In a new study, researchers found that more U.S. seniors are using the drug now than ever before.
They found the proportion of folks 65 and older who use pot stands at 4.2%, up from 2.4% in 2015.
The research was conducted by a team at New York University.
The NYU researchers analyzed responses from more than 15,000 older adults.
Pot use rose more drastically among specific groups of seniors between 2015 and 2018, including:
Women (93% increase) versus men (58%), although nearly twice as many men use compared with women overall.
College-educated (114% increase) versus high school or less (17%).
Households making more than $75,000 a year (129%) or $20,000 to $49,999 (138%), compared with folks making less than $20,000 (16%) or between $50,000 and $74,999 (3%).
Married seniors (100% increase) versus singles (45%). Marijuana use increased more among seniors with one or fewer chronic health problems (96%) than those with two or more chronic conditions (29%).
The team says older people are more likely to experience pain and other chronic conditions, and marijuana has become increasingly available and acceptable within society.
They think the proportion of aging marijuana users is increasing because older folks are already familiar with pot.
There still are a lot fewer seniors using pot than younger folks. It’s just that marijuana use overall has continued to rise in the United States, affecting nearly all groups of people.
Seniors taking up pot after smoking it back in the day are probably doing so for potential medical benefits, although the survey didn’t ask this question.
The team says the main concern regarding pot use among older adults is that marijuana has become more powerful over the years while their bodies have aged.
Seniors whacked out of their minds on strong pot could fall and hurt themselves, or get into a car wreck.
One author of the study is Joseph Palamar, an associate professor of population health.
The study is published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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