min read
Home values are starting to rise across the country and states with recreational Marijuana are experiencing a welcomed side-effect of legalization, red hot real-estate markets. Home prices in Denver, Colorado have increased by double digits, in March they experienced the second largest jump in annual home prices at 10%. The story is similar in Washington and now Oregon, who recently passed the most sensible policy to date. You might have seen news stories about families with sick children moving to these states but a new trend is starting to emerge, Seniors are flocking to states with legal Marijuana.
It makes sense right? If you have found a medicine that works for your conditions but risk the chance of jail for using it, moving to a place that accepts your right to use Marijuana as medicine seems logical. That is exactly what is happening.
While there is no questionnaire asking people why they chose the retirement location that they did, “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.
“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.”
Who exactly are the people showing up at these recreational Marijuana stores? “Our demographic is not punk kids,” said 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.”
At Seniors MMJ Network, this has been our experience too. Every event we attend, we are always happy to see large amounts of Seniors seeking out information and answers. Talking with many of them has been a real boost for continuing our dedication to education.
As more and more people approach retirement, the choice of where to be located becomes in important question. If the trend continues, the West coast could become the new hotspot, with Washington, Oregon and soon California to offer legalized Marijuana. Medical Marijuana programs are already in place, California has been an innovator. Having the map already laid out, it should be a smooth transition to a completely legal marketplace.
Do you know any one who decided to relocate to a state with Medical or recreational Marijuana? Let us know!
Here are a few articles for further reading on this topic -
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