Seniors are now using cannabis at record rates, read this https://cannabis.net/blog/opinion/senior-sparkers-1-in-20-older-americans-say-they-regularly-smoke-cannabis-now

1. 9/6/2020 Senior Sparkers - 1 in 20 Older Americans Say They Regularly Smoke Cannabis Now
https://cannabis.net/blog/opinion/senior-sparkers-1-in-20-older-americans-say-they-regularly-smoke-cannabis-now 2/15

2. 9/6/2020 Senior Sparkers - 1 in 20 Older Americans Say They Regularly Smoke Cannabis Now
https://cannabis.net/blog/opinion/senior-sparkers-1-in-20-older-americans-say-they-regularly-smoke-cannabis-now 3/15
SENIOR SMOKING WEED
Senior Sparkers - 1 in 20 Older Americans
Say They Regularly Smoke Cannabis Now
Older Americans make up the fastest growing group of cannabis users in America
Posted by:
Reginald Reefer, today at 12:00am
1 in 20 Older Americans Say They Regularly Smoke
Cannabis

3. 9/6/2020 Senior Sparkers - 1 in 20 Older Americans Say They Regularly Smoke Cannabis Now
https://cannabis.net/blog/opinion/senior-sparkers-1-in-20-older-americans-say-they-regularly-smoke-cannabis-now 4/15
Cannabis has always been the most popular illicit drug – but could it become the most popular legal drug as well? And
before some of you say, “Cannabis isn’t a drug!” I’m using it in the context that everything is a drug when it alters you in
one way or another. Sugar is a drug. Got it? Good!
All right back to the story.
A recent survey (https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2020/09/01/1-in-20-older-Americans-smoke-pot-regularly-survey-
nds/8551598984977/?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link&ICID=ref_fark) found that more
Americans are admitting that they are smoking cannabis regularly. This particular study focused on those 55-years-old
and up.
About 5% of men and women aged 55 and older said they'd used marijuana or hashish in the previous month between 2016
and 2018, according to an annual federal government survey on potentially risky behaviors.

4. 9/6/2020 Senior Sparkers - 1 in 20 Older Americans Say They Regularly Smoke Cannabis Now
https://cannabis.net/blog/opinion/senior-sparkers-1-in-20-older-americans-say-they-regularly-smoke-cannabis-now 5/15
According to researchers – there many be several reasons why there has been a steady increase in this demographic.
"It could be there are more people using marijuana for medical conditions. It could be there are more using it for recreational
uses. It could be more people acknowledging use, in an environment when it's easier to say that you use products when talking
to someone from the government," said co-researcher Bill Jesdale, an assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts
Medical School, in Worcester. - SOURCE (https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2020/09/01/1-in-20-older-Americans-smoke-
pot-regularly-survey- nds/8551598984977/?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link&ICID=ref_fark)
Within this target demographic – there have been a steady growth since 2016 – 2018. For men it rose from 4.2% to 5.9%.
Note – this isn’t people who admit smoking cannabis in the past – these are people who are consuming cannabis on the
regular.
For women – the rise was far less substantial from 3.2% in 2016 to 3.9% in 2018. It was obvious that the largest spikes
occurred in states that legalized cannabis for recreational purposes for the general population – however, for seniors
the numbers rose across the board.
"Of course, we saw an increase in cannabis use in states where adult use is legal, and we saw an increase in states where
medicinal use is legal, but we also saw an increase in states where there is no legal provision for use of cannabis," Jesdale said.
There may be several reasons for this – however, for the moment it’s all speculative. Perhaps – the a overall perception
of cannabis has become more accepted, or peers are seeing success. Irrespective of the reasoning – it seems that the
older demographics are turning to cannabis despite the legality of cannabis or not.
Concerns for Older People?
While cannabis remains one of the safest therapeutic drugs in the marketplace – in that, it’s side e ects are quite mild
compared to pharmaceutical drugs that treat the same symptoms as cannabis. However – this doesn’t mean that
cannabis cannot interact with other medicines.
In fact, we have written about that here. (https://cannabis.net/blog/medical/how-cannabis-interacts-with-other-
medications)

5. 9/6/2020 Senior Sparkers - 1 in 20 Older Americans Say They Regularly Smoke Cannabis Now
https://cannabis.net/blog/opinion/senior-sparkers-1-in-20-older-americans-say-they-regularly-smoke-cannabis-now 6/15
“There are hundreds of medications that interact with marijuana. For example, there is a concern that use of marijuana may
increase the risk for bleeding in older adults on blood thinners,” Aussem said. “There are only a handful of states that mandate
pharmacist involvement in medical marijuana dispensing, so many older adults are on their own to gure out product
selection, dosing, drug interactions and adverse e ects.”
This could be a problem especially since Older people tend to have a small pharmacy they consume daily combating not
only physical a ictions – but also the side e ects of the medication they are consuming. Thus – while cannabis may be
able to knock several of those medications o – it is imperative that if someone above the age of 60, and who is on a
wide regimen of medications – should consult their doctors rst.
If you’re going to be switching to cannabis – and you’re taking a lot of medication – it would be wise to monitor your
blood levels for toxicity. In most cases – patients have seen only good things when introducing cannabis into their
health regimen. However – this doesn’t mean that we should simply accept that this will happen to you too.
Cannabis works di erently for everyone and while it still remains the safest drugs on the market – it doesn’t mean that
it can’t have an adverse e ect with your current medical regimen.
How to ask your doctor is cannabis is right for you?
Perhaps – you’re considering switching to cannabis. If you’re young and relatively healthy – the switch should be rather
e ortless. However, for those who are switching to cannabis 60+, I recommend speaking to your physician rst.
If you think cannabis can help you, take some research with you to show the doctor. If they are willing to give it a shot –
you’re in good form. However, if you still nd resistance from your physician – except if your life is in danger – then
perhaps you should seek a second opinion.
At the end of the day you are the ultimate authority over your body – and it turns out that our elders are nally starting
to catch on.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA FOR SENIORS, READ MORE...

6. 9/6/2020 Senior Sparkers - 1 in 20 Older Americans Say They Regularly Smoke Cannabis Now
https://cannabis.net/blog/opinion/senior-sparkers-1-in-20-older-americans-say-they-regularly-smoke-cannabis-now 7/15
(https://cannabis.net/blog/news/97-of-elderly-patients-say-cannabis-
makes-them-feel-better-and-decreases-prescription-meds)
MEDICAL MARIJUANA FOR SENIORS IS A BIG HIT FOR ACHES, READ THIS! (https://cannabis.net/blog/news/97-of-
elderly-patients-say-cannabis-makes-them-feel-better-and-decreases-prescription-meds)
OR..
(https://cannabis.net/blog/opinion/how-cannabis-is-making-baby-
boomers-feel-young-but-how-does-it-help-their-aging-bodies)
HOW BABY BOOMERS ARE USING WEED TO HELP THEIR AGING BODIES! (https://cannabis.net/blog/opinion/how-
cannabis-is-making-baby-boomers-feel-young-but-how-does-it-help-their-aging-bodies)

7. 9/6/2020 Senior Sparkers - 1 in 20 Older Americans Say They Regularly Smoke Cannabis Now
https://cannabis.net/blog/opinion/senior-sparkers-1-in-20-older-americans-say-they-regularly-smoke-cannabis-now 8/15
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