Cannabis Use Skyrocketing Among Older Adults, But Stigmas Still Persist
Cannabis use among older adults and seniors in the United States is rising faster than any other age group, a new study finds, but many feel accessing and learning about the drug has been somewhat difficult.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus say that there are 10 times as many cannabis users over 65 years old compared to earlier studies, according to figures from the 2016 National Survey of Drug Use and Health. The researchers wanted to understand how older adults perceived cannabis, how they consumed it and why, and any negative outcomes because of marijuana use.
“Older adults who use marijuana are ingesting it in a variety of ways for multiple purposes,” says co-author Sara Honn Qualls, a professor of psychology and director of the Gerontology Center at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, in a statement. “This and other papers from the same project show...
