Once associated with young hipsters, generational shifts have seen an uptake in cannabis use by older members of society (provided these people have sufficient income to partake in the habit).
A study by New York University into the U.S. population reveals how cannabis use among older people has climbed, with 7% of adults 65 and older now reporting recent use. This rise is not only in numbers but also in diversity older users today are more likely to be women, college-educated, and higher-income.
The researchers suggest legalisation and growing social acceptance are contributing factors, especially in states with medical marijuana laws. The trend is especially notable among those with chronic illnesses, raising both opportunities and concerns for medical professionals trying to balance symptom relief with the complexities of ageing.
Habits of the older generation
To better understand the prevalence of marijuana use among older adults in the US, the researchers examined data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2021 through 2023. The respondents, who were 65 and older, were asked about past-month cannabis use, which was defined as “current” use.
According to lead researcher Joseph Palamar: “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.”
Current cannabis use among older adults has grown to 7 percent in 2023, up from 4.8 percent in 2021 and 5.2 percent in 2022 — a nearly 46 percent increase in only two years. Back to 2006 and 2007, less than 1 percent of older adults used cannabis in the past year.
Higher income adults
The researchers also established that certain groups of older adults experienced sharper increases in use over this period than others, including those who are married, white, have a college degree, and have an income of at least $75,000.
Older women also saw a steep increase in cannabis use, although older men are still more likely than women to use the drug.
Ill health
The researchers also found significant increases in cannabis use by older adults with chronic diseases — and notably, those with multiple chronic conditions — including heart issues, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and chronic pulmonary obstructive disease.
This is notwithstanding that cannabis can complicate the management of chronic diseases and be potentially harmful if patients are not educated on its use and potential risks.
The research appears in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, titled “Trends in Past-Month Cannabis Use Among Older Adults.”
