More older Oregonians are using cannabis
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Illustration: Gabriella Turrisi/Axios
More and more seniors are using cannabis now, which could signal a potential boon for Oregon's nearly $1 billion (albeit overly saturated) industry.
Why it matters: As more states legalize marijuana, the barrier for consuming cannabis — in all of its many forms — has become lower, sparking curiosity in older folks interested in using the substance for pain relief or simply recreation.
By the numbers: In 2022, 8.4% of people age 65 or older said they used marijuana in the past year, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
- That's a significant increase from about 0.4% of seniors who reported using it in the past year when polled in 2007.
What they're saying: Beau Whitney, chief economist at Portland-based cannabis consulting company Whitney Economics, believes the rise in cannabis use among baby boomers is because many are seeking alternatives to manage pain without prescription drugs or opioids.
- "The technology to deliver pain relief has become much more sophisticated with vape pens, suppositories and even transdermal patches," he tells Axios.
Meanwhile, the widespread presence of CBD, which can be found in grocery stores, balms, gummies and even sparkling water, may have also made seniors curious enough to feel confident walking into a dispensary for the first time.
- Angel Horta, a manager at dispensary Chalice Farms, told Axios older customers come in with a lot of questions and aren't coy about flexing their dollars on products that have worked for them and others they know.
Zoom in: Oregon was one of the first states to legalize recreational marijuana in 2014.
- Now, there are over 800 dispensaries across Oregon — ranging from trendy, modern spaces with chic, glass displays to side-of-the-road drive-thrus.
The big picture: Earlier this month, Ohioans voted to legalize marijuana for recreational uses, making it the 24th state to allow adult cannabis use for non-medical purposes.
- Thirty-eight states allow marijuana use for medicinal purposes.
- Federally, the drug remains illegal despite shifting public sentiment and a lengthy bipartisan push in Congress.
- The Department of Health and Human Services recently recommended to the Drug Enforcement Administration that the substance be reclassified to a lower-risk category under the Controlled Substances Act.
The bottom line: Whitney predicts the percentage of folks 65 and over using cannabis will keep climbing as the stigma surrounding the drug continues to decrease in popular culture.
- "It will peak out at some point," he said. "We just haven't reached the peak yet."
Go deeper: Cannabis testing declines as businesses adapt to widespread legalization