More than 11 percent of adults aged 65 and older who reported using cannabis in the past year meet clinical criteria for cannabis use disorder, according to a University of California San Diego analysis of national survey data from 2021 to 2024.
About 11.4% of older adults who used cannabis in the past 12 months meet the diagnostic threshold for cannabis use disorder, translating to roughly one in nine users in that age group (according to the UC San Diego analysis published in the journal Addiction
). Researchers evaluated responses from 21,189 adults aged 65 and older drawn from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
Measuring Cannabis Use Disorder Severity
While the overall prevalence rate reaches double digits, the vast majority of identified cases fall into the mild category.
The most frequently reported criteria among affected seniors include spending a lot of time getting or using cannabis, craving, and tolerance.
- Spending a great deal of time obtaining, using, or recovering from cannabis effects: 74.4%
- Experiencing intense urges, desires, or cravings: 67.5%
- Requiring larger amounts to achieve the same effect, known as tolerance: 48.3%
Edibles Lead Cannabis Use Among Older Adults
Ingesting edible or drinkable products ranks second at 40.5%, while vaping accounts for 15.4% of consumption methods. Men (10.9%) were more likely to use cannabis than females (7.2%). People who used hemp or CBD were not included in the analysis. Over two-thirds (67.4%) of the older adults who used cannabis did so in the past 30 days, suggesting their use was fairly frequent.
Older adults who consumed cannabis on 300 or more days during the previous year were nearly four times more likely to meet diagnostic criteria compared to less frequent users. Researchers also found that the disorder was more common among individuals who reported past-year mental illness, tobacco use, or the consumption of other non-cannabis substances.
Only about 19.9% of older adults who used cannabis in the past year reported that a doctor had recommended some or all of their use.
Talking About Senior Cannabis Use
Asking a doctor to join the discussion can help an older adult hear the concern from a neutral source. Nobody should stop prescribed medicines or change treatment based on this study. For those worried about their own use or a parent’s, SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 offers free, confidential referrals.