Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 Dec;10(4):837-843.
doi: 10.1007/s40429-023-00519-x. Epub 2023 Sep 26.

Medical Cannabis Use and Its Impact on Health Among Older Adults: Recent Research Findings and Future Directions

Yan Wang  1 , Kendall R Robinson  1 , Hannah Fechtel  1 , Alexis Hartog  2
Affiliations

Medical Cannabis Use and Its Impact on Health Among Older Adults: Recent Research Findings and Future Directions

Yan Wang et al. Curr Addict Rep. 2023 Dec.

Abstract

Purpose of review: With the rapidly changing landscape of state level legalization of cannabis, older adults have become one of the fastest growing populations seeking medical cannabis (MC). However, research evidence on the risks and benefits of MC use in this population remains limited. This review aims to synthesize recent literature on the impacts of MC use in older adults and identify critical knowledge gaps to be addressed in future research.

Recent findings: Recent literature showed that older adults often face financial and/or educational barriers and stigma associated with MC access. Emerging data showed that MC may have therapeutic effects on symptoms of conditions such as chronic pain, insomnia, anxiety/depression, dementia, nausea, and vomiting. However, available evidence is inconsistent and tends to rely on self-report and uncontrolled studies. While some adverse events associated with MC use were reported, it is generally well tolerated in older adults. Neurocognitive and psychological consequences and cardiovascular risks have been reported but again only in limited studies with inconsistent findings.

Summary: There is a need for more systematic and rigorous research on MC in older adults to determine its safety and efficacy. Research on dosing procedures and product characteristics, as well as how these may impact health outcomes, is crucial. More consistent evidence is needed to inform policy changes and patient/physician education to minimize potential risks and optimize benefits among older adults seeking MC as an alternative treatment.

Keywords: Cannabinoids; Medical cannabis; Medical marijuana; Older adults.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest The authors declare no competing interests.

References

    1. Abouk R, Adams S. Examining the relationship between medical cannabis laws and cardiovascular deaths in the US. Int J Drug Policy. 2018. Mar;53:1–7. 10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.11.022. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Bobitt J, Qualls SH, Schuchman M, Wickersham R, Lum HD, Arora K, et al. Qualitative analysis of cannabis use among older adults in Colorado. Drugs Aging. 2019;36(7):655–66. 10.1007/s40266-019-00665-w. - DOI - PubMed

    2. A qualitative analysis from focus groups on perceptions of cannabis use and use outcomes within individuals over 60.

    1. Choi NG, DiNitto DM, Marti CN, Choi BY. Associations of healthcare service utilization with cannabis use status, use reasons, and use characteristics among those age 50 and older. J Appl Gerontol. 2022;41(5):1385–96. 10.1177/07334648211069997. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Hudson A, Hudson P. Risk factors for cannabis-related mental health harms in older adults: a review. Clin Gerontol. 2021;44(1):3–15. 10.1080/07317115.2020.1808134. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Kaufmann CN, Kim A, Miyoshi M, Han BH. Patterns of medical cannabis use among older adults from a cannabis dispensary in New York state. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res. 2022;7(2):224–30. 10.1089/can.2020.0064. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources