Curie Brief
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News
Cannabis use among older adults is rising — and so is the risk of dependency. A new national study found that nearly 9% of US adults aged 65+ used cannabis in the past year, and about 1 in 9 of those users met the criteria for cannabis use disorder (CUD). Nearly a quarter of CUD cases were moderate or severe, raising concerns about an underrecognized problem in an aging population.
Cannabis use among older Americans is no longer a fringe behavior — and a new national study suggests the risks are being underestimated. Analyzing data from over 21,000 US adults aged 65 and older (2021–2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health), researchers found that nearly 9% used cannabis in the past year. Of those users, about 1 in 9 met the diagnostic criteria for cannabis use disorder (CUD), with nearly a quarter of cases classified as moderate or severe.
A complementary NYC-based survey of older adults reinforced these findings, with 22.2% reporting past-year cannabis use and nearly 1 in 3 of those users meeting CUD criteria — alongside common adverse effects like dry mouth, drowsiness, and anxiety.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: With cannabis legalization expanding and older adults increasingly turning to it for sleep, pain, or relaxation, clinicians need to screen for CUD in this population. Only 19.9% of older cannabis users had a medical recommendation, suggesting most use is unsupervised — a gap that warrants targeted education and intervention.
