Increasing numbers of older Baby Boomers are using marijuana: study

[Achilles]

Increasing numbers of older Baby Boomers are using marijuana: study

By Linda Carroll
Reuters•February 24, 2020

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FILE PHOTO: An employee holds a jar of marijuana on sale at the Greenstone Provisions in Ann Arbor

By Linda Carroll

(Reuters) - In just four years, marijuana use grew by 75% among Americans aged 65 and older, according to a new study, and researchers expressed concern over a lack of information on the potential health implications.

The increase was most pronounced in women, those with higher incomes and more education, according to a report published on Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine.

The findings continue a trend seen over the last decade, said the study's lead author, Benjamin Han, an assistant professor of geriatric medicine and palliative care at the New York University School of Medicine.

"Consider that not even 10 years ago 0.4% of adults 65 and older said they had used marijuana in the past year, and now it's 10 times that at 4%," Han said.

The trend is concerning, Han said, because of the lack of research on the effects of cannabis on older people. Some prescription and even over-the-counter medicines, such as Benadryl, affect older people differently, he said.

It was not known whether the trend is tied to marijuana becoming legally available in a growing number of U.S. states, or if people had been using the drug for many years before turning 65.

Although researchers initially suspected medical issues might have driven the rise in marijuana use among seniors, most appeared to be in relatively good health, Han said.

Researchers looked at four recent years of data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Among 14,896 respondents to the nationally representative survey who were 65 or older, marijuana use increased from 2.4% to 4.2% from 2015 through 2018.

In men, the percentage rose from 3.6% to 4.2%, while for women it jumped from 1.5% to 2.9%. Among college educated seniors, marijuana use over age 65 rose from 2.9% to 6.2%, and in those making $75,000 a year or more, from 2.4% to 5.5%.

The findings underscore the importance of monitoring marijuana use in this growing population, said Ziva Cooper, research director at the UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative, who was not involved with the study.

"Without these data, we wouldn't know what was going on in this age group," she said. "It's the fastest growing one and it's important to study."

It also points to the need for additional research.

"You want to know about the frequency of use, what percentage are using daily, weekly, monthly, and what are the consequences of use in this age group," Cooper said. "Another question is are these people newly initiating use or are they ones who were smoking marijuana in the '60s and '70s and are going back to it now."

(Reporting by Linda Carroll; Editing by Bill Berkrot)




https://www.yahoo.com/news/increasin...160712876.html

[Hoppalong]

Yes can't wait for every state to legalize small amounts of marijuana for recreational use. And NO I did not use it back in the 60's and 70's just now it would be nice to use something natural to fight the pain of arthritis, and I bet THAT is the reason that older folks are smoking marijuana to cut back on the expensive prescription drugs.

[KingsX]

It's the evil end of the age... an increasing number of the whole population engages in evil.

Those who might not engage in evil themselves will tolerate and encourage others who do.

[Off-Grid Organics]

Yes can't wait for every state to legalize small amounts of marijuana for recreational use. And NO I did not use it back in the 60's and 70's just now it would be nice to use something natural to fight the pain of arthritis, and I bet THAT is the reason that older folks are smoking marijuana to cut back on the expensive prescription drugs.

It really is a miracle plant, especially extracting the pure oil...not the gas station "cbd", but from real cannabis; not hemp. From killing cancer to amazing miracles with autism, I've personally witness both to be factual. Abba has Created miracles right at our fingertips.

[Bear]

It should, at minimum, be decriminalized. Putting people in jail and paying to keep them there for smoking weed is insane. We have much larger problems.

[Oscar Wilde]

It's the evil end of the age... an increasing number of the whole population engages in evil.

Those who might not engage in evil themselves will tolerate and encourage others who do.

zeal·ot

/ˈzelət/
noun
noun: zealot; plural noun: zealots

a person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals.


"Evil", you use this word quite often but could you provide your definition for ... reference.

How do you feel about Wild Lettuce, Plantain or Dandelion greens?

O.W.

[cutter]

I am 73 years old. In the 60s I joined the AF at 18, got married at 19 and spent the the year of my 21st birthday in vier nam. I never tried pot until I was 70. I had trouble sleeping and the pills the doctor proscribed made me drowsy for days after taking. My wife and I started making pot cookies out of trim the growers don't need. Now I eat a half a cookie each night and sleep a good 8hrs and wake up refreshed and not drowsy. For me it has been wonderful. It may not be right for everyone but it is better than the drugs the doctor proscribed.