In late September, U.S. President Donald Trump posted a video on his social media platform Truth Social. The message: CBD could play an important role in the health of the elderly and therefore should be reimbursed through the US healthcare system Medicare (similar to our Health Insurance Act).
It is not yet official policy, but it is a remarkable signal. For the first time, CBD is getting attention at the highest political level in the United States. And this time not as a recreational drug, but as a potential component of preventive health care for seniors.
Why this is also important for the Netherlands
You may be wondering: what does American policy have to do with us? A lot, actually. When the United States – often trendsetters in health and nutrition – begins to take CBD seriously as part of preventive care for the elderly, it sets an important course. It signals that the scientific evidence is getting stronger and stronger, and that it is time to look beyond preconceptions.
In the Netherlands, CBD is completely legal and has been available as a dietary supplement for years. Yet awareness remains limited. Many people have never heard of it, even though the U.S. Secretary of Health is advocating a radical change of course: from treating disease to maintaining health. And so CBD fits surprisingly well into that.
The endocannabinoid system: your body out of balance
The video Trump shared explains something most people don’t know: our bodies have an endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system, only discovered in the 1990s, acts as a conductor that ensures that all the other systems in our body – think of your digestive, immune, nervous systems – work well together.
Scientific research shows that this system weakens as we age. Especially from middle age, the production of endocannabinoids (body’s own substances) decreases. The result? Your body becomes unbalanced, which can contribute to many age-related ailments: chronic inflammation, sleep problems, pain, and impaired cognitive functions.
CBD as possible support for your well-being
This is where CBD comes in. CBD acts on this endocannabinoid system and can help support it. Note that this is not a panacea, but a natural way to help your body with what it can no longer do optimally on its own.
What we find interesting about American developments is that there is now talk of large-scale research and guidance from health care providers. In pilot projects at U.S. senior housing facilities, nearly three-quarters of participants reported that CBD was more effective and less expensive than their regular medications. More than half were even able to stop taking risky painkillers. These are promising signs, although more research is needed to really confirm this.
The preventive idea
The American debate is actually about more than just CBD. It is about a fundamental question that, fortunately, is increasingly being asked in the Netherlands as well: can we prevent people from getting sick, instead of only taking action when the problems are already there?
Preventive care means investing in health before chronic conditions develop. This is not only better for your quality of life, but also wiser for the wallet. If natural dietary supplements like CBD can help keep your body in balance, it’s a very valuable addition to a healthy lifestyle.
Netherlands discovers opportunities
While America is taking cautious steps toward integrating CBD into elderly care, the Netherlands is still at the very beginning of this development. General practitioners are often not yet familiar with treatments aimed at strengthening the endocannabinoid system. This is understandable, as it was only discovered three decades ago and is not yet a standard part of medical training.
Fortunately, that doesn’t mean you can’t still benefit from new American insights. In fact, CBD is simply available as a dietary supplement in the Netherlands. So you can make the choice to try it and have your own experiences.
Responsible use
Of course, it is important to use CBD wisely. Always start with a low dose, for example our CBD oil 2.5% or 5%, and build up slowly. Are you taking other medications? Then read this article first and discuss the use with your doctor. Preferably choose full spectrum (raw) oil, where all natural substances from the hemp plant are present. Through the so-called entourage effect, these substances reinforce each other’s effects.
At Dutch Balance we work exclusively with tested products of number one quality. All test results are retrievable, so you know exactly what you are ingesting.
In conclusion
It is hopeful that CBD is tentatively beginning to receive the recognition it deserves as far as we are concerned. Whether the Netherlands will follow this American example? That remains to be seen. But fortunately you don’t have to wait. Ordered your CBD before 17:00 means shipped today, and from €25 shipping within the Netherlands is free.
Perhaps 2026 will be the year when the conversation about preventive health care and CBD really takes off in the Netherlands as well.
