"Medical Cannabis Significantly Safer for Elderly With Chronic Pain Than Opioids According to BenGurion University of the Negev Researchers  BEERSHEVA Israel...February   Medical cannabis therapy can significantly reduce chronic pain in patients age  and older without adverse effects according to researchers at BenGurion University of the Negev BGU https_releases and the Cannabis Clinical Research Institute at Soroka University Medical Center. The new study published in The European Journal of Internal Medicine https found cannabis therapy is safe and efficacious for elderly patients who are seeking to address cancer symptoms Parkinsons disease posttraumatic stress disorder ulcerative colitis Crohns disease multiple sclerosis and other medical issues.  While older patients represent a large and growing population of medical cannabis users few studies have addressed how it affects this particular group which also suffers from dementia frequent falls mobility problems and hearing and visual impairments says Prof. Victor Novack M.D. a professor of medicine in the BGU Faculty of Health Sciences FOHS and head of the Soroka Cannabis Clinical Research Institute. Novack is also the BGU Gussie Krupp Chair in Internal Medicine. After monitoring patients  and older for six months we found medical cannabis treatment significantly relieves pain and improves quality of life for seniors with minimal side effects reported. This older population represents a growing segment of medical cannabis users ranging from approximately seven percent to more than  percent depending on the country. Recent U.S. polls indicate Americans over  represent  percent of the total population and use more than  percent of all prescription drugs including highly addictive painkillers. BGU researchers surveyed  patients  years and older who received medical cannabis through Tikun Olam the largest Israeli medical cannabis supplier. More than  percent were prescribed medical cannabis due to the pain particularly pain associated with cancer. After six months of treatment more than  percent of  respondents reported their pain dropped from a median of eight to four on a point scale. Close to  percent of patients who originally reported bad or very bad quality of life upgraded to good or very good after six months. More than  percent of patients surveyed reported moderate to significant improvement in their condition.  The most commonly reported adverse effects were dizziness . percent and dry mouth . percent. After six months more than  percent of patients surveyed had stopped using opioid analgesics or had reduced their dosage.  All patients received a prescription after consulting with a doctor who prescribed treatment. More than  percent of patients used cannabisinfused oil approximately  percent inhaled therapy by smoking and approximately six percent used vaporization. While the researchers state their findings to date indicate cannabis may decrease dependence on prescription medicines including opioids more evidencebased data from this special aging population is imperative.   The researchers in the study also include Ran Abuhasira a BGU Ph.D. candidate working in the Soroka Clinical Research Center Lihi BarLev Schleider of Tikun Olam and Prof. Raphael Mechoulam of Hebrew University. Prof. Novak is an advisor to the dean for Clinical Research in the FOHS at BGU. He is also the head of the Clinical Research Center and Research Authority at Soroka. About American Associates BenGurion University of the Negev American Associates BenGurion University of the Negev AABGU plays a vital role in sustaining David BenGurions vision creating a worldclass institution of education and research in the Israeli desert nurturing the Negev community and sharing the Universitys expertise locally and around the globe. As BenGurion University of the Negev BGU looks ahead to turning  in  AABGU imagines a future that goes beyond the walls of academia. It is a future where BGU invents a new world and inspires a vision for a stronger Israel and its next generation of leaders. Together with supporters AABGU will help the University foster excellence in teaching research and outreach to the communities of the Negev for the next  years and beyond. Visit vision.aabgu.org to learn more.  AABGU which is headquartered in Manhattan has nine regional offices throughout the United States. For more information visit http"