Cannabis use is rising fastest among adults over 60—mostly for pain relief

Adults age 60-plus are taking up cannabis faster than any other age group—but according to a new study, most aren’t chasing a high. They want better sleep, relief from pain, and help managing their mental health.

Researchers at University of Utah Health and the University of Colorado Boulder interviewed 169 adults over 60 who were about to buy cannabis for the first time, asking what drew them to it. “Overall, they really wanted better quality of life, reducing their pain, getting better sleep, and being able to enjoy time with family and friends a little bit more,” says Rebecca Delaney, assistant professor of population health sciences at U of U Health and the study’s first author.

“For the most part, we found that these folks aren’t really interested in getting high. They just want to feel better,” adds senior author Angela Bryan, professor of psychology and neuroscience at CU Boulder.

Few had talked it over with a doctor; most leaned on friends and family instead. “Word of mouth has a really big impact,” Delaney says.

That left participants to weigh the options alone. Edibles can contain THC (the main psychoactive compound in cannabis), CBD, or both. Most chose a mix of the two, viewing it as a “Goldilocks option.”

One caveat: the survey was conducted in Colorado, where recreational cannabis is legal, so the picture may look different in Utah and other medical-only states. Still, Delaney suspects the core motivations are probably the same—and she hopes the findings nudge more of these conversations into the doctor’s office.