Summary: A new national study finds that cannabis use among older Americans rose during the COVID-19 pandemic. About 12% of adults aged 50–80 reported using a THC-containing product in the past year, and 4% reported using cannabis multiple times per week. The research links higher cannabis use to risky alcohol consumption and calls for expanded screening and education for older adults about cannabis-related risks.
Researchers emphasize the need for clinicians and public health officials to screen older patients for cannabis use, especially those who also drink alcohol at risky levels. Potential harms include interactions with prescription medications, increased risk of impaired driving, mental health impacts, falls, and memory problems.
Key Facts:
- Cannabis use increased among U.S. adults aged 50–80 during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 12% reporting past-year use.
- Older adults who drink alcohol at risky levels are substantially more likely to use cannabis, creating elevated combined-risk profiles.
- Healthcare providers should routinely screen older patients for cannabis and discuss possible interactions with medications and alcohol.
Source: University of Michigan
More older Americans reported cannabis use during the pandemic than before it: in a January 2021 national survey, 12% of adults aged 50–80 said they had used a THC-containing product in the past year, and 4% said they used cannabis multiple times per week.
Published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, the study was conducted by the University of Michigan’s Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation (IHPI). The findings reflect responses from 2,023 older adults surveyed in January 2021 as part of the National Poll on Healthy Aging, which IHPI runs with support from AARP and Michigan Medicine.
Lead author Anne Fernandez, Ph.D., an addiction psychologist at the U-M Addiction Center and Department of Psychiatry, noted that the combined effects of pandemic stress and broader state legalization of cannabis likely contributed to the rise in use among older adults. “Older adults are a vulnerable group for cannabis-related harms because cannabis can interact with medications, increase the risk of impaired driving, and contribute to mental health concerns, falls, and memory problems,” Fernandez said.
The 12% past-year rate observed in this study exceeds pre-pandemic estimates: previous research reported 9.5% in 2019 and only 3% in 2006, at a time when far fewer states allowed medical cannabis. A 2017 National Poll on Healthy Aging found 6% of older adults had used cannabis for medical reasons.
Survey respondents were asked about any product containing THC, including edibles, and the question used multiple common names for cannabis. The poll did not distinguish medical from recreational use. Frequency among users varied: one-third of cannabis users reported using products four or more days per week, while others reported monthly or less frequent use.
Demographically, cannabis use was more common among respondents who were unemployed, unmarried or unpartnered, and those who reported drinking alcohol. Notably, respondents who identified as Hispanic were less likely than non-Hispanic white respondents to report cannabis use, consistent with prior studies showing lower use in Latino communities.
A particularly concerning pattern emerged around combined alcohol and cannabis use. Participants whose alcohol consumption reached levels associated with physical or psychological harm were nearly eight times more likely to report past-year cannabis use. Even individuals reporting low-risk alcohol use were more than twice as likely to report cannabis use. Fernandez highlighted that dual-substance users face elevated risks and deserve targeted attention from clinicians and public health programs.
“Research shows using alcohol and cannabis together raises the likelihood of driving while impaired and of experiencing physical and mental health complications, including substance use disorders,” Fernandez said. Routine screening for alcohol, cannabis, and other drug use can help clinicians identify patients who may benefit from counseling, treatment referrals, and risk-reduction strategies.
Fernandez recommends that older adults who choose to use cannabis be transparent with their healthcare providers. Clinicians, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists can evaluate possible interactions between cannabis and commonly prescribed medications, such as treatments for insomnia, depression, anxiety, seizure disorders, opioid-containing pain medications, and blood thinners.
For transparency, the University of Michigan team clarified funding sources: the National Poll on Healthy Aging provided the survey data, and Fernandez holds research support from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (grant AA023869).
Study authors include Anne Fernandez, Lara Coughlin, Erica S. Solway, Dianne C. Singer, Jeffrey T. Kullgren, Matthias Kirch, and Preeti N. Malani. The research article is titled “Prevalence and Frequency of Cannabis Use Among Adults Ages 50–80 in the United States, Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.”
About this cannabis use research
Author: Kara Gavin
Source: University of Michigan
Contact: Kara Gavin – University of Michigan
Image: Image credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Closed access. Title: “Prevalence and Frequency of Cannabis Use Among Adults Ages 50–80 in the United States, Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research” by Anne Fernandez et al.
Abstract
Introduction: Legal access to and attitudes toward cannabis are changing rapidly across the United States, and recent trends indicate rising cannabis use among older adults. Few studies have examined use patterns in this group since 2019, a period that includes major shifts in substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: The National Poll on Healthy Aging surveyed adults aged 50–80 in January 2021 about past-year cannabis use. Multivariable logistic regression identified demographic and health-related factors associated with reported cannabis use.
Results: Among 2,023 participants (52.7% female), 12.1% reported past-year cannabis use. Of those users, 34.2% reported using cannabis products four or more days per week. Cannabis use was less likely among respondents identifying as Hispanic or other non-white races compared with non-Hispanic white respondents, and more likely among unmarried/unpartnered and unemployed individuals. Alcohol consumers were more likely to report cannabis use.
Conclusions: During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than one in 10 U.S. adults aged 50–80 used cannabis, and a substantial share used it frequently. As cannabis access and use continue to expand, clinicians and policymakers should monitor older adult populations for potential risks and consider targeted screening, education, and interventions.