A study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine found that cannabis use by American adults ages 65 and older has increased. Approximately 7% of senior citizens have used cannabis within the past month. The findings are consistent with recent studies conducted over the past decade that highlight increasing numbers of senior citizens consuming cannabis and the main reasons they use it.
Researchers affiliated with the Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research (CDUHR) at the New York University School of Global Public Health examined data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health collected from 2021 through 2023.
The study showed that seniors with higher incomes and those managing chronic health conditions were most likely to report current cannabis use. Data analysis indicated that older adults with annual incomes of at least $75,000 had the lowest prevalence of use in 2021 (4.2%). However, they had the highest prevalence compared with lower-income groups in 2023 (9.1%). The use among older adults with a college or postgraduate degree was highest in 2023 (8.3%) compared to groups with some or no college education.
The analysis indicated that seniors with two or more chronic diseases are more likely to use cannabis than people with fewer health issues. Cannabis use among older adults in this group grew by 134.3% between 2021 and 2023. The research team also noted that greater cannabis use among older adults living in states with legal medical cannabis; this population grew by about 46%. In addition, the findings also revealed increased use associated with certain medical conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (6.4% to 13.5%), heart conditions (2.8% to 6.5%), diabetes (2.9% to 6.2%), hypertension (4% to 6.6%), and cancer (2.5% to 7.7%). Cannabis consumption among seniors with two or more chronic diseases also increased (3.5% to 8.2%).
As more senior citizens choose medical cannabis as a treatment option, the researchers emphasized the need for improving awareness of the health risks and benefits associated with cannabis consumption.
Sources: JAMA Internal Medicine, NORML, YouTube