The use of cannabis has been on the rise since 2014, when recreational use was legalized in 24 states, Washington DC, and three US territories. As recreational marijuana began being decriminalized, accessibility became significantly easier and the stigma around it began to dissipate. Various forms of THC came to fruition–like gummies, oils, and vapes–and differing THC levels were introduced, growing user audience and interest in its functions beyond just “getting high.” By 2016, most US states had legalized medical marijuana, and curiosity among seniors skyrocketed.  

Cannabis has long had a reputation of transforming users into “lazy stoners” or as a gateway to “harder” drugs, and the stigma limited its potential as an alternative to over-the-counter medicine. Thirty years ago, adults ages 50 to 60 were 20 times less likely to use cannabis, both recreationally or medically. Since its legalization for medical use, cannabis has become an alternative when prescribed medicine doesn’t work as well as it should.  

Additional research done by the University of California San Diego School of Medicine found that pain, insomnia, and anxiety were the most common reasons for cannabis use, with a majority of surveyed patients reporting that it was helping address those conditions and bringing relief to various symptoms. Co-first author Kevin Yang discovered most first-time users were even more likely to tell their doctors about their newfound interest in and use of THC products, creating a different relationship with cannabis than seen before.  

According to the University of Washington’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute (ADAI), aging brings physical changes such as, “hearing impairment, vision changes, [a] slowed reaction time, susceptibility to falls, and cognitive decline,” in addition to other health problems including cardiovascular disease and arthritis. With these health conditions often come a hefty number of prescriptions. An ADAI study shows that cannabis continues to prove itself as a safe alternative, positively impacting older adults who use it outside of recreational purposes.