The study, which was recently published in the prestigious journal JAMA Internal Medicine, offers a granular look at how the landscape of drug use is evolving alongside the legal and social shifts occurring across the nation. Beyond the raw increase in numbers, the findings reveal a surprising transformation in the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of older users. The data suggests that the typical older adult using cannabis today is frequently college-educated, married, and identifies as female—groups that were previously less likely to engage with the substance. Furthermore, the researchers noted a pronounced uptick in use among those with higher household incomes, suggesting that the rising costs associated with legal, regulated cannabis may be influencing who has the means to access it.
Joseph Palamar, PhD, MPH, an associate professor of population health at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine and the study’s senior author, emphasized that the trend is not merely a statistical anomaly but a sustained upward trajectory. While cannabis use has been increasing across nearly all age brackets in the U.S. over the last two decades, the rate of growth among the elderly is particularly striking. Palamar noted that while the overall numbers continue to climb, the internal shifts within the demographic are what truly define this new era of use. The changing profile of the user suggests that the stigma once associated with marijuana is rapidly evaporating, replaced by a new level of social acceptability that transcends traditional socioeconomic barriers.
To arrive at these conclusions, the research team analyzed a massive cache of data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, focusing specifically on the period between 2021 and 2023. This survey is a critical tool for public health officials, providing a representative snapshot of substance use patterns across the American population. For this specific study, the researchers focused on respondents aged 65 and older, specifically looking for "current" use, which is defined as use within the past 30 days.
Benjamin Han, MD, MPH, an associate professor and associate chief of research in the Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Palliative Care at the University of California San Diego, highlighted the technical significance of this study’s methodology. Han, who served as the study’s first author, explained that this research marks the first time scientists have been able to reliably examine "current" use among the 65-plus population. In previous years, the number of older adults reporting marijuana use was so small that researchers were forced to look at "past-year" use to obtain a statistically significant sample. The fact that there are now enough older users to track monthly consumption speaks volumes about how common the practice has become.
