Vancouver, Canada: More than two-thirds of older adults who consume cannabis for mental health conditions say that it helps manage their symptoms, according to survey data published in the journal Aging.
Canadian investigators reviewed anonymous survey responses from 1,615 older (age 50+) adults, 20 percent of whom acknowledged using cannabis to treat mental health symptoms. (Cannabis has been legally available in Canada for those 18 and older since 2018.)
Respondents were most likely to report consuming cannabis products to mitigate symptoms of anxiety, insomnia, and depression.
Most respondents (71 percent) said that cannabis was “somewhat or extremely helpful” for treating their symptoms and over half (57 percent) perceived cannabis to be “more or somewhat more effective” than traditional pharmaceuticals.
“Approximately one in five older Canadians reported using cannabis, at least in part, to manage mental health symptoms, the majority of whom have a positive view of its effectiveness and safety profile,” the study’s authors concluded. “Additional research in older populations is required to determine the effectiveness of cannabis for mental health conditions and cannabis safety in the aging body and with concomitant medications commonly used by this population. As there is a growing number of older adults using cannabis, healthcare providers must inquire about cannabis use, particularly for those with mental health conditions or experiencing symptoms that may be attributable to or impacted by cannabis, such as impaired cognition or balance.”
Prior surveys conducted in the United States and Canada indicate that an increasing percentage of adults are consuming cannabis products, with most saying that it improves their overall quality of life.
Full text of the study, “Characterization of the use and perceptions of cannabis for mental health in older Canadians: A cross-sectional analysis,” appears in Aging. Additional information is available from the NORML Fact Sheet, ‘Cannabis Use by Older Adult Populations.’