Surveys Reveal Cannabis Enhances Seniors’ Quality of Life
Recent public opinion surveys indicate that seniors who regularly use cannabis for therapeutic purposes generally feel significantly better than their peers who avoid the plant. This research, conducted by experts at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and published in the latest issue of the journal Geriatrics and Gerontological Medicine, shows that nationwide survey results point to a noticeably higher level of quality of life and life satisfaction among older adults who regularly use cannabis, whether for therapeutic or recreational purposes.
The study surveyed 274 seniors aged 60 to 94 (with an average age of 72) living in various regions of the United States, including both areas where cannabis is legalized and those where it remains strictly criminalized. The survey, presented as simple questions about habits and reasons for cannabis use, assessed respondents’ attitudes toward the plant and its products, as well as their overall physical and psychological health.
About 54% of respondents reported that they regularly use cannabis for both recreational and therapeutic reasons, mainly to cope with stress, fatigue, anxiety, and sudden bouts of pain or migraines. Overall, 72% of the seniors surveyed said they had used cannabis or its active components at least once in the past year.
Interestingly, the likelihood of having used cannabis in the past year decreased with age, suggesting that most seniors began using cannabis relatively recently-likely after hearing about its therapeutic benefits for various age-related chronic conditions. Additionally, every respondent who started using therapeutic cannabis in the past year reported noticeable improvements in their physical and psychological well-being, as well as increased activity and sociability after beginning regular use of the plant or its components.
“Moreover, the older the consumer, the more pronounced the positive effects of cannabis use on their physiological and psychological health,” the study’s authors note in their conclusion.
It’s worth noting that in the United States and most other countries and regions that have legalized therapeutic cannabis, the fastest-growing demographic of users is middle-aged and older adults. This trend is due to the discovery over the past decade by scientists and medical professionals of the significant health benefits of the plant’s main active components-THC and CBD-which help strengthen muscle tissue, internal organs, bones, and the nervous system.