Marijuana Use by Older Adults

Researchers at the University of Michigan found that in 2024, 21% of adults aged 50 and older used cannabis in some form, from smoking to consuming edibles. Here in southwestern Michigan, the number of stores where you can walk in and buy edibles is the same as picking up a candy treat at the supermarket. Within 15 miles of my house, there are 10 dispensary outlets selling various forms of over-the-counter cannabis. There’s a common misconception that if something can be bought in a store, it must not be harmful, but the facts on marijuana use by older adults dispute that.

A study of emergency room visits in California from 2005 to 2019 found a 1,804% increase in cannabis-related ER visits among people aged 65 and over. In Canada, cannabis was legalized in 2020, and ER visits by older adults have skyrocketed since then. Marijuana use by older adults may suggest they are unaware of the significant increase in potency of pot products compared to their younger days.

The use of marijuana dates back as far as 2,700 B.C. Marijuana is a drug, and any drug can have side effects that vary from person to person. Recreational drugs often cause problems with medications a person may be taking. The fact is that using marijuana in any form is risky, and there is still much we don’t understand about the long-term effects of this popular drug.

— John N. Clayton © 2025

Reference: AARP Bulletin for July/August 2025, page 32.