Why Seniors Are Rediscovering Cannabis

A new generation of seniors is beginning to write their own story with cannabis in the United States, this time not with stigmas or fears, but with the curiosity of those who, after so many battles, simply wish to live with more comfort, autonomy, and quality.

A study released in June 2025 by the Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research (CDUHR) at New York University revealed that 7% of Americans over 65 used cannabis in the past month. This represents a 46% increase compared to 2021. In the age group over 50, the numbers are also impressive: 21% reported using THC products at least once in the past year, according to a survey from the University of Michigan.

The Pain That Has No Schedule

For many of these seniors, cannabis is not an escape but a reunion. A reunion with better sleep, with a less painful body, with the possibility of a lighter daily life. “There is a growing interest in using cannabis to treat chronic symptoms and conditions,” explains Benjamin Han, a geriatrician and addiction medicine specialist at the University of California, San Diego.

According to him, what drives so many patients to cannabis are pains that conventional medicine has failed to silence and sleepless nights that pills have not resolved. “They find relief in something that once seemed like a taboo,” Han tells Cannabis Business Times.

Less Taboo, More Listening

The industry, attentive, is beginning to understand that aging does not mean stagnation. Campaigns like I’m High Right Now, designed specifically for the 55+ audience, and products developed to meet the specific needs of seniors, such as the Senior Moments line from Bristol Extracts, show that the market is starting to reinvent itself.

Celebrities like Whoopi Goldberg and Tommy Chong have lent their voices to this cause, using their own journeys as a way to destigmatize the therapeutic use of the plant. Still, not the entire sector has understood the potential of this movement.

“If the industry does not pay attention to this group, it will be making a strategic mistake,” warns Cameron Clarke, CEO of Sunderstorm. He criticizes the insistence of many dispensaries on targeting only the young and regular audience, ignoring older consumers who may not always buy but purchase with purpose.

Information as Care

Krissy Bernazani, clinical director of the Verano dispensary network, believes the key is in welcoming. To that end, she promotes educational sessions aimed exclusively at seniors, explaining risks, benefits, and less invasive ways of use. “We suggest low-dose edibles that fit seamlessly into their daily routines. Many are afraid of ‘getting high,’ and our role is to show that well-being has nothing to do with losing control,” she states.

In this context, cannabis transforms into a bridge. A bridge between what was once prohibited and what can now be relief. Between the prejudice of a youth marked by repression and the freedom to age with less pain and more dignity.

With information from Canamo.Net.

Learn More

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