A recent study conducted by researchers at the International Institute for Botanical Longevity (IIBL) has revealed that cannabis plants over a certain age are increasingly susceptible to headaches, tendinitis, joint stiffness, and even memory loss. Whilst growers have spent most of their time focusing on yield and quality, they have been neglectful of treating their crop for age-related ailments, which in turn has affected the health and production of the plants.
The findings have been notarized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as Botanical Burnout.
Dr. Livia Greenstem, lead researcher at IIBL, explains: "We've always known that older cannabis plants show a decline in growth efficiency, but new data suggest they also experience symptoms akin to those in aging humans. Leaf droop, resin fatigue, and even photoperiod sensitivity appear to be indicators of Botanical Burnout."
Cannabis aging symptoms
The study, published on Research Gate, found that plants reaching maturity past their optimal harvest window exhibited clear signs of strain. These included headaches, tendinitis, joint stiffness, memory loss, and in extreme cases, hallucinations.
Industry implications
Experts in the cannabis industry have expressed dismay about the findings and what they represent. At least three companies have found themselves evicted from their rental properties owing to outrage over the way that they treat their crops, with one of the companies filing for voluntary bankruptcy on Friday, and finding itself delisted from the Canadian Stock Exchange after a video emerged of employees harassing an elderly cannabis plant that was unable to defend itself.
Some growers are even experimenting with ergonomic trellising and soft lighting to reduce photonic stress. "If plants are struggling with headaches, maybe we need to rethink how we expose them to artificial lighting," Says Professor Max Leafman of Xavier's School for Gifted Children.
The future of botanical healthcare
With this groundbreaking research, discussions are now underway about plant-friendly wellness initiatives, such as aromatherapy for crops and leaf-friendly massage techniques. "We might be on the verge of a new era in cultivation," Dr. Greenstem concludes. "An era where we treat plants not just as crops, but as living beings deserving of comfort and care."
For now, however, growers are advised to simply provide their plants with plenty of rest, a stress-free environment, and—if symptoms persist—perhaps a small dose of medicinal cannabis of their own.