A new federally funded report published by the Journal of the American Medical Association finds that use of marijuana by U.S. adults 65 and older has increased considerably in recent years amid broader legal access for medical and recreational use.
The new findings from researchers at University of California, San Diego and New York University medical schools, which draw on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, show that past-month use has now climbed from 4.8% to 7.0% in the last three years.
The rise in cannabis use among adults 65 and older in legal jurisdictions “highlights the importance of structural educational support for patients and clinicians in those states,” the report notes, pointing to potential complications in treating chronic disease. “Older adults require information on methods available for taking cannabis and age-specific dosing guidance,” the editor’s note says. “Health care professionals should recognize that older adults are increasingly using cannabis products and promote open and judgment-free conversations about its use.”
While a majority of those 65+ feel they need to be educated more about cannabis, they said cannabis helps them sleep and relax as main reasons for use.
