Key Takeaways

The prevalence of current cannabis use increased among older U.S. adults from 2021 to 2023.

Older adults may be susceptible to the adverse effects of cannabis, which may require acute medical care.

Increased prevalence of cannabis use was associated with several conditions, particularly COPD.

The prevalence of cannabis use rose among older adults across the country, with notable increases for certain subgroups, according to a cross-sectional study.

Among nearly 15,700 adults ages 65 and older, the prevalence of past-month cannabis use rose from 4.8% in 2021 to 7% in 2023 (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.08-1.41), reported Benjamin Han, MD, of the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, and co-authors in a JAMA Internal Medicine research letter.

"Given physiological

See Full Page