One in Ten Older Veterans Used Cannabis, and Over a Third of Users Screened Positive for Cannabis Use Disorder | Research

The takeaway

Among 4,503 older veterans (65-84), 10.3% used cannabis in the past month, with over a third of current users screening positive for cannabis use disorder, particularly those who smoked rather than used edibles.

Healthcare providers treating older adults, VA clinicians, addiction medicine specialists, older cannabis users.

36.3% of older veteran users screened positive for CUD

What the researchers found

Of 4,503 veterans aged 65-84, 58.2% had ever used cannabis. Past 30-day use was 10.3%, with 52.4% of users consuming on 20+ days per month. Smoking (72.4%) and edibles (36.9%) were most common. Among current users, 36.3% screened positive for cannabis use disorder (CUD). Inhaled use (vs edibles only) was associated with 3.56-fold higher odds of CUD. Pain (56.4%), mood/mental health (18.4%), and sleep (16.0%) were the top medical reasons.

Why it matters

Cannabis use among older adults has been underexplored. This JAMA study reveals that use prevalence among older veterans rivals tobacco use, and the high rate of CUD screening, particularly among smokers, suggests many older users may be developing problematic use patterns that go undetected without routine screening.

The numbers in context

4,503 participants. Mean age 73.3 years. 85.4% male. 58.2% ever used. 10.3% past 30-day use. 52.4% of users on 20+ days/month. Smoking: 72.4%. Edibles: 36.9%. CUD: 36.3% of users. Pain: 56.4% of medical users. Inhaled vs edibles CUD odds: aOR 3.56.

How the study worked

Cross-sectional study of 4,503 community-dwelling veterans aged 65-84 using Veterans Health Administration care, interviewed February 2020-August 2023. Cannabis use disorder assessed using DSM-5 criteria (2+ criteria). Weighted multivariable logistic regressions examined factors associated with use and CUD. Published in JAMA Network Open.

What this study cannot tell us

Veteran population (overwhelmingly male) may not represent general older adult population. Cross-sectional design cannot establish causation between route and CUD. CUD screening criteria may perform differently in older adults. Self-reported use may underestimate actual consumption.

How to read the evidence

Strong: large nationally representative veteran sample (N=4,503) published in JAMA with validated CUD assessment and weighted analyses.

When this study was published

2025 study (data from 2020-2023)

The bigger picture

As cannabis legalization expands and the population ages, the number of older adults using cannabis is growing rapidly. This study challenges the assumption that older adult use is low-risk: over a third of current users met CUD criteria, and the strong association between smoking route and CUD suggests that how cannabis is consumed matters as much as whether it is consumed.

Questions still open

Why is inhaled cannabis so much more strongly associated with CUD than edibles? Would routine CUD screening in VA clinics improve outcomes for older users? Are current CUD diagnostic criteria appropriate for older adults using cannabis medically?

Common questions

How common is cannabis use among older adults?

Among veterans aged 65-84, 10.3% used cannabis in the past month, approaching tobacco use prevalence. More than half had ever used cannabis, and most current users consumed it 20+ days per month.

Is smoking cannabis riskier than edibles for older adults?

Smoking was associated with 3.56 times higher odds of cannabis use disorder compared to edible-only use. This suggests the route of consumption may influence the risk of developing problematic use patterns.

Read the original research

Cannabis Use Among Older Adults.

JAMA network open, 8(5), e2510173

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Pravosud, Vira; Lum, Emily; Vali, Marzieh; Cohen, Beth E; Hoggatt, Katherine J; Byers, Amy L; Austin, Peter C; Walter, Louise C; Hasin, Deborah; Zaman, Tauheed; Keyhani, Salomeh. (2025). Cannabis Use Among Older Adults.. JAMA network open, 8(5), e2510173. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.10173