Cannabis is still illegal federally in the U.S. but that hasn't stopped a number of states from embracing either legalized cannabis for recreational or medicinal purposes. And according to data from the CDC, it looks like the fastest growing demographic of cannabis smokers could be those who are in their 50s and 60s.
Between 2002 and 2014, cannabis use among those who were 55-64 rose from 1.1 percent of the population, to roughly 6.1 percent and that accounts for an overall increase of about 455 percent.
Compare that to cannabis smokers who are 18-25, where their cannabis use saw only a 13 percent increase over the same time frame. And of those cannabis smokers who are over the age of 50, more than half of them reported having used cannabis before the age of 30.
Scientists are now trying to understand why the plant might be more popular with those in their latter years of life, and they've called for more studies to be conducted on cannabis use among seniors.
Is it because more people over 50 years of age are seeking help from cannabis with their age-related health needs? Is it because they are a cannabis-tolerant generation? To date there have been very few studies that have sought to investigate cannabis use among the growing population of elderly smokers.
It's estimated that 1 in 8 adults in the US smokes cannabis and about 13 percent of US adults report being a current cannabis user. Cannabis is a multi-billion dollar industry and as more people become familiarized with the possible benefits that can be derived from this plant, we can assume that more people might become open-minded toward using it.
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sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/ss/ss6511a1.htm?s_cid=ss6511a1_e
http://www.livescience.com/48606-marijuana-maps-of-united-states.html
http://gerontologist.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2017/01/10/geront.gnw166.abstract?sid=52d0ec87-b371-47eb-8e00-1c526af4ce22
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167629615000351
http://www.livescience.com/57504-why-more-older-americans-smoking-marijuana.html
http://www.gallup.com/poll/194195/adults-say-smoke-marijuana.aspx
http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/08/health/marijuana-use-doubles-gallup-poll/
nice post
What could go wrong, more happy senior citizens can't be a bad thing!
I can attest to that!
Timely article!
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That's people that admit smoking pot. I smoked ages 17-71! That's a demographic in itself!
Haha, that's comedy. I don't know anyone who keeps their weed smoking a secret. Or at least is any good at it.
This was a very informative article. Well done! I think the numbers of users is much higher than reported. As a former soldier with a Traumatic Brain Injury, this topic comes up when I get are other veterans with similar injuries to mine.
The US Veterans Administration prohibits the VA doctors from prescribing any form of medical marijuana for any reason. It is still considered a schedule 1 drug which slows government testing/funding for medical benefits. It is sad that our veterans have to suffer because of elite politicians!
I agree with others that the actual figures would be much higher. And I think a big part of it is that us 50+ youngsters were all smoking like chimneys in our youth. I didn't but I was an exception. The joint would be passed around at every party. So now as aches and pains develop, it seems quite a safe, natural pain reliever. But later generations have a much wider range of recreational drugs to choose from, so pot isn't as popular. I believe that here in NZ, for example, P is much more popular now.
the responses are anonymous so it's hard to see it being much higher than it is currently :)
This really doesn't surprise me. My generation, (I'm 60), has been around pot, if not partaking most of our lives. As pot is becoming more and more socially acceptable, and as we reach an age where we might be freer to be honest about it, many might be "coming out of the closet" so to speak.
While many of us have been able to be open about our usage of marijuana, many have been forced by jobs and family pressures to keep it hidden.
Also, there are all those people who have actually abstained for the same reasons. Now that they may be retired and no long have to fear losing a job or their judgemental parents have passed away. They might now feel free to try something they always been curious about.