1 in 5 Older Adults Have Used Marijuana — and Current Users Show More Depression and Anxiety
In a population-based study of adults 65+, 20% had a history of marijuana use and 5% used recently — primarily for pain and relaxation — with current users showing more depression, anxiety, and functional impairment.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Cannabis research in older adults has mostly relied on convenience samples — people recruited from dispensaries or cannabis clinics who are already enthusiastic users. This study is different: it drew from a random, age-stratified sample of 910 adults aged 65 and older living in a small American town, giving a true population-level picture.
One in five participants reported a lifetime history of marijuana use, and 5% reported recent use. Among current users, the top reasons were pain (41%) and recreation/relaxation (37%) — a practical, unsurprising pattern for this age group.
But the associations with mental health and functioning are where the data gets complicated. Recent marijuana use was associated with cigarette and alcohol use, symptoms of depression and anxiety, and functional impairment. This doesn't mean marijuana caused these problems — it's equally possible that people with depression, anxiety, and functional limitations are more likely to turn to marijuana for relief. The cross-sectional design can't tell us which direction the arrow points.
The cognitive findings add another layer. Recent users did not differ from non-users on basic cognitive screening (Mini-Mental State Examination), but the association with functional impairment on Activities of Daily Living measures raises questions about whether cannabis use affects real-world functioning in ways that brief cognitive tests don't capture.
The demographics of this sample — a small, predominantly non-Hispanic White American town — limit generalizability but provide a clean population-level snapshot that's been missing from the geriatric cannabis literature.
Key Numbers
910 adults aged 65+ (mean age 77, 50% female, mostly non-Hispanic White). 20% lifetime marijuana use. 5% recent use. Reasons: pain (41%), recreation/relaxation (37%). Recent use associated with cigarette use, alcohol use, depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and functional impairment.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional analysis of data from the Monongahela-Youghiogheny Healthy Aging Team (MYHAT) study, an age-stratified random sample of 910 adults aged 65+ from a small town in the USA. Marijuana use assessed by self-report. Mental health screened with modified CES-Depression Scale and GAD screener. Cognition assessed by MMSE and neuropsychological battery. Functioning assessed by OARS ADL/IADL scales and Clinical Dementia Rating.
Why This Research Matters
As cannabis legalization expands, use among older adults is the fastest-growing demographic segment. But most research has studied self-selected users. This population-based approach reveals the actual prevalence (higher than many assume) and the concerning associations with depression, anxiety, and functional impairment that may not be visible in studies of motivated medical cannabis patients.
The Bigger Picture
This complements RTHC-00095 (geriatric sleep cannabis use) by providing a broader view of elderly cannabis use beyond just sleep. Together, these studies show that older adults are using cannabis in significant numbers, often for pain and sleep, but the mental health associations are more complex than 'cannabis helps.' The functional impairment finding is particularly important given the fall risk and medication interaction concerns unique to this age group.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design — cannot determine whether marijuana use causes or results from depression, anxiety, and functional impairment. Predominantly White, small-town American sample limits generalizability. Self-reported marijuana use may be underreported due to stigma, especially in this age group. 5% recent use rate is based on a small absolute number of users, limiting statistical power for subgroup analyses. No data on specific cannabis products, doses, or routes of administration.
Questions This Raises
- ?Does marijuana use in older adults worsen depression and anxiety, or do people with these symptoms self-medicate with marijuana?
- ?Would longitudinal follow-up reveal cognitive changes in elderly cannabis users that cross-sectional studies miss?
- ?How does the association with functional impairment translate to practical outcomes like falls, hospitalizations, or loss of independence?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Population-based cross-sectional study with a well-characterized random sample — stronger than convenience samples but cannot establish causation. The association between current use and mental health symptoms could run in either direction.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2024. Cannabis use among older adults continues to increase with expanding legalization.
- Original Title:
- Marijuana use among community-dwelling older adults: A population-based study.
- Published In:
- International journal of geriatric psychiatry, 39(4), e6086 (2024) — The International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry is a reputable journal focusing on mental health in older populations.
- Authors:
- De Genna, Natacha M(6), Jacobsen, Erin, Ganguli, Mary
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05257
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Read More on RethinkTHC
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05257APA
De Genna, Natacha M; Jacobsen, Erin; Ganguli, Mary. (2024). Marijuana use among community-dwelling older adults: A population-based study.. International journal of geriatric psychiatry, 39(4), e6086. https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.6086
MLA
De Genna, Natacha M, et al. "Marijuana use among community-dwelling older adults: A population-based study.." International journal of geriatric psychiatry, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.6086
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Marijuana use among community-dwelling older adults: A popul..." RTHC-05257. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/de-2024-marijuana-use-among-communitydwelling
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.