Baby Boomers & the Medical Marijuana Craze

Why are more and more baby boomers partaking in recreational and medical marijuana now more than ever?

Although marijuana use is frequently associated with younger individuals, new evidence suggests that it’s on the rise among baby-boomers.

In fact, researchers at The NYU School of Medicine found that marijuana use has doubled for 50-64 year olds and increased 7-fold for individuals 65 and older in the last decade.

Here’s what responses from over 17, 608 participants revealed in the NYU study “Marijuana use by middle-aged and older adults in the United States, 2015-2016.”

A Number of Baby Boomers Have Tried Marijuana in the Past

Many baby boomers were in their teens and early 20’s in the 1960’s and 1970’s – a time when marijuana use was quite prevalent.

Therefore, it’s not too surprising that half of 50-64 year olds and 1/5 of participants aged 65 and above reveal that they’ve used marijuana in the past.

What’s more, 93% of 50-64 year olds and 54% of individuals aged 65 and older first tried marijuana when they were 21 years old or younger.

Reduced Stigma and Greater Access May Account for Increased Interest in Marijuana Among Baby Boomers

As marijuana continues to gain acceptance and legalization for medicinal and recreational use in many states, there’s considerably less stigma attached to the drug.

Furthermore, evidence of marijuana’s abilities to alleviate pain and symptoms associated with a number of medical conditions, especially those that affect older individuals, is another possible reason for its increase in this demographic.

Additionally, along with many other Americans, baby boomers now have increased access to quality medical-grade cannabis at dispensaries.

The fact that marijuana can be consumed in multiple forms, including vaping, edibles, sublingual sprays, and topicals, may also increase its appeal to baby boomers.

Many Participants Tried Medicinal Marijuana in the Past Year at the Recommendation of a Medical Professional

Of the two groups in the NYU study that have used marijuana in the past year, 15 percent of users aged 50-64 and 22.9 percent of those 65 and older reported that it suggested by their doctor.

This statistic illustrates the surge in medicinal marijuana as an alternative to traditional medication and therapies.

To learn more about medical marijuana use amongst baby boomers and people of all ages, please contact our dispensary today.