A groundbreaking study published in JAMA Network Open has revealed that more than one in ten veterans aged 65 to 84 used cannabis within the past month, highlighting a significant trend among older military veterans.
Researchers from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) analyzed data from a cohort of 4,503 community-dwelling veterans, finding that 10.3% had used cannabis in the previous 30 days—a rate now comparable to tobacco use in this population.
"This represents a dramatic shift in cannabis use patterns among older adults," said Dr. Eleanor Pravosud, the study's lead author. "We're seeing prevalence rates that have increased from less than 1% in 2005 to over 10% in our veteran population."
The study found that 57.4% of participants reported lifetime cannabis use, with nearly 29% using it specifically for medical purposes. Among those using cannabis for medical reasons, pain management was the primary motivation (56.4%), followed by mental health concerns (18.4%) and sleep problems (16%).
More concerning to researchers was the discovery that over 36% of recent cannabis users met the criteria for cannabis use disorder (CUD), with most cases classified as mild (22.9%) or moderate (10.9%). Risk factors for developing CUD included being on the younger side of the cohort (ages 65-75), using inhaled rather than edible cannabis, having anxiety symptoms, or experiencing functional impairments.
"Veterans who exclusively used cannabis in edible form showed significantly lower rates of problematic use compared to those who smoked or vaped," noted Dr. Pravosud.
The research also revealed interesting geographic and economic patterns. Living in a state with recreational cannabis legalization doubled the likelihood of use compared to non-legal states, while veterans struggling with financial security were 60% more likely to use cannabis.
Dr. Michael Hartford, a VHA physician not involved in the study, emphasized the importance of these findings for healthcare providers. "With cannabis use now as common as tobacco use among older veterans, we need to integrate routine screening into primary care and have informed conversations about potential risks and benefits."
The authors recommend that healthcare providers working with older veterans incorporate validated screening tools to identify problematic cannabis use patterns, particularly for veterans using cannabis to self-medicate for pain or mental health conditions who might benefit from additional support or alternative treatments.
