1 in 8 older adults use cannabis; experts urge screening

1 in 8 older adults use cannabis; experts urge screening
McKnight’s Long Term Care News
December 8, 2023
Cannabis use in older adults is on the rise and clinicians should screen for it, according to a new study. A report on people ages 50 through 80 finds that 12% of older adults say they’ve consumed a substance that contains delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the past year. Additionally, 4% of people in that age group say they have substances that include THC multiple times a week. ... The new findings were published in Cannabis and Cannabinoids Research last month by a team from the University of Michigan’s Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation. Authors of the report said that people taking the products need more education on them, and older adults need to be screened for cannabis-related risks. ... The poll asked about products containing THC, but didn’t differentiate between medical and recreational use of cannabis.