The latest surveys and research indicate that marijuana acceptance and use among older adults are increasing. Explanations for this trend include the aging of the Baby Boomers—whose attitudes toward psychoactive drugs are more relaxed than those of their predecessors—and the growing number of states with medical and recreational marijuana use laws.
And yet, despite this trend, scientific evidence on marijuana’ short- and long-term health effects is slim. In a recent article published in Public Policy & Aging Report, professors Namkee Choi and Diana DiNitto conclude that while a majority of older adults appear to use marijuana medically or recreationally without problems, epidemiologic studies show significant associations between marijuana use and polysubstance use, comorbid psychiatric disorders, DUI, and injuries. They also found that these problems are more applicable to long-term, chronic users than to new users who began using marijuana medically.