Most older adults using cannabis started after age 60 and used it primarily for pain and sleep | Research

The takeaway

Among 568 adults aged 65+, 15% used cannabis, with 61% starting after age 60 and 78% using for medical purposes, most commonly pain (73%), sleep problems (29%), and anxiety (24%).

Geriatricians, primary care providers, pharmacists, and older adults considering cannabis.

61% of older cannabis users started after age 60

What the researchers found

15% of geriatric clinic patients used cannabis. Most used for medical purposes (78%), primarily pain/arthritis (73%), sleep disturbance (29%), anxiety (24%), and depression (17%). Over three-quarters found cannabis helpful. Late-onset users (age 61+, comprising 61%) showed less risky patterns including more medical use and less smoking.

Why it matters

With cannabis use growing fastest among older adults, understanding their usage patterns, motivations, and disclosure behaviors helps clinicians provide appropriate guidance.

The numbers in context

Total surveyed: 568. Cannabis users: 83 (15%). Medical use only: 78%. Pain/arthritis: 73%. Sleep: 29%. Anxiety: 24%. Depression: 17%. First use after 60: 61%. Regular use (daily/weekly): 53%. CBD-only products: 46%. Family aware: 94%. Doctor aware: 41%.

How the study worked

Anonymous survey of 568 adults aged 65+ at a geriatrics clinic assessing cannabis use characteristics, purposes, administration methods, perceived helpfulness, and disclosure patterns.

What this study cannot tell us

Single geriatrics clinic in one location. Self-selected respondents may over- or under-represent cannabis users. Self-reported helpfulness without objective measures. Cross-sectional design.

How to read the evidence

Reasonable survey sample from a clinical setting, though single-site and self-reported.

When this study was published

Published in 2021.

The bigger picture

The fact that only 41% of older cannabis users told their healthcare provider raises concerns about drug interactions and unmonitored use, especially given the high rate of CBD use which can interact with common medications.

Questions still open

Why do fewer than half of older cannabis users disclose use to their doctors? What drug interactions are going undetected in this population?

Common questions

Why do older adults use cannabis?

In this study, 73% used it for pain/arthritis, 29% for sleep problems, 24% for anxiety, and 17% for depression. Most (78%) used it exclusively for medical purposes.

Do older cannabis users tell their doctors?

Only 41% reported their healthcare provider knowing about their use, compared to 94% of family members, raising concerns about unmonitored drug interactions.

Read the original research

Cannabis: An Emerging Treatment for Common Symptoms in Older Adults.

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 69(1), 91-97

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Yang, Kevin H; Kaufmann, Christopher N; Nafsu, Reva; Lifset, Ella T; Nguyen, Khai; Sexton, Michelle; Han, Benjamin H; Kim, Arum; Moore, Alison A. (2021). Cannabis: An Emerging Treatment for Common Symptoms in Older Adults.. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 69(1), 91-97. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.16833