Federal survey data compiled by the University of Michigan show that cannabis use among older Americans has reached a new high. Nearly 22 percent of people ages 55 to 65 said they used cannabis in the previous 12 months, the highest percentage ever recorded by the survey.
That is more than 1 in 5 older adults, a level that marks a clear shift in how this age group is using the drug. Fifteen percent of older adults said they used a cannabis product in the past 30 days, while 4 percent said they had consumed products derived from hemp, showing that use is not just recent but active.
The search interest around smoking and cannabis is being driven by that record and by what it says about older consumers. Paul Armentano said a growing share of adults now see cannabis as a practical option later in life, especially because many older people live with pain, anxiety, sleep disturbances and other conditions. He said they are also aware of the serious side effects tied to prescription drugs such as opioids or sleep aids, and view medical cannabis as a potentially safer alternative.
The survey also points to a broader change in behavior among adults. About 30 percent of respondents ages 35 to 50 said they had used cannabis during the past year, and the findings were described as consistent with AARP and others reporting rising use among older adults and seniors. Separate survey data in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health found that most older adults hold positive views of cannabis, and many studies link marijuana products with quality-of-life improvements and reduced prescription drug use among seniors.
There is, however, one reason the numbers do not tell a simple story. While cannabis use is climbing among older adults, the percentage of adults who identify as current alcohol consumers continues to fall to historic lows, suggesting that some older people may be substituting one habit for another rather than simply adding a new one. The report does not say exactly what pushed use among Americans ages 55 to 65 to a record level, but it leaves little doubt that the shift is real and still building.
