A study conducted by the University of California San Diego’s Department of Medicine, has shown that older people are increasingly using cannabis as a medical treatment.
Published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, the study surveyed 568 Americans, aged 65 and over, at the UC’s Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology. They found that 15% of patients have used cannabis within the past three years and 7% of participants used cannabis regularly.
This is a substantial increase from previous studies.
According to assistant professor and co-author Christopher Kaufmann, the majority of cannabis users picked up pot for medical reasons. He was quoted as saying:
Pain, insomnia, and anxiety were the most common reasons for cannabis use and, for the most part, patients reported that cannabis was helping to address these issues.
Over 61% of cannabis users in the study only started using cannabis after the age of 60, which is consistent with America’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health released in April. In the study of 14,896 people, researchers found that cannabis use in older Americans increased by 75% from 2015 to 2018. To put that in perspective, that’s 4.2% of participants.
While younger generations may prefer a joint, UC San Diego’s study found that only 30% of older cannabis users smoke their cannabis. Just over 35% of older users favor lotions, while another 35% use tinctures – bottled cannabinoids mixed with either alcohol or vinegar.
Older users are also sourcing cannabis differently, with over half buying their bud through a dispensary. Patients are being upfront about their cannabis use.
The study found that 94% told their family, just over 50% told their friends and 41% told their doctors.
As more older cannabis users are speaking to their doctors about cannabis, study author and Division of Geriatrics Chief, Alison Moore, believes evidence-based cannabis information needs to be included in medical school curriculums. Moore also believes doctors should be regularly asking patients “screening questions” about their cannabis use during clinic visits.
Here in Australia, recent research from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners found that the majority of doctors do not feel knowledgeable enough to prescribe medical cannabis. Australia currently has 115 doctors listed as Authorised Prescribers for medical cannabis.
Ultimately, UC’s study shows that more studies targeted at older cannabis users is needed, with Kaufman asking “could cannabis be a safer alternative to treatments such as opioids and benzodiazepines?”
According to prior research, the answer is yes.