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Connections
Connections

Cannabis use for chronic conditions

By Racquel Stephen,
Megan Mack, Elissa Orlando, Veronica Volk, Julie Williams
Published June 26, 2025 at 3:08 PM EDT
Two smiling people wearing headphones sit at a table in a radio talk studio: a man at left has short brown hair and is wearing a pink button-down shirt; a woman at right has short blonde hair and is wearing a green blazer, leopard-print shirt and jeans.
1 of 3  — Paul Vermilion with guest host Racquel Stephen on "Connections"
Paul Vermilion with guest host Racquel Stephen on "Connections" on Thursday, June 26, 2025
Gary Pudup / WXXI News
A bald man is wearing glasses and a black long-sleeved shirt.
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Leonid Vilensky
Provided
A man with a grey goatee is wearing a fedora and a blue shirt.
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Al Bain
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A smiling woman with short blonde hair sits at a desk in front of a microphone wearing a gold necklace and green and white patterned dress.
David Griffin
/
WXXI News
Racquel Stephen guest hosting "Connections with Evan Dawson"

New studies show cannabis use is rising among older adults.

Clinicians have been able to provide medical marijuana to eligible patients since 2016. But the legalization of cannabis in 2021 means increasing numbers of people are using it for a variety of symptoms and conditions including pain, anxiety, cancer symptoms and seizures.

Guest host Racquel Stephen talks with local clinicians and a patient about this trend and about what patients should consider when requesting and using cannabis.

Our guests:

  • Leonid Vilensky, M.D., medical director of Upstate Pain Clinic
  • Al Bain, patient who uses cannabis
  • Paul Vermilion, M.D., assistant professor of palliative care in the Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics, and Neurology at the University of Rochester Medical Center 

Take our audience survey to help us learn more about you, and make a better show for you.

Connections
Racquel Stephen
Racquel Stephen is WXXI's health, equity and community reporter and producer. She holds a bachelor's degree in English literature from the University of Rochester and a master's degree in broadcasting and digital journalism from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
See stories by Racquel Stephen
Megan Mack
Megan Mack is the executive producer of "Connections with Evan Dawson" and live/televised engagement programming.
See stories by Megan Mack
Elissa Orlando
Elissa Orlando is a producer for “Connections with Evan Dawson.” She returns part-time to WXXI News after stepping back from a long career in public media and in translational science.
See stories by Elissa Orlando
Veronica Volk
Veronica Volk is a senior producer and editor for WXXI News.
See stories by Veronica Volk
Julie Williams
Julie Williams is an associate producer for "Connections with Evan Dawson" and is also the office administrator for radio, news and technology and operations. She started at WXXI in 2019 and has been working on Connections since 2022.
See stories by Julie Williams