Cannabis use is climbing among older adults in the U.S., but far less research has examined when that use crosses into a diagnosable disorder. A new study in the journal Addiction, led by Benjamin Han of UC San Diego School of Medicine, puts a number on it: among adults 65 and older who used cannabis in the past year, 11.4 percent met criteria for cannabis use disorder.

The researchers drew on the 2021–2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a nationally representative survey that included 21,189 adults aged 65 and older. An estimated 8.9 percent of that age group reported using cannabis in the past year. Of those meeting criteria for cannabis use disorder, the large majority — 76 percent — fell into the mild category, with 20.1 percent moderate and 3.9 percent severe. The most commonly reported symptoms were spending a great deal of time obtaining, using, or recovering from cannabis (74.4 percent), craving (67.5 percent), and tolerance (48.3 percent). Smoking was the most common method of use (65.8 percent), followed by edibles or drinks (40.5 percent) and vaping (15.4 percent).

Prior research has already linked cannabis use in this age group to chronic disease, cognitive impairment, falls, poisoning, and emergency room visits, and the researchers note that older adults may face elevated risk because of age-related physical changes, existing chronic conditions, and interactions with prescription medications. About a fifth of past-year users — 19.9 percent — said a doctor had recommended some or all of their cannabis use. The strongest predictors of cannabis use disorder were frequent use (people using on at least 300 days in the past year were nearly four times as likely to meet criteria), smoking as the method of use, and a history of mental illness, tobacco use, or other drug use.

The authors argue that as cannabis availability and medical use continue to grow, clinicians should be screening older patients for unhealthy use and discussing it as part of routine care. They frame the fact that most cases were mild as an opportunity rather than a dismissal — a chance for early intervention before problems escalate. Han, the study’s lead author, noted that any psychoactive substance, including cannabis, can lead to a harmful pattern of use among older adults. The research was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and UC San Diego’s Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging.

Journal: Addiction
Article Title: Cannabis Use and Cannabis Use Disorder among Older Adults in the United States
DOI: 10.1111/add.70600
Publication Date: September 28, 2026

Source: EurekAlert