After decades of prohibition, cannabis laws are changing rapidly. The drug is currently legal for adults in 11 states and Washington, D.C., while medical marijuana is legal in 33. Now, more seniors — especially male baby boomers — are reporting cannabis use, according to a study published earlier this week in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Here’s what researchers found and the takeaway for senior caregivers and loved ones.
What the study showed
Researchers affiliated with the University of Massachusetts Medical School notes that the growing legalization of cannabis has prompted more studies on young people, but more investigations on older Americans are warranted. They point out that more seniors are using cannabis, not only in states where it has been legalized for recreational use but in those where it has not.
To come to this conclusion, researchers analyzed three years of survey data, collected from 2016 to 2018, on cannabis use in 171,507 adults ages 55 and up from 19 states and two territories. The most notable jumps were found in men.
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Aged 60-64: The highest rates of use were among these men, with 12.6% saying they used the drug in the past 30 days in 2018, up from 8.9% in 2016.
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Aged 65-69: Use also nearly doubled in this group, rising from 4.3% in 2016 to 8.2% in 2018).
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Aged 70-74: This age group rose from 3.2% to 6%.
Older adults are turning to cannabis for pain management, mood disorders, anxiety, and sleep, as well as other medical conditions, note the researchers. They also think that this demographic — some of whom are far from first-timers — might be more willing to discuss their cannabis use as a result of lowered stigma, increased availability of the drug, lowered inhibitions against use and heightened buzz around medicinal benefits.
The findings echo those from a study published earlier this year in JAMA Internal Medicine, in which researchers with the New York University School of Medicine similarly concluded that cannabis use is on the rise among Americans who are 65+. It’s no wonder, given that findings from Pew Research published last year note that almost two-thirds of the “Boomer” generation — born between 1946 and 1964 — think that cannabis should be legal for adults.
The concerns over drug interactions
Still, the researchers worry that users should exercise caution when it comes to potential interactions between cannabis and prescription drugs. For instance, researchers who published a review in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology in January say that cannabis can affect how drugs are metabolized by the body and could change how heart medications, like statins or blood thinners, work. If someone is on warfarin, cannabis could increase its blood-thinning effects and up their risk of confusion, dizziness, falls and other accidents.
The takeaway for seniors, their loved ones and caregivers
While it is important to remain vigilant about possible interactions, most seniors’ cannabis use isn’t a major cause for concern. Dr. Joseph J. Morgan, Dean’s Professor and faculty member of the University of the Sciences’ medical marijuana certification course, tells Forbes.com that the risks associated with low doses of cannabis for older adults (no more than 10 mg of cannabinoids) are typically relatively benign.
General rules of thumb for seniors who use cannabis, according to Morgan:
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Stay well-hydrated to reduce risk of dizziness and falling.
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If possible, cut back or refrain from using opioids, sleeping pills, benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax, etc.) and alcohol.
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Never drive or make important decisions while impaired.
Anyone concerned about or experiencing uncomfortable symptoms or side effects should consult their physician. Talk to your doctor before mixing medications, including cannabis.
