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TOPLINE
In a survey of adults aged 65 years or older in New York City, many reported recent use of cannabis. Adverse effects were common, and a notable proportion met the criteria for cannabis use disorder.
METHODOLOGY
- Researchers conducted a cross-sectional survey to examine the use of cannabis in the past year and cannabis use disorder among older adults.
- They included 315 adults aged 65 years or older (mean age, 73.4 years; 57.1% women) in New York City between April and December 2025.
- The survey included questions on demographics; use of cannabis and other substances; modes and reasons for the use of cannabis; and adverse effects.
TAKEAWAY
- Overall, 22.2% of participants reported using cannabis in the past year, 16.2% in the past month, and 11.1% in the past day. Among those who used cannabis in the past year, 32.9% met the criteria for cannabis use disorder.
- Most users (74.3%) smoked cannabis, 35.7% ate it, and 15.7% vaped it. Reasons for use most often included getting high (60.0%), easing tension (55.7%), and aiding sleep (52.9%).
- The most common side effects included dry mouth (41.4%), drowsiness or tiredness (18.6%), and anxiety (11.4%).
- Older age and female sex were linked to lower odds of using cannabis, whereas cigarette smoking in the past year was linked to higher odds (P < .01 for all).
IN PRACTICE
"Education should focus on epidemiology and prevalence of use, age-related vulnerabilities, drug-drug interactions, adverse effects, and risk of CUD [cannabis use disorder]," the researchers wrote.
SOURCE
The study was led by Benjamin H. Han, MD, University of California San Diego School of Medicine. It was published online on September 09 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
LIMITATIONS
The study did not provide estimates at the population level. Researchers did not assess the potency of the cannabis products participants used. The cross-sectional design prevented establishing any cause-effect relationships.
DISCLOSURES
The study received funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Additional support was provided in part by the University of California San Diego Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging. One author reported consulting for the Washington-Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program.
This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
