Age-Related Differences in Cannabis Product Use.

Area of Science:

• Cannabis research
• Public health
• Gerontology

Background:

• Cannabis use patterns are known to vary by age and gender.
• Less information is available regarding specific cannabis product choices across different demographics.
• Existing research suggests a generational divide in product preference, with older adults favoring traditional products and younger individuals preferring novel options.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between participant age and the types of cannabis products used.
• To identify age-related differences in the selection of various cannabis products.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of cross-sectional, retrospective data from 1406 participants (71.3% female).
• Examination of usage rates for a comprehensive list of cannabis products, including loose flower, pre-rolled joints, edibles, concentrates, vape pens, dry vaporizers, tinctures, topicals, and ingestible oils.

Main Results:

• Lowest usage rates were observed for cannabis-infused ingestible oils, topicals, and tinctures, with no significant age or gender differences.
• Use of pre-rolled joints, vape pens, and edibles decreased with increasing age.
• Usage of loose flower and dry vaporizers also showed a decrease with age, though less consistently.

Conclusions:

• Significant age-related variations exist in cannabis product choices.
• Findings can inform targeted prevention and treatment strategies for specific age groups.
• Harm-reduction efforts for loose flower and edibles are beneficial across all ages, while concentrate-focused efforts may be best suited for younger users. Older medical users may benefit from understanding concentrates due to their potency and rapid effects.