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Cannabis use by older adults is on the rise. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from 2002 to 2014, cannabis use among those 55 to 64 years old rose from 1.1% of the population to 6.1 %.
As the baby boom generation has only recently begun to reach senior citizen status and as medical and recreational cannabis use is increasingly decriminalized across the country, the proportion of older adults using cannabis could continue to grow and approach rates currently observed in younger age groups.
Medical issues may help explain the rise in senior cannabis usage. Some older adults are experiencing age related health problems such as glaucoma, nausea, neurologic diseases, neuropathic pain and cancer symptoms. These health problems can be treated with medical cannabis. Many seniors are on multiple medications and find cannabis as a better alternative to remembering to take multiple pills a day.
In this issue you will read articles that all pertain to seniors and how cannabis benefits them. Let’s continue to educate and bring awareness to medical cannabis, which is an option for everyone no matter your age.
We appreciate your support and are so happy to have you as a reader of CANNAHEALTH Magazine.
Warmest Thanks,
Ciara Jenkins BSN, RN, Co-Editor
Brittany Whiters MSN, RN Co-Editor
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