Is the Eternal Youth Of 420 Friendly Seniors Just An Illusion?
Florida’s reputation as a paradise for potheads has a history almost as long as its reputation as a paradise for seniors. Perhaps only California, Amsterdam, and Tangier give Florida a run for its money as 420 friendly destinations. You know what else has been around a long time and is going to stick around for the foreseeable future? You. You have been an aficionado of the green stuff for quite some time. Now that you are retired, and weed is legal, there is even less to stop you from smoking it. All your decades of persistence and of holding onto hope paid off; lawmakers finally realized that cannabis is less dangerous than many of the other substances that people use to self-medicate. Cannabis might make you forget your troubles, but it will not keep you young and healthy forever. Like anyone else, you need an estate plan that will account for your expenses in old age, in sickness and in health. The best way to ensure that your estate plan accomplishes this goal is to contact an Orlando estate planning lawyer.
New Research About Cannabis and Cognitive Decline Sets Off Alarm Bells for Seniors
Now that cannabis is legal in many jurisdictions, researchers can more accurately study its effects on health. A recent study showed a link between cannabis and cognitive decline that might give 420 friendly seniors pause. Between 2008 and 2021, cannabis-related emergency room visits and hospitalizations increased greatly among all age groups, but especially among patients over age 65. One out of every 20 patients who went to the hospital for cannabis-related symptoms, regardless of whether they were admitted to the hospital, developed dementia within five years, and one in five developed dementia in ten years. This association does not always mean that cannabis causes dementia. It could mean that patients who are on the path to dementia are more likely to have adverse reactions to cannabis.
Everyone’s Estate Plan Should Assume That Your Good Health Will Not Last Forever
No matter how plant-based your vices are, ill health can happen to anyone. Your estate plan should involve plans for long-term care, and the best plan for you varies according to your financial means. If you can afford it, you should buy long-term care insurance or hybrid life insurance, which can function both as long-term care insurance and as life insurance. If you know that these kinds of insurance are beyond your budget, expect that you might need to enter a nursing home as a Medicaid beneficiary. To prevent Medicaid from later seizing assets from your estate, set up a Medicaid trust now, or start transferring assets to other family members now, more than five years before you enter a nursing home.
Contact Gierach and Gierach About Preparing for Long-Term Care
An estate planning lawyer can help you build an estate plan complete with realistic plans for long-term care. Contact Gierach and Gierach, P.A. in Orlando, Florida to discuss your case.
Source:
cnn.com/2025/04/20/health/marijuana-dementia-wellness/index.html
