Cannabis Use Among Older Adults Reaches Record High, Study Finds
Recent research reveals that marijuana consumption among older adults in the United States has climbed to unprecedented levels. According to an analysis published in JAMA Internal Medicine, approximately 7 percent of adults aged 65 and older reported using cannabis within the past month. This new data highlights a significant shift not only in how many seniors use the substance, but also in the demographic and socioeconomic profiles of those who partake.
The study was led by researchers at the Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research (CDUHR) located at the NYU School of Global Public Health. To evaluate current trends, the investigative team analyzed data gathered from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health spanning from 2021 through 2023. By focusing on past-month use—which researchers classified as "current" use—the team was able to capture a more immediate snapshot of senior habits than had been possible in previous years, when low sample sizes restricted evaluations to past-year use.
The findings demonstrate a sharp escalation in a very short window. Current cannabis use among older adults rose from 4.8 percent in 2021 to 5.2 percent in 2022, before jumping to 7 percent in 2023. This represents a nearly 46 percent increase over a two-year period. Putting these figures into historical perspective, senior author Joseph Palamar, PhD, MPH, an associate professor of population health at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine and an affiliated researcher with CDUHR, noted that looking back to 2006 and 2007, less than 1 percent of older adults used cannabis even on a past-year basis.
The study also uncovered notable shifts regarding who is consuming cannabis. While older men continue to report higher overall usage than older women, the researchers observed a steep increase in use among older women. Furthermore, sharper increases were documented among individuals who are married, white, college-educated, and living with an annual income of at least $75,000. In 2021, individuals in the highest income brackets reported the lowest prevalence of cannabis use; however, by 2023, this group recorded the highest prevalence, a change researchers suggest may reflect who can afford medical cannabis products.
Geographic location and personal health status also played roles in the trend. Use grew more substantially among older adults residing in states where medical marijuana is legal compared to states without such laws. Additionally, researchers tracked significant increases in cannabis use among older adults managing chronic health conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as those dealing with multiple concurrent illnesses.
While some of the overall growth may be attributed to aging populations carrying past habits into the 65-and-older bracket, the study authors emphasize the clinical implications of these findings. Benjamin Han, MD, MPH, associate professor and associate chief of research in the Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Palliative Care at the University of California San Diego, and the study’s first author, noted that many older patients express interest in cannabis to treat persistent health symptoms. However, because normal physiological changes associated with aging can make individuals more sensitive to psychoactive substances, unguided use can complicate chronic disease management.
The researchers recommend that clinicians actively screen and educate older patients about cannabis consumption, potential side effects, and risks. The study received financial support from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the UC San Diego Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging.
Source: ScienceDaily Health & Medicine
