Many older California adults hesitated to tell their doctors about medical cannabis use
A mixed-methods study of older adults in California found significant reluctance to disclose medical cannabis use to healthcare providers, driven by stigma and fear of judgment despite legal status.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Older adults frequently did not disclose medical cannabis use to their primary care providers. Barriers included stigma, fear of judgment, perceived provider disapproval, and uncertainty about how disclosure would affect their care.
Key Numbers
California older adults surveyed and interviewed. Significant non-disclosure of medical cannabis use to primary care providers identified.
How They Did This
Mixed methods study (quantitative survey and qualitative interviews) investigating older adults' cannabis use behaviors and attitudes around disclosing medical cannabis use to healthcare providers in California.
Why This Research Matters
Non-disclosure of cannabis use creates safety risks, especially for older adults on multiple medications. If providers do not know about cannabis use, they cannot monitor for drug interactions or adjust treatment plans.
The Bigger Picture
The stigma gap between legal status and social acceptance means many patients keep cannabis use private from the very providers who need to know. This undermines patient safety and prevents informed clinical decision-making.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
California-specific findings in a legal state. Older adults willing to participate in research about cannabis may differ from non-participants. Self-report of disclosure behavior. Mixed methods provides depth but limited generalizability.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would provider-initiated cannabis screening in a non-judgmental framework improve disclosure rates?
- ?Do older adults in newly legalized states disclose less than those in long-legalized states?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Significant non-disclosure of medical cannabis use among older adults despite legal status
- Evidence Grade:
- Mixed-methods study providing both quantitative and qualitative data. Limited by self-selection and single-state focus.
- Study Age:
- Published 2023.
- Original Title:
- Older Adults' Use of Cannabis and Attitudes Around Disclosing Medical Cannabis Use to Their Healthcare Providers in California: A Mixed Methods Study.
- Published In:
- Drugs - real world outcomes, 11(4), 647-658 (2024)
- Authors:
- Abu Baker, Dania, Cruz Rivera, Paola N, Narasimhan, Rekha, Nguyen, Nhi, Tibiriçá, Lize, Kepner, Wayne E, O'Malley, Pearse, Nguyen, Annie L, Moore, Alison A
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05060
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I tell my doctor I use cannabis?
Yes. This study found many older adults do not disclose cannabis use to their doctors, which creates safety risks. Cannabis interacts with many common medications, and older adults are particularly vulnerable to drug interactions. Providers need this information to provide safe care.
Why do older adults hide cannabis use from doctors?
Despite legalization, stigma persists. Participants in this study described fear of judgment, concern about how disclosure would affect their care, and uncertainty about provider attitudes. These barriers prevent the open communication needed for safe medication management.
Read More on RethinkTHC
- CBD-oil-quality-guide
- anxiety-medication-after-quitting-weed
- cannabis-chemotherapy-nausea
- cannabis-chronic-pain-research
- cannabis-epilepsy-CBD-Epidiolex
- cbd-anxiety-research-evidence
- cbd-for-weed-withdrawal
- cbd-vs-thc-difference
- medical-benefits-of-cannabis
- quitting-weed-before-surgery
- quitting-weed-medication-interactions
- quitting-weed-pregnancy
- quitting-weed-pregnant
- seniors-older-adults-cannabis-risks-medications
- weed-breastfeeding-THC-breast-milk
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05060APA
Abu Baker, Dania; Cruz Rivera, Paola N; Narasimhan, Rekha; Nguyen, Nhi; Tibiriçá, Lize; Kepner, Wayne E; O'Malley, Pearse; Nguyen, Annie L; Moore, Alison A. (2024). Older Adults' Use of Cannabis and Attitudes Around Disclosing Medical Cannabis Use to Their Healthcare Providers in California: A Mixed Methods Study.. Drugs - real world outcomes, 11(4), 647-658. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40801-024-00451-0
MLA
Abu Baker, Dania, et al. "Older Adults' Use of Cannabis and Attitudes Around Disclosing Medical Cannabis Use to Their Healthcare Providers in California: A Mixed Methods Study.." Drugs - real world outcomes, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40801-024-00451-0
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Older Adults' Use of Cannabis and Attitudes Around Disclosin..." RTHC-05060. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/abu-2024-older-adults-use-of
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.