“Older adults are well aware of the litany of adverse side-effects associated with available prescription drugs, like opioids or sleep aids, and they see medical cannabis as a practical and potentially safer alternative.”
Category: Seniors
“Older adults are well aware of the litany of serious adverse side-effects associated with available prescription drugs, like opioids or sleep aids, and they see medical cannabis as a practical and potentially safer alternative.”
“Many older adults struggle with pain, anxiety, restless sleep, and other conditions for which cannabis products often mitigate. Many older adults are also well aware of the litany of serious adverse side-effects associated with available prescription drugs, like opioids or sleep aids, and they perceive medical cannabis to be a practical and potentially safer alternative.”
More than one-third of older consumers (34 percent) reported using cannabis products four or more days per week.
The survey’s findings are consistent with those of others reporting rising rates of cannabis use among older adults and seniors.
“Most older adults in the sample initiated [their] cannabis use after the age of 60 years and used it primarily for medical purposes to treat pain, sleep disturbance, anxiety, and/or depression.”
“In this sample of individuals with neuropathic pain, no significant differences were found in cognitive performance between non-MC [medical cannabis] licensed and licensed patients.”
The increase in seniors’ self-reported use of cannabis coincides with rising public support for marijuana legalization among older Americans.