Cannabis use among Americans aged 65 and older has surged in recent years, with 7% of seniors admitting to using marijuana in the past month—a 46% increase from 4.8% in 2021, according to Fox News. Many of these users reside in states where medical or recreational marijuana has been legalized.

New research from the Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research at New York University tracked cannabis use among adults aged 65 and older, revealing a nearly 46% increase in marijuana use—from 4.2% in 2021 to 9.1% in 2023, according to the New York Post.

America's seniors are increasingly turning to cannabis, with usage among baby boomers reaching its highest ever level. This rise includes pronounced increases among those who are college-educated, married, female, and have higher incomes. Demographics that previously reported very low cannabis use rates are now embracing cannabis more.

Increased cannabis use among older adults has been associated with several health conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Older adults may be reaching for cannabis more frequently to manage health problems associated with aging. Many prefer cannabis as a more natural way to ease discomfort, aiming to avoid heavy-duty medications.

Notably, older women have seen a steep increase in cannabis use, with a larger uptick compared to men, although men still register higher rates of use among senior Americans. The rise in usage is driven by easier access due to legal marijuana, shifting social norms, and efforts to manage chronic pain, anxiety, and insomnia.

Experts suggest that more older Americans are turning to marijuana likely due to the rapid legalization and commercialization of cannabis, which has made it more accessible and socially acceptable. There is ongoing debate as to whether this trend represents a new era of beneficial cannabis use for America's aging population or an underregulated gamble with serious consequences.

Researchers note that the study did not separate recreational from medical cannabis use and did not examine the frequency of use or the type of cannabinoids consumed. Cannabis use grew more among older adults living in states where medical marijuana is legal compared to states where it is not.

Geriatricians emphasize the need for more research and better education for patients and doctors regarding cannabis use, particularly concerning its effects on the elderly and interactions with other medications. Dr. Barbara Krantz cautioned that cannabis may lead to interactions with other medications, which can increase their toxicity or decrease their effectiveness, according to the New York Post.

"Our study shows that cannabis use among older adults continues to increase, although there have been major shifts in use according to demographic and socioeconomic factors," said Joseph Palamar, PhD, MPH, an associate professor of population health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and the study's senior author, as reported by Fox News. He added that adults with the highest incomes initially had the lowest prevalence of cannabis use, but by 2023, they had the highest prevalence, which may indicate better access to medical cannabis given its costs.

"Less than 1% of older adults used cannabis in 2006 and 2007, and the increase to 7% in recent years is notable," said Benjamin Han, MD, MPH, associate professor at NYU and the study's first author, according to Medical Dialogues. "This is the first time we were able to examine 'current' use of cannabis in this age group. Before, we were only able to look at past-year use because the numbers for current use were too small," he said.

Experts warn that increased cannabis use among seniors could come with serious downsides, including complications in chronic disease management and increases in use among those with chronic diseases. Cannabis may help with pain but can also interfere with medications, impair senses, and increase the risk of falls, which are especially relevant for older adults.

Geriatricians are raising concerns about the potential health risks of marijuana use among older adults, including increased risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke, increased hypertension and tachycardia, and worsening of COPD. Polls have shown that many older adults use cannabis to manage chronic pain, stress, and other health issues, particularly those with multiple chronic conditions such as heart issues, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and COPD.

"It is absolutely an active chemical we need to watch out for, and I'm very disturbed that the elderly are using it," said Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, during an appearance on "America's Newsroom," according to Fox News. He cautioned, "You might use a gummy to go to bed, and then the next thing, you're using two gummies, or three gummies, and it could increase anxiety, it can increase discombobulation, you're not thinking clearly, ER visits are on the increase." Siegel added, "We know about problems with the lungs. It can accelerate dementia and can affect behavior."

Medical professionals have called for further research on the effect of cannabis on the elderly and how it interacts with other drugs to better understand the potential side effects of increased use. As marijuana becomes more ingrained in senior healthcare and lifestyles, experts stress the importance of monitoring its effects carefully.

The increased potency of marijuana further complicates safe use among older adults, who may be more sensitive to psychoactive substances due to physiological changes that accompany aging. Understanding how cannabis interacts with age-related health issues and medications will be key to protecting the growing population of older adult users, especially as those who use cannabis age into the 65+ age bracket.

The research was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the UC San Diego Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging. Kevin H. Yang of UC San Diego and Charles Cleland of NYU Grossman School of Medicine were co-authors on the study.

The preparation of this article relied on a news-analysis system.