Growing Cannabis Use Among Seniors

The trend is clear: more seniors are incorporating cannabis into their lives. This shift might partly be due to parties like the one Don Searles attended. At this gathering, he contributed a unique treat—his family's traditional peanut brittle, but with a modern alteration.

"We integrated cannabis into it," Searles explained.

This get-together was organized by Gayle Crawley, 74, at the Trilogy retirement community near San Francisco. Here, the popularity of the golf course is being rivaled by something unexpected.

From 2021 to 2023, JAMA Internal Medicine reported a 46% increase in cannabis use among those aged 65 and older.

Crawley believes that these statistics reflect cannabis as a beneficial option for numerous health conditions.

With marijuana now sanctioned for medical purposes in 40 states and for leisure use in 24 states, societal disapproval is waning faster than ever.

Another participant, Steven Clarke, prefers ingestibles over smoking. His reasoning? "Cannabis alleviates PTSD, pain, and helps with various relaxation and health conditions," he shared with CBS News.

However, the medical community remains divided.

Matt Springer, an expert from UC San Francisco, cautions that THC, the main psychoactive component of cannabis, can pose health threats irrespective of how it is consumed.

"Inhaling cannabis smoke likely harms the cardiovascular system," Springer explained, adding that ingesting THC is still not free from dangers.

Research published in June suggests a correlation between cannabis use and heightened risks: a doubled risk of cardiovascular death, a 29% increase for acute coronary issues, and a 20% rise in stroke risk, based on an analysis of 24 studies conducted from 2016 to 2023.

Searles, who endures chronic pain from a motorcycle crash five years prior, isn't startled by these insights.

"Doctors often advise against many things," he remarked. "In today's world, what isn't considered harmful?"