Older Americans Are More Likely to Use Marijuana as Baby Boomers Age and Stigmas Around Cannabis Use Fade, Study Says

A study finds marijuana usage is up among older Americans, with rates doubling among people 50 to 64 and rising almost seven-fold among those 65 and older, reports the Daily Mail . Nine percent of persons between 50 and 64 said they have used marijuana in the past year, versus 3 percent of adults 65 and older. Moreover, over 50 percent of adults ages 50 to 64 have used cannabis at least once in their lifetime versus about 20 percent of those 65 and older. "The baby boomer generation grew up during a period of significant cultural change, including a surge in popularity of marijuana in the 1960s and 1970s," says lead study author Benjamin Han. "We're now in a new era of changing attitudes around marijuana, and as stigma declines and access improves, it appears that baby boomers — many of whom have prior experience smoking marijuana — are increasingly using it." Growing acceptance and legalization of marijuana use in the United States for medicinal and recreation uses is cited as an underlying factor. Also playing a likely role is the fact that many users were probably already using and simply aged into the bracket being studied. "Marijuana has been shown to have benefits in treating certain conditions that affect older adults, including neuropathic pain and nausea," Han notes. "However, certain older adults may be at heightened risk for adverse effects associated with marijuana use, particularly if they have certain underlying chronic diseases or are also engaged in unhealthy substance use."