For adults over 60, cannabis use is increasing faster than in any other demographic. But science has yet to keep up with why older adults are using cannabis products, which products they choose, and how they make decisions about which products to use. A new study by researchers from the University of Utah Health and University of Colorado Boulder reveals that many older adults start cannabis seeking more effective or non-pharmaceutical options to manage sleep, pain, or mental health, and that many people base their decisions on word of mouth rather than discussions with health care providers.
The researchers interviewed 169 adults over 60 who were about to purchase cannabis for the first time to identify common motivations. '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, PhD, assistant professor of population health sciences at U of U Health and first author on the study. 'For the most part, we found that these folks aren’t really interested in getting high. They just want to feel better,' adds Angela Bryan, PhD, professor of psychology and neuroscience at CU Boulder and senior author on the study. Many participants had heard positive anecdotes about product usefulness from friends or family members, which tended to influence decisions. 'They brought a lot of feedback from other people to inform their opinions,' Delaney says. 'Word of mouth has a really big impact.' Discussions with medical providers were rarely part of the picture, suggesting that better informational materials for patients and providers could be needed to drive conversations and help people make informed decisions about their health.
