Illona Harris: “You’ve got to pass on what you know.”
Illona Harris, 65, finds cannabis to be the perfect support for her natural-first wellness routine. And, like many other older adults who consume cannabis, the Silver Spring, MD resident’s journey with cannabis has taken many forms over the course of her life.
Illona’s choice of cannabis products – and the reasons she consumes them – have broadened over the years, crediting the explosion of information that followed legalization and the education offered by Ethos associates. Now, Illona is looking forward to learning more and sharing what she knows as an associate at the Rockville, Md. location.
Illona is just one of the many older adults who consume cannabis for relief. This is what she had to say about legalization and how cannabis offers her relief.
Q: How do you find relief consuming cannabis?
Illona said she consumes cannabis for many reasons, all of which center around her approach to health and wellness that try plant-based modalities first. When she was younger, Illona said she struggled with substance abuse, which has left her averse to taking pain medication for multiple ailments she manages today.
“I went through a period on my journey where I was addicted to hard drugs and then I got clean,” Illona said. “But then, I had back issues and the doctor put me on pain medication.
“I stayed on medication for 7 or 8 years but got off it because I didn’t like the feeling,” she said. “I started going natural. I went to a holistic doctor, a chiropractor, got acupuncture … and then when Maryland got medical [cannabis] I applied for the card.”
Illona said cannabis helps to take the edge off her arthritis pain in her neck and hands. In addition, she said she is living with a pinched nerve and sciatica in her lower back. Cannabis products make the difference for Illona.
“I don’t even take any pain medicine,” she said. “Cannabis does wonders for me.”
Q: Did you ever think you’d see cannabis legalized in your lifetime?
As an adolescent in the late 1960s, Illona was unequivocal when asked if she ever thought she would see cannabis legalized.
“No way!” Illona said. “I think it’s great because there’s so much information now. People are very knowledgeable now; you can’t even compare it to back in the day.”
The culture has also shifted, Illona noted. She recalled her father telling her that cannabis was a gateway drug that would introduce her to more serious substances – a myth that has now been thoroughly debunked.
“My father used to tell me if you smoke [cannabis], it’s gonna lead you to harder drugs – I think he instilled that in my head so much that I ended up doing it!” Illona said, referring to her past substance abuse. “But it’s not true, it’s up to the person. I know people who consumed cannabis all their life [and didn’t take prescription painkillers].”
Now, as Prohibition is slowly ending across the U.S., Illona said more accurate information and more thorough scientific studies are coming out, helping her and other older adults make informed decisions about cannabis and their wellness.
Q: Do you have a favorite product you’d recommend to someone to try?
Illona offered several product recommendations that she uses in combination to manage her pain.
“Of course, I smoke the flower. I use some of the ointments and oils. Mary’s [Nutritionals] has a good [muscle] freeze, I love that,” Illona said.
In addition, Illona recommended Grassroots muscle oil, a high CBD topical, as well as a cannabinoid infused Epsom salt.
“It’s so relaxing and when you wake up the next day you won’t be aching,” she said. “And I always try to find something with high myrcene in it.”
When it comes to flower, two of Illona’s favorite strains (also called cultivars) are Chocolate Mint, an indica-dominant hybrid, and OG Kush, a pure indica landrace cultivar. Indica cultivars are often associated with relaxation and pain alleviation. Both cultivars also contain high levels of myrcene, which is often described as calming.
Illona credited the legal dispensary system with providing the information she needs to find the regimen that works best for her.
“I love that I can go to the dispensary, and I can get whatever I need to help me. If I have an issue, I tell them what’s going on with me and I’ve never been led astray by their recommendations,” Illona said.
She’s been so moved by the efforts of the Ethos staff that she plans to join the team at Ethos – Rockville as an associate to give back to others who are exploring cannabis for the first time or trying it once again.
“I’ve received an education from Ethos, and I pass on my information,” Illona said. “I’m looking forward to returning the favor. You’ve got to pass on what you know.”
Cannabis as a lifelong learning experience
When Illona first encountered cannabis, she couldn’t conceive of a world where she could walk into a dispensary and choose from many products of all varieties. Today, she is preparing to work at one and is learning more about cannabis than she thought possible. Illona is not just one of the older adults who consumes cannabis, she is actually working in the industry and helping to educate customers just like her.
