Grandma's new remedy: Pot edibles
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Illustration: Gabriella Turrisi/Axios
Adults 60 and older are increasingly turning to cannabis edibles over traditional medicine to seek relief for their health problems, according to a new study.
The big picture: Older adults are among the fastest-growing group of users, even as research on the psychoactive drug has failed to keep pace with its high demand.
Zoom in: People over 51 make up almost a third of the state's medical cannabis card holders, according to a state data from April.
State of play: Study author Rebecca Delaney, an assistant professor at the University of Utah Health, told Axios that older adults often seek cannabis after exhausting other treatment options and are concerned about the side effects of traditional medications.
- She noted that some patients may perceive it as a safer option because it comes from a plant, "but at this point we don't necessarily have the evidence to support that."
What they found: Most of the study's participants said they used weed to treat age-related ailments, including chronic pain, sleep deprivation, anxiety and other mood disorders — not just to get baked.
- Their decisions to turn to cannabis was mostly influenced by word-of-mouth recommendations from family and friends, not a physician's recommendation — a finding that surprised Delaney.
Between the lines: Most participants bought products containing a combination of THC and CBD, or just CBD alone. Only about 14% purchased products containing only THC.
- THC causes psychoactive effects, while CBD does not.
How it works: The study was conducted by the University of Utah Health and the University of Colorado Boulder.
- Researchers carried out the study between 2021 and 2023, interviewing 169 older adults buying cannabis edibles in Colorado for the first time.
The bottom line: "Despite patterns of increasing cannabis use among older adults, some do not disclose cannabis use with their medical practitioners," per the study.
- "We need to find a way to bridge that gap," Delany said.