From bucket list adventures to private renewal, many older Americans aren’t shy about scaling latest heights. Cannabis use, it seems, is considered one of them.
The number of individuals age 50 and older who’re pursuing a high or in search of relief with cannabis has climbed to a brand new high — especially amongst women — at the same time as research links heavy use to certain health risks.
One in five people aged 50 to 80 said they’d used some type of cannabis – whether by eating or inhaling it – not less than once previously 12 months, up from one in eight just 4 years ago. That’s in response to a 2024 report by the National Poll on Healthy Aging, which focused only on cannabis products that contain the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) liable for the “high” many individuals feel when using it. In contrast, one other hemp-derived compound called cannabidiol (CBD) doesn’t produce much, and lots of products are sold that contain only CBD, not THC. The dried leaves of the cannabis plant contain each compounds.
Meanwhile, a study published within the July 2025 issue of JAMA Internal Medicine Cannabis use amongst people aged 65 and over has reached latest highs, with 7% of individuals reporting its use previously month – up from 4.8% in 2021. The study included nearly 16,000 older adults (54% women).
“For many diseases of aging, cannabis may offer older people a safer, more natural, more effective alternative to conventional pharmaceuticals,” he says. “Like all drugs, there are risks as well as benefits.”
Many reasons to make use of
According to the National Poll on Healthy Aging, which surveyed nearly 3,400 adults ages 50 to 101, older adults are turning to THC.
- Relax (81%)
- Better sleep (68%)
- Feel good (64%)
- Pain relief (63%)
- Improve mood or mental health (53%)
- Treat a medical condition (40%).
Cannabis use amongst women has increased significantly lately. 2025 JAMA Internal Medicine The study found that the variety of older women using cannabis increased from 3.2 percent in 2021 to five.3 percent in 2023. This is sensible, says Dr. Grinspoon, because cannabis can reduce a few of the symptoms related to menopause.
“People use it effectively for hot flashes, insomnia, and anxiety that accompany menopause,” says Dr. Grinspoon. He adds that it will possibly also help with female orgasm disorder, which causes difficulty or failure to achieve orgasm despite adequate sexual stimulation.
“What often increases is health-related quality of life,” he says. “If it increases as you get older, you’re generally doing much better.”
Possible disadvantages
Still, aging changes how our bodies process many substances, including cannabis. This may mean that older adults are at greater risk of dangerous uncomfortable side effects corresponding to falls. Cannabis may also interact with prescription and over-the-counter medications, that are more commonly utilized by adults 50 and older than younger people.
“Cannabis use can help you take some medications,” he says, “but at the same time, older adults are often on prescriptions and want to be careful to avoid drug reactions.”
The National Poll on Healthy Aging also showed that one-fifth of older adults are unaware that many cannabis products today are stronger than they were in a long time past. This alone increases the chance of troublesome drug interactions and falls.
“Three bong hits is now like 20 to 30 bong hits,” he says. People over 50 also often get cannabis from their friends or adult children, “who don’t know that older people should start very gently”. Dr. Grinspoon says that staff at marijuana dispensaries are sometimes untrained and “don’t know that older people should get very low doses.”
Embrace cannabis? Tell your doctorMore older adults could also be using cannabis than previously, but there may be an alarming gap between the number doing so and the proportion telling their doctors about it. According to 2024 data from the National Poll on Healthy Aging, only 44% of people that repeatedly use medication have discussed it with their health care provider. But Dr. Peter Grinspoon, a primary care physician and cannabis specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital, believes the true percentage of people that withhold this information from their doctor is even higher. However, transparency is very important for a lot of reasons, especially because many commonly used prescribed drugs could cause unexpected or dangerous uncomfortable side effects with cannabis. Cannabis may also mix badly with alcohol or over-the-counter medications and increase the chance of falls. You may worry that your health care provider will disapprove, but Dr. Grinspoon urges individuals who use cannabis to be open with their doctors about any discomfort. “You need to bring it up, because if you don’t you’re reducing your health,” he says. “It’s much more likely to lead to a worse outcome. And over the years, doctors have been getting better at getting that information.” |
Security strategy
These aspects may explain why JAMA Internal Medicine The study also showed that between 2008 and 2021, medical visits related to cannabis use increased greater than 27-fold amongst adults age 65 and older. “Most of it was related to accidental overdose,” says Dr. Grinspoon.
Dr. Grinspoon points out that cannabis use is mostly safer than alcohol consumption, which was linked to greater than 178,000 deaths within the United States last 12 months. He believes that cannabis, used judiciously, can enhance people’s well-being. “It doesn’t really affect the outcome of many diseases,” he says. “But for many people, it reduces the symptoms, effectively solving the problem.”
Dr. Grinspoon offers this guidance:
Start low, go slow. If you are latest to cannabis, start using CBD products. If you are trying THC for the primary time, select products that contain just one to 2.5 milligrams per serving. “It’s important to be very careful with your diet,” he says.
Avoid smoking it. Marijuana smoke incorporates carbon monoxide and benzene, that are linked to cancer. “Use tinctures and edibles instead,” he says.
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