Charting the Pathways Taken by Older Adults Who Use Cannabis: Where Are the Baby Boomers Going Now?

Abstract

As of June 2019, 34 states and the District of Columbia had approved comprehensive medical marijuana laws (MMLs), and 13 states and DC had laws legalizing recreational cannabis for adult use. Concurrently, several studies have documented that cannabis use among late middle-aged and older adults has soared. Although some studies have shown that many older persons use cannabis for recreational purposes, others have determined that a greater number of older adults are using cannabis for medical reasons as well. In terms of outcomes, some studies have found higher rates of injury and alcohol use disorder, nicotine dependence, cocaine use, and prescription drug misuse among older users, but others have shown that a majority of older users report no adverse effects of cannabis use and, instead, report how cannabis is helpful for managing a variety of symptoms and conditions including anxiety, sleep, pain, and nausea. Researchers also have observed a growing number of older adults who initiate cannabis use for the first time in late life and are doing so within rapidly changing health and legal contexts. Indeed, medical providers are increasingly likely to encounter older cannabis users and assume a critical role informing patient decisions, and state governments have assumed a critical role in facilitating access use to cannabis for medical purposes and otherwise.