United States residents over the age of sixty-five are no exception to the cannabis craze. According to data from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health, only 0.4% of senior citizens reported using cannabis over the course of 2007. That number was more than fifty times higher in 2023, with 21% of older Americans reporting cannabis use at least once in the past year.
What Brings Seniors to the Smoke Shop?
What’s behind the spike in weed use amongst the elderly? Worsening health issues in older age is another reason that formerly-teenaged fans would break their cannabis hiatus and head for a head shop like ours.
In the study at C.U. Boulder, many seniors cited worsening health issues as their primary motivation to consume cannabis. It’s no surprise that seniors are more likely to suffer from maladies of virtually every variety, including many that cause pain and mobility issues like arthritis, osteoporosis, and even cancer. Many seniors have tried cannabis for its pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties, potentially finding well-deserved relief with each use.
Reconsidering Cannabis
With marijuana’s legalization and decriminalization rising throughout the United States, some senior citizens no longer feel the need to avoid marijuana – or to hide their usage.
Legalization in the past several years has allowed many to re-enter the cannabis market who were otherwise deterred by potential legal ramifications. Still others spent their middle adult years immersed in family life or careers with random testing, making illegal cannabis usage less plausible or too risky for their present priorities.
Adele Frascella is one former fan who’s recently re-entered the market. In an interview with AP News, Boulder-local Frascello, age 70, confirmed her love of cannabis in her early adult years. “I used to do it when I was like 18, 19, 20. And then I had a baby, got married and stopped.” Frascello returned to cannabis several years ago following the passage of Amendment 64, even investing in a high-tech version of a water pipe called a “volcano.” Since her initial re-embrace of cannabis, Frascello’s decided she prefers edibles.
Renee Lee is another former fan to rediscover an early love of reefer in her later years. Lee made a name for herself as a clinical psychologist prior to serious health issues. After undergoing brain surgery and other invasive procedures more than a decade ago, Lee says her doctors had prescribed her more than ten daily pills, all to be taken four times daily. “And I wasn’t getting any better,” she revealed. Her doctors had mentioned the option of medical cannabis as a potential course of treatment – but spoke of it only as a last resort. Once Lee finally reached the point of trying cannabis, she was amazed by its effectiveness in finally putting an end to her pain.
Lee was determined to help others find the same relief she attributes to cannabis use. In 2012, she formed the Rossmoor Medical Marijuana Club within her upscale retirement community in the San Francisco Bay Area.
While cannabis had been legalized for medical use in California since 1996, the stigma as an “outlaw drug” in certain communities took many more years to shake. In the seven years since its origin, Lee’s organization has grown to include more than 1,000 members. The group hosts special events regularly, including presentations by doctors and nurses in favor of medical weed.
Does Cannabis Affect Older Adults Differently?
Dr. Gary Small is a professor at the University of California, specializing in psychiatry and aging. Small explained that Americans aged 65 and over are the fastest growing demographic in terms of cannabis use. He acknowledges the potential benefits cannabis may offer the elderly, alleviating pain, anxiety, and much more. Still, Small emphasized that additional studies are still needed on the potential consequences that could unduly affect older citizens – like memory loss, heart rate changes, and sleep issues. Dizziness may be the most dangerous potential side effect of cannabis, increasing the likelihood of falls among elderly users.
Dr. Hillary Lum, assistant professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, oversaw a research study which found a tenfold increase in elderly participants’ cannabis use over a ten year span. In an interview with CNBC, Lum voiced the same concerns as Small on the need for additional research into weed use amongst the elderly. Admittedly, there was an increase in hospital admissions for elderly Americans shortly after the passage of Amendment 64. The biggest culprit? Overconsumption of edibles among beginner users who don’t yet know their limits.
As all pipe shop regulars may know, the experience of cannabis use can vary widely based on so many factors, including brain chemistry, strain, mode of ingestion and much more. So far, the general impact of marijuana’s medicinal qualities certainly seem to outweigh the drawbacks. But remember – next time Grandma, Grandpa, or any other new user asks for their first bite of your special chocolate, remind them not to down the whole bar.
Visit 710 Pipes for Pipes, Bongs and Much More
When it comes to smoke shop essentials for cannabis lovers of all (legal) ages, 710 Pipes has everything you need. From vaporizers and water pipes to hats, hat pins, and a wide range of other popular accessories, we’ve got you covered. Come check out our Denver or Northglenn locations any day of the week, or explore our online smoke shop to have your favorites delivered straight to your door.