Marijuana Use Is on the Rise in Older Adults

A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found marijuana use is growing among baby boomers in the United States, especially men, reports NBC News . The researchers analyzed cannabis use from 2016 to 2018 among 171,507 adults 55 and older from 19 states and two territories. Men 60 to 64 reported the highest rates of marijuana use, with 12.6 percent of survey respondents saying they used the drug in the past 30 days in 2018, versus 8.9 percent in 2016. Over the same period, use nearly doubled among men 65 to 69 and in men ages 70 to 74. Use among women reflected less change. Cannabis use also rose among older adults in states where marijuana has and has not been legalized for recreational use. Possible explanations for why marijuana use is expanding among boomers include greater willingness to admit to use due to a reduced stigma; increased availability of cannabis; lowered inhibitions against use; and proliferating assertions of medicinal benefits. There is worry that marijuana use in older adults might heighten the risk of drug interactions in combination with certain medications, while an increased risk of confusion, dizziness, falls, and other accidents has been reported as well.