03-06-2025
Over 65s are using cannabis more than ever as records reach new high
Are seniors getting stoned? Cannabis use in older adults is higher than ever before.
Adults over the age of 65 are using marijuana more than ever before, a new study has revealed. In fact, a staggering seven per cent of over 65s surveyed admitted to using cannabis in the past month.
The US based study was led by researchers at the Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research (CDUHR) at the NYU School of Global Public Health, and was published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Interestingly, the findings saw significant increases in use by older adults who are college-educated, married, female, and have higher incomes.
'Our study shows that cannabis use among older adults continues to increase, although there have been major shifts in use according to demographic and socioeconomic factors,' said Joseph Palamar, PhD, MPH, the study's senior author.
Marijuana has been legalised for medical use in 39 US states and in 24 states for recreational use.
Researchers in the new study examined data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2021 through 2023 to discover trends in cannabis use in older adults.
If the over-65s reported that they'd used cannabis in the past month, this was defined as 'current' use.
'This is the first time we were able to examine 'current' use of cannabis in this age group. Before, we were only able to look at past-year use because the numbers for current use were too small,' said Benjamin Han, MD, MPH, the study's first author.
The researchers found that current cannabis use among older adults had increased by nearly 46 per cent in two years.
Current use for seniors rose to seven per cent in 2023, up from 4.8 per cent in 2021 and 5.2 per cent in 2022.
This is a staggering increase from back in 2006 and 2007, when less than one per cent of older adults had used cannabis in the past year.
Those who are married, white, have a college degree, and have an income of at least $75,000 saw a sharp increase in cannabis use over the study period.
Older women also saw a significant increase in use, although older men are still more likely than women to use the drug.
Expectedly, cannabis use grew more among those living in states where medical marijuana is legal compared to states where it remains outlawed.
The researchers also found significant increases in cannabis use by older adults with chronic diseases, and those with multiple chronic conditions, including heart issues, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and chronic pulmonary obstructive disease.
But the scientists urge users to take caution when taking cannabis for chronic illnesses.
Han said: 'As a geriatrician, I see more and more people interested in using cannabis for treating chronic health symptoms.
"But cannabis can complicate the management of chronic diseases and be potentially harmful if patients are not educated on its use and potential risks."
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