1 in 20 Older Americans Say They Regularly Smoke Cannabis

seniors smoking weed

Cannabis has always been the most popular illicit drug – but could it become the most popular legal drug as well? And before some of you say, “Cannabis isn’t a drug!” I’m using it in the context that everything is a drug when it alters you in one way or another. Sugar is a drug. Got it? Good!

All right back to the story.

A recent survey found that more Americans are admitting that they are smoking cannabis regularly. This particular study focused on those 55-years-old and up.

About 5% of men and women aged 55 and older said they'd used marijuana or hashish in the previous month between 2016 and 2018, according to an annual federal government survey on potentially risky behaviors.

According to researchers – there many be several reasons why there has been a steady increase in this demographic.

"It could be there are more people using marijuana for medical conditions. It could be there are more using it for recreational uses. It could be more people acknowledging use, in an environment when it's easier to say that you use products when talking to someone from the government," said co-researcher Bill Jesdale, an assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, in Worcester. - SOURCE

Within this target demographic – there have been a steady growth since 2016 – 2018. For men it rose from 4.2% to 5.9%.

Note – this isn’t people who admit smoking cannabis in the past – these are people who are consuming cannabis on the regular.

For women – the rise was far less substantial from 3.2% in 2016 to 3.9% in 2018. It was obvious that the largest spikes occurred in states that legalized cannabis for recreational purposes for the general population – however, for seniors the numbers rose across the board.

"Of course, we saw an increase in cannabis use in states where adult use is legal, and we saw an increase in states where medicinal use is legal, but we also saw an increase in states where there is no legal provision for use of cannabis," Jesdale said.

There may be several reasons for this – however, for the moment it’s all speculative. Perhaps – the a overall perception of cannabis has become more accepted, or peers are seeing success. Irrespective of the reasoning – it seems that the older demographics are turning to cannabis despite the legality of cannabis or not.

Concerns for Older People?

While cannabis remains one of the safest therapeutic drugs in the marketplace – in that, it’s side effects are quite mild compared to pharmaceutical drugs that treat the same symptoms as cannabis. However – this doesn’t mean that cannabis cannot interact with other medicines.

In fact, we have written about that here.

“There are hundreds of medications that interact with marijuana. For example, there is a concern that use of marijuana may increase the risk for bleeding in older adults on blood thinners,” Aussem said. “There are only a handful of states that mandate pharmacist involvement in medical marijuana dispensing, so many older adults are on their own to figure out product selection, dosing, drug interactions and adverse effects.”

This could be a problem especially since Older people tend to have a small pharmacy they consume daily combating not only physical afflictions – but also the side effects of the medication they are consuming. Thus – while cannabis may be able to knock several of those medications off – it is imperative that if someone above the age of 60, and who is on a wide regimen of medications – should consult their doctors first.

If you’re going to be switching to cannabis – and you’re taking a lot of medication – it would be wise to monitor your blood levels for toxicity. In most cases – patients have seen only good things when introducing cannabis into their health regimen. However – this doesn’t mean that we should simply accept that this will happen to you too.

Cannabis works differently for everyone and while it still remains the safest drugs on the market – it doesn’t mean that it can’t have an adverse effect with your current medical regimen.

How to ask your doctor is cannabis is right for you?

Perhaps – you’re considering switching to cannabis. If you’re young and relatively healthy – the switch should be rather effortless. However, for those who are switching to cannabis 60+, I recommend speaking to your physician first.

If you think cannabis can help you, take some research with you to show the doctor. If they are willing to give it a shot – you’re in good form. However, if you still find resistance from your physician – except if your life is in danger – then perhaps you should seek a second opinion.

At the end of the day you are the ultimate authority over your body – and it turns out that our elders are finally starting to catch on.