Cannabis Use Is Common Among Older Adults, but Many Rarely Discuss It With Clinicians
A 2024 survey from the University of Michigan found that 21% of U.S. adults age 50 and older had used a cannabis product containing THC at least once in the previous year. Most were occasional users: 9% reported using cannabis once or twice, while 12% used it at least monthly.
The findings come from the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging report, supported by AARP and Michigan Medicine. Conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago in February and March 2024, the national survey included 3,379 adults ages 50 to 101. The survey asked about THC-containing products, including flower, vapes, edibles, beverages and concentrates; CBD-only products were excluded.
The survey does not establish that cannabis use has nearly doubled over a three-year period. Rather, it provides a snapshot of use in 2024, and comparisons with earlier surveys may not be directly equivalent because questions, product definitions and measures of frequency can differ.
Relaxation, sleep and pain are common reasons for use
Among respondents who had used cannabis during the past year, the most frequently cited reason was relaxation, reported by 81%. Other common reasons included helping with sleep, enjoying the effects, relieving pain, and improving mental health or mood:
- 68% used cannabis to help with sleep.
- 64% used it to enjoy the effects or feel good.
- 63% cited pain relief.
- 53% used it to help with mental health or mood.
Forty percent said they had used cannabis in an attempt to treat a medical condition. Others mentioned making social gatherings more enjoyable, celebrating or experimenting. Because these responses describe participants’ motivations rather than measured treatment outcomes, they do not show that cannabis is effective for insomnia, chronic pain or mental-health conditions.
Michigan use was higher than the national figure
A companion Michigan Poll on Healthy Aging analysis found that 27% of Michigan adults age 50 and older had used THC-containing cannabis at least once in the previous year. Fourteen percent reported weekly use, and 9% used cannabis daily or almost daily. By comparison, the corresponding national figures were 21% for past-year use, 9% for weekly use and 5% for daily or almost-daily use.
The Michigan results came from 1,079 Michigan respondents and 3,012 adults from other states. The samples were weighted to reflect the relevant populations. These state-versus-national comparisons show higher reported use in Michigan, but they do not explain why the difference exists or prove that legalization caused it.
Many regular users reported possible warning signs
Among national respondents who used cannabis at least monthly, 22% said they needed more cannabis to achieve the desired effect, 21% said the same amount had become less effective, 17% had increased the amount or frequency of use, and 13% reported strong desires or cravings. These are potential signs of dependence, not diagnoses of cannabis use disorder.
Most older adults recognized that cannabis can be addictive: 72% agreed with that statement. Still, 28% did not. The survey also found that 79% believed cannabis is stronger than it was 20 or 30 years ago, an important consideration for people returning to cannabis after a long period without using it.
The poll identified another potential safety concern: 20% of past-year users said they had driven within two hours of using cannabis at least once. The proportion rose to 27% among monthly users. THC can impair attention, coordination, reaction time and decision-making. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s cannabis guidance notes that legal status does not mean a product is risk-free and advises people to discuss possible interactions with prescription drugs with a clinician.
Health care conversations remain incomplete
Only 56% of monthly cannabis users said they had discussed their use with a health care provider. In most cases, patients initiated the conversation, while fewer reported that a provider had asked about cannabis.
That gap matters because adults in their 50s, 60s and beyond are more likely to manage multiple health conditions and take several prescription or over-the-counter medicines. Cannabis may affect how some medicines work, and impairment may compound risks such as dizziness, falls, confusion or unsafe driving. The Food and Drug Administration’s medication-safety guidance for older adults emphasizes the importance of reviewing all medicines, supplements and other substances with a health professional.
Clinicians Jeffrey Kullgren and Erin E. Bonar, who contributed to the University of Michigan research, have called for routine, nonjudgmental questions about cannabis use. Asking what product a patient uses, how often, in what amount and for what purpose can help identify possible interactions, dependence, impaired driving and other risks. It can also open the door to evidence-based alternatives for sleep problems, pain, anxiety or depression.
The survey highlights how widespread cannabis use has become among older adults, but it does not answer the larger questions of long-term safety or medical effectiveness. Those questions require well-designed clinical research that accounts for age, dosage, THC concentration, product type, other medications and underlying health conditions. Until stronger evidence is available, older adults should not assume that a cannabis product is safe simply because it is legal or marketed for a health-related purpose.
