Older Daily Cannabis Users Consumed Less THC and Fewer Concentrates, but Had Similar Disorder Rates Per Dose | Research

The takeaway

Among over 4,000 daily cannabis users, middle-aged and older adults used less potent methods and consumed fewer milligrams of THC, but their rate of cannabis use disorder per milligram consumed was similar to younger users.

Older cannabis users, healthcare providers treating older adults, and researchers studying age-related substance use patterns.

Despite using less THC and fewer concentrates, older adults' CUD risk per mg was similar to younger users

What the researchers found

Over 70% of daily users across all ages used cannabis for both medical and recreational reasons. Middle-aged adults were more likely to report medical-only use than younger adults (18.1% vs 13.7%). High-potency concentrate use declined with age. While middle-aged and older adults endorsed fewer CUD criteria overall, the relationship between mg THC consumed and CUD severity did not differ significantly by age.

Why it matters

Cannabis use is rising fastest among older adults, who are often assumed to be at lower risk. This study shows that while they use differently, their vulnerability to cannabis use disorder per unit of THC may be the same as younger users.

The numbers in context

4,134 daily users. 70%+ used for both medical and recreational. Middle-aged medical-only: 18.1% vs 13.7% younger (p<0.05). Older adults recreational-only: 15.8% vs 10.5% middle-aged (p=0.002). Concentrate use declined with age (p=0.027). Age effects on CUD-THC relationship were not statistically significant.

How the study worked

Online survey of 4,134 US adults (45.9% male) who reported daily cannabis use, with comparisons across three age groups (18-49, 50-64, 65+). Assessed consumption patterns, methods, reasons for use, daily mg THC, and DSM-5 CUD criteria. Regression models adjusted for sex and reasons for use.

What this study cannot tell us

Cross-sectional online survey with self-selected sample of daily users. Self-reported CUD criteria may differ from clinical assessment. THC quantity estimation is inherently imprecise. Only included daily users, not occasional users.

How to read the evidence

Moderate: large sample with THC quantification and validated CUD measures, though cross-sectional design and self-selected online sample limit generalizability.

When this study was published

2025 study.

The bigger picture

The assumption that older cannabis users are lower-risk may be misleading. While they choose less potent products and consume less, their dose-response relationship for developing problematic use patterns appears similar to younger adults.

Questions still open

Should screening for cannabis use disorder be more emphasized in older adult healthcare? Do older adults underreport CUD symptoms? Would age-tailored interventions improve outcomes for older cannabis users?

Common questions

Do older adults use cannabis differently than younger adults?

Yes. They use fewer concentrates, consume less total THC, are more likely to cite medical reasons, and less likely to cite recreational-only reasons compared to younger daily users.

Are older cannabis users safer because they use less?

They consume less, but their rate of developing cannabis use disorder per milligram of THC consumed was not significantly different from younger users, suggesting similar biological vulnerability.

Read the original research

Age Differences in Cannabis Consumption Patterns and in Associations Between Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Intake and Cannabis Use Disorders Among Adults with Daily Use.

Cannabis and cannabinoid research

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Livne, Ofir; Borodovsky, Jacob; Budney, Alan J; Wisell, Caroline G; Habib, Mohammad I; Struble, Cara A; Chen, Lynn; Liu, Jun; Wall, Melanie; Aharonovich, Efrat; Hasin, Deborah S. (2025). Age Differences in Cannabis Consumption Patterns and in Associations Between Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Intake and Cannabis Use Disorders Among Adults with Daily Use.. Cannabis and cannabinoid research. https://doi.org/10.1177/25785125251360976