Lifetime Cannabis Use and Consequences in a Community-Based Sample of Older Adults

Amidst increasing cannabis legalization in the U.S., greater numbers of older adults are using cannabis; however, few studies have examined how older adults who use cannabis vary with respect to how they use it, where they purchase it, and the consequences they experience.

In July-November 2022, we administered a web-based survey to a diverse sample of community-dwelling older adults in New York City who had used cannabis at least once in their lifetimes. We analyzed bivariate differences in location of cannabis purchase and types of use by sociodemographic factors and level of use. Using a multivariable linear model, we assessed which factors were associated with lifetime cannabis-related problem severity.

Of 142 participants, 47.2% reported using cannabis weekly or more frequently. Older adults most commonly reported using joints or blunts and last purchasing cannabis from a friend or a personal connection. When controlling for demographic factors, being concerned with paying rent or mortgage and living in the Bronx compared with other boroughs were associated with a significantly higher lifetime cannabis problem severity, while having Good or Excellent self-reported health was associated with significantly lower lifetime problem severity.

It is important to increase and tailor education for older adults on the specific risks associated with different modes of cannabis use. Future research and harm reduction efforts should prioritize those with housing insecurity and poor self-rated health. Better understanding the social networks of older adults who use cannabis and their neighborhood contexts is an important priority for prevention research.