The New York Times has dedicated another feature article to the greatly expanding universe of seniors who are turning to marijuana as an alternative to pharmaceuticals for a variety of ailments, sleep challenges, or anxiety relief.
Author Christina Caron is a writer for the New York Times Well section. She explains that the percentage of seniors (people over 65) who have reported using cannabis year over year has skyrocketed. She quotes data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health between 2007 and 2022.
To add further context to her story, she also interviewed a number of seniors about the reasons for their use of cannabis. Some had consumed cannabis for decades (Older Stoners) while others were very new to leveraging the power of the plant.
In some cases, years of recreational use evolved into more directed cannabis consumption to battle conditions that range from insomnia to pain relief.
Caron’s piece also points to the potential negative aspects of over-consumption and an increase in emergency room visits associated with Seniors and cannabis. The message remains to start very slowly and consult with a doctor and people who know more than you to ensure you’re not going to have a negative experience. Additionally, she correctly points to the fact that purchasing lab tested cannabis products through licensed dispensaries can remove many of the uncertainties
As mentioned in the beginning, the Times has written other articles on Cannabis use among seniors. Here’s one from March of 2021 entitled “Lighting Up Later In Life”.