“They were awake, alert, more comfortable and less agitated, and this led to significant improvement in the caregiving quality of life.” By Sarah Ladd, Kentucky LanternNew research—which Kentucky participated in as a trial site—shows a combination of cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can help late-stage dementia patients feel less agitation. Kentucky has a medical cannabis program, approved by the legislature in 2023, which allows patients experiencing a range of chronic distress to get medical marijuana prescriptions. “I think that it was an oversight to not include dementia specifically in our state statute,” Jicha said. Treating this agitation can better their quality of life—and that of their caregivers and loved ones, Jicha said.