Medical Marijuana and Older Adults: Less Stigmatization And More Use

It is remarkable how many patients with silver hair are discussing the pros and cons of medical cannabis. Patients in this group include patients in their 60s who have kidney disease and can't take pain medication. They also include patients in their 90s who want to get a good night of sleep but are concerned about the side effects of traditional sleeping pills. Many of these patients, often "children of the 60s", are comfortable with medical marijuana. 

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that cannabis use among seniors (defined as those 65 years and older) has been increasing steadily. The prevalence of past-year use was found to have increased from 2.4% up to 4.2% between 2015 and 2018. This is consistent with other research and with reports from doctors who recommend cannabis as part of their daily practice.

This trend: What could be the reason?

It seems that a combination of factors is responsible for the decline in the stigma surrounding cannabis use and the increase in interest in medical marijuana use by older patients. Although stigma is complex, most people would agree that there is less stigma surrounding cannabis use, particularly for medical marijuana. In a recent poll, 94% of Americans voiced support for legal access to medical marijuana, and most states have approved some form of legal access.

One marker for the decrease in stigma is the recent statement by the 38 million-member AARP, in which they declared their support for the medical use of marijuana for older adults in states that have legalized it, in close consultation with their medical providers, where they can discuss the most up-to-date clinical evidence, weighing the balance of benefits and harms.

What are the conditions for which older adults use cannabis?

Studies show that older adults commonly use medical cannabis for the same conditions younger patients do: pain, insomnia, neuropathy, and anxiety.

What are the potential risks to older patients who use medical cannabis?

This is a new area. Either there aren't many older adults reporting using medical cannabis or they keep it quiet due to its illegality or stigma. Although medical cannabis is generally well-tolerated among older adults, there are always side effects to be aware of.

Cardiac health & cannabis use

According to a review published by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, cannabis is known to raise heart rate and blood pressure. However, there isn't much, if any, quality evidence linking cannabis use to coronary events. The review authors recommend that anyone with coronary disease is screened for cannabis use. The scenario that I would be most concerned about is an older patient, with underlying coronary disease, taking a very high dosage of cannabis (perhaps by mistake via edibles) and then having an anxiety attack, which could trigger a coronary syndrome or an arrhythmia. If you are in the DC area and would like medical marijuana delivered to your door contact us today!