As we celebrate our 6 year anniversary as a company, Ardent recognizes the importance of cultivating intergenerational dialogue within our community. Between Ardent early adopters who mastered the art of infusion via double broiler to our new, tech-savvy super users, our Owners Club is a safe space for all ages to learn from one another, expand their plant knowledge, and reclaim their wellness with cannabis.
We connected with the self-proclaimed, Cannaboomer, Patricia A. Patton, to share her thoughts on how the baby boomer generation can rethink how to age healthily.
Baby boomers are reassessing how to age healthily and learning that making our own cannabis medicine may be one way to do that.
Patricia A. Patton is an educator and advocate for baby boomers aiming to shift their perception around cannabis. After she purchased an Ardent FX of her own, we connected with Patricia to learn more about the work she is doing. Read her thoughts below on where baby boomers can start.
Acknowledge & Reframe Aging
We were the generation who said, “Never trust anyone over thirty.”
Today, many of our most informed conversations are intergenerational with people over 30. In Ardent, we are finding the guidance and engagement to learn about decarboxylation and DIY creation of medicine that we can trust for its potency, quality, and efficiency.
Please understand I’m thankful to be able to grow old, as we all should be. But I would be less than honest if I did not add that I seek a high quality of life as I age. In this journey I try to educate myself. I’ve had to re-examine what I was taught relative to cannabis. Chief among the untruths is the dogma that continues to say cannabis is “bad” even though current science has established the exact opposite.
Evolving Through Education of Cannabis
Today, I’m in the Dr. Sanjay Gupta School of thought. He changed his mind in a very public CNN interview after researching the cannabis plant, learning about the endocannabinoid system at which point, he acknowledged what he'd learned in medical school was to be questioned.
As a demographic, baby boomers are said to be the fastest growing group of cannabis consumers. JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association found that cannabis use among adults 65 years and older increased significantly from 2.4% to 4.2% (2020). Point-of-sale statistics from dispensaries show that in addition to mere enjoyment, baby boomers seek relief from inflammation, insomnia and pain.
That doesn’t mean a negative stigma about cannabis consumption does not continue to exist among baby boomers in particular. When you have been fed a narrative that says cannabis is dangerous, you have to recognize both the source and intent of this kind of messaging, then acknowledge what’s true for you. You may not think what you used to think. We are all changing. What we know about the cannabis plant is also evolving.
Ease & Ownership
I really want to learn how to make my own medicine. So I bought the FX, partially because of its aesthetic beauty, but more so because of all the positive reviews about how easy it is to use. I need a low barrier to entry so the last thing I need are complications. I am anxious to put my one-touch system, Ardent FX into service.
If your values align with any of what I am saying about life-long learning, taking responsibility for your own health, or being open to change, don’t let the designation of the baby boomer keep you from learning more with the Ardent team and me.
To begin making your own cannabis and hemp infused products from scratch, at a fraction of dispensary pricing, grab an Ardent Nova or FX.
For more information on Patricia and resources for boomers, listen to her podcast Me & Mary Jane and follow her at Canna_Boomers.
Patricia will also be joining us in hosting a private Zoom event exclusively for boomers who are interested in learning about basic Ardent-activated infusions. Don’t forget to sign up below!