Marijuana can blur the line between prescription and over-the-counter medication. While 10 U.S. states have legalized recreational marijuana, 33 states have legalized its use medically. Covering a wide range of uses, smoking or consuming this drug is associated with everything from pain relief to college parties.

Among the 6 percent of seniors who admitted to smoking marijuana, 50 percent said they did so for both medicinal and recreational purposes. More often than not, seniors smoked marijuana with the intention of boosting their moods. Roughly 58 percent hoped it would make them happier, while another 41.8 percent hoped it would alleviate anxiety and reduce stress. The second most popular reason (nearly 51 percent) for seniors smoking marijuana was to attain a better quality of sleep.

The Next Budding Market …

While getting older once conjured images of weekly pillboxes full of prescription medications, 2019’s increasing holistic market for medical treatments may be changing this vision. Thanks to cannabidiol, many seniors can now find solace and respite in the face of everything from poor blood pressure to subpar sleep quality.

Of course, the interest in CBD extends well beyond the senior demographic. The chemical’s meteoric rise in today’s marketplace would only have been possible with the interest and patronage of several generations. Symptoms like chronic pain can be remedy motivators for seniors, while stress and anxiety cures attract many modern health gurus looking for alternatives to prescription medications.

As the dangers of prescription medications, particularly opioids, continue to stack up, CBD may look more and more appealing.

Methodology and Limitations

We collected responses from 1,047 seniors by administering online surveys through Prolific.ac. For this analysis, we have defined seniors as adults aged 54 and older. Respondents who were younger than the designated age were excluded from our findings. To ensure data accuracy, participants who failed an attention-check question or entered inconsistent data were excluded.

The main limitation of this study is that different sources have varied definitions for the age ranges that qualify as “seniors.” Additionally, all benefits and side effects are based on self-reporting. Self-reported data are subject, but not limited, to selective memory, exaggeration, or telescoping. These findings have not been reviewed or approved by medical experts and should not be used as a substitute for seeking out and listening to a primary care physician.

Disclaimer

The findings shown in this study are not medical advice and should not be used as a substitute for seeking out primary care providers. This study is based on anecdotal evidence and relies on self-reported data.

Fair Use Statement

Are any of the seniors in your life suffering in a way that CBD could potentially help? You’re more than welcome to share the results of this study with them, or anybody else for that matter, for noncommercial purposes. Just be sure to link back to this page and its authors so that they can receive proper credit for their work.