Marijuana use among older adults in the US has reached a new high, according to a recent study. In 2023, about 7% of adults aged 65 and older reported using marijuana in the past month, up from 4.8% in 2021. The trend is particularly noticeable among college-educated individuals, those with higher incomes, and women.
The study found that older adults with annual incomes over $75,000 had lower rates of use in 2021 but significantly higher rates by 2023. Conversely, those with college or postgraduate degrees reported the highest usage rate at 8.3%. The researchers also discovered a strong correlation between marijuana use and chronic diseases.
The increase in marijuana use among older adults is partly attributed to medical cannabis being legal in more states, potentially increasing availability and social acceptability. However, high-income individuals surprisingly showed higher rates of use by 2023, possibly due to access to medical cannabis.
Source: https://www.aarp.org/health/drugs-supplements/rising-marijuana-use-in-older-adults.html