Trends in Cannabis Use Among Older Adults in the United States, 2015-2018

Addressing Problems With Alcohol and Other Substances Among Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Although tobacco use in the U.S. has decreased over time, about 8% of adults aged 65 and over smoked cigarettes in 2018 (5). In contrast, the proportion of adults 65 years and older who reported prior-year cannabis use increased from 2.4% in 2015 to 4.2% in 2018, with a greater increase among those who reported receiving mental health treatment or who also used alcohol (6). There is strong evidence that smoking tobacco puts people at risk for more severe COVID-19-related symptoms; data from China indicate a case fatality rate of 6.3% for individuals with chronic respiratory disease, compared with 2.3% overall (7).…”

Patterns of Medical Cannabis Use Among Older Adults from a Cannabis Dispensary in New York State

“…With the legalization of cannabis in many states, there is increasing interest in using cannabis to treat a range of medical diseases that are common among older adults. The number of cannabis users age ‡ 65 years in the U.S population has grown over the past two decades, 1,2 and support for cannabis legalization is also growing among older adults. A recent Pew research study found that in 2019, 63% of the Boomer Generation and 35% of the Silent Generation (born between 1928 and 1945) reported support for marijuana legalization.…”

“…In the absence of clinical trial data for medical cannabis use, largely due to cannabis still being a Schedule I substance, epidemiological studies may be helpful in understanding how older adults are currently using medical cannabis. A number of epidemiological studies from national surveys examining patterns of cannabis use in older adults already exist 1,[15][16][17][18] -studies document a significant increase in cannabis use by older people over the past two decades, 1,17,18 with one study by Han and Palamar showing that among U.S. older adults age 65 + years, there was an increase in the use of cannabis from 2.4% in 2015 to 4.2% in 2018. 1 A number of reasons for these increases have been proposed, including changing attitudes of cannabis among older people, changes in the legal status in individual states, and unique health care needs of patients.…”

“…A number of epidemiological studies from national surveys examining patterns of cannabis use in older adults already exist 1,[15][16][17][18] -studies document a significant increase in cannabis use by older people over the past two decades, 1,17,18 with one study by Han and Palamar showing that among U.S. older adults age 65 + years, there was an increase in the use of cannabis from 2.4% in 2015 to 4.2% in 2018. 1 A number of reasons for these increases have been proposed, including changing attitudes of cannabis among older people, changes in the legal status in individual states, and unique health care needs of patients. 16 The majority of these epidemiologic studies include self-reported data about use patterns and associated health characteristics, and it may be important to identify patterns of use by using more objective measures of actual products purchased (including their dosing, route of administration), and any changes in products purchased over time.…”

Cannabis and COVID-19: Reasons for Concern

“…In the USA, cannabis use increased among seniors between 2015 and 2018 ( 7 ). This is of concern because the most serious complications and highest mortality rates from COVID-19 infection occur in older people ( 8 , 9 ).…”