As cannabis use becomes more common among older adults, health experts are raising concerns about increasing risks linked to the drug’s use in this population. Benjamin Han, a geriatrician and addiction specialist at the University of California, San Diego, shared a cautionary example involving a 76-year-old patient struggling with insomnia.
The patient, unable to sleep through the night, was given edible cannabis gummies by her daughter. Despite taking multiple doses totaling 40 milligrams of THC over several hours, she initially felt no effect. However, she soon developed severe anxiety and heart palpitations. Due to her underlying heart conditions, including high blood pressure and atrial fibrillation, these symptoms prompted a visit to the emergency room. While tests showed she was not experiencing a heart attack, the incident highlighted the potential dangers of high-dose cannabis use in older adults.
“Older brains are more sensitive to psychoactive substances,” Han said, emphasizing the need for cautious cannabis use in the elderly. He advises patients to “start low and go slow,” beginning with products containing only 1 to 2.5 milligrams of THC.
Cannabis use among older Americans has risen steadily in recent years. According to a June 2025 study published in JAMA, current cannabis use (defined as use within the past month) among adults aged 65 and older increased from 4.8% in 2021 to 7% in 2023. This is a sharp rise from fewer than 1% in 2005. The expansion of cannabis legalization across states, combined with a declining perception of risk, is likely driving this trend.
Currently, medical cannabis is legal in 39 states plus the District of Columbia, while 24 states and D.C. also permit recreational use. Despite growing use, the benefits of cannabis for older adults remain unclear. Research increasingly points to potential harms, such as rising emergency room visits and hospitalizations linked to cannabis use in this age group.
A Canadian study found a strong association between cannabis-related acute care visits and an increased risk of dementia in older adults. Older individuals often use cannabis to manage chronic pain, insomnia, or mental health issues, although the scientific evidence supporting these uses is limited.
Data from California show a dramatic increase in cannabis-related emergency room visits among adults 65 and older, from 21 per 100,000 visits in 2005 to 395 per 100,000 in 2019. In Ontario, cannabis-related hospital admissions for older adults grew more than 26-fold from 2008 to 2021.
Researchers caution these statistics mostly reflect individuals with severe patterns of use. However, the growing cardiac risks for older adults with preexisting conditions remain a concern.
Studies of older veterans reveal that over 10% reported cannabis use within the last month, with more than a third meeting criteria for cannabis use disorder. Veterans often face higher rates of substance misuse and chronic health conditions, including PTSD, which may contribute to cannabis use for self-medication.
Despite these risks, many older adults report positive experiences with cannabis. Liz Logan, 67, a freelance writer in New York, says edible THC products helped resolve her long-term sleep problems without noticeable side effects.
Still, experts warn that the increased potency of modern cannabis products compared to those used decades ago demands caution. Dr. Daniel Myran, lead author of the Ontario study, stressed the need for more research on safe consumption practices for older adults, noting that current knowledge lags behind rapidly rising cannabis use.
“Cannabis should be treated like any other medicine — with awareness that some groups may be at higher risk of adverse effects,” Myran said.
As cannabis legalization spreads and use climbs among older Americans, health professionals urge careful consideration of both the potential benefits and harms of cannabis in this vulnerable population.
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