Almost every time a poll is taken on support for medical marijuana, one of the groups most resistant to the idea is the one that stands to gain the most from it. That group would be senior citizens. Educating the elderly on the health benefits and palliative qualities of medicinal cannabis can be a huge step towards achieving what it takes to legalize medical marijuana on the federal level. Seniors have always been regarded as a powerful voting bloc in the nation. And they always show up at the polls.

Robert Platshorn, who started as a pitchman on national television, became one of the biggest marijuana smugglers of the 1970s. He later spent almost 30 years in federal prison. Today, he is on a mission of informing fellow senior citizens about the health benefits of cannabis.

The Silver Tour is a group he has organized in an effort to reach out to seniors about medical marijuana. It strives to teach seniors ways to organize, petition and contact their local politicians to demand access to medicinal cannabis.

“Seniors have the greatest need,” Platshorn said. “There is no activist organization that can have this kind of immediate impact on such a large number of influential voters.”

Platshorn’s The Silver Tour educates and inspires senior citizens, resulting in more support for medical marijuana among this significant voting group. Platshorn realized that to make a real difference, he would have to find a way to reach the millions of people who had never heard of NORML, ASA, SSDP or any other group involved in ending the prohibition.

Along with those afflicted with pain and terminal illnesses, senior citizens need medical marijuana the most. They also have the political influence. They also have the time and inclination to contact politicians and demand access now. There could be no better group to support the cause.

But no one is taking the time to talk to seniors or give them a good reason to vote for medical marijuana legalization. All the while alcohol and big pharmaceutical companies are spending their money to scare them into voting NO.

Platshorn believes we must give seniors the best reason in the world to support legalization. Teach them the benefits of medical marijuana. Teach them that cannabis is real medicine. Teach them how many conditions it can treat.

“The Silver Tour travels to senior communities all over the country teaching the benefits of medical marijuana,” Platshorn says. “Give seniors a great show, a free meal; bring a doctor or nurse, a lawyer, patients like my pal Irv Rosenfeld, who receives marijuana every month from the federal government.”

Come January 2016, Platshorn plans to take The Silver Tour to senior communities across the United States, to produce a one-hour Silver Tour infomercial that will be broadcast on mainstream television.

“When considering financial support to help end marijuana prohibition, consider this,” Platshorn said. “Not one single organization or cannabis publication is devoted to reaching voters outside of our activist community — except The Silver Tour!”

If you’d like to learn more and make a contribution, or if you’d like to see The Silver Tour in your area, visit www.thesilvertour.org or email thesilvertour@yahoo.com.

For a great read, order a signed copy of Black Tuna Diaries, Platshorn’s riveting book here. It details his life story including wild tales of smuggling vast amounts of marijuana in the 1970s.

All orders will go towards keeping The Silver Tour going.