Feds: Over 1 in 5 Older Adults Have Consumed Cannabis in the Past Year
- Nearly 22% of Americans aged 55 to 65 reported using cannabis in the past year, marking the highest rate ever recorded by the University of Michigan's 2026 survey.
- Fifteen percent of older adults reported cannabis use within the last 30 days, while 4% have used hemp-derived products.
- Rising cannabis use among older adults is linked to managing pain, anxiety, sleep issues, and a preference for cannabis over prescription drugs with serious side effects.
- Research indicates older adults generally have positive views on cannabis, associating its use with improved quality of life and reduced prescription medication reliance.
More than 1 in 5 older adults have consumed cannabis during the past year, according to federal survey data compiled by the University of Michigan.
According to its 2026 annual report, nearly 22 percent of Americans between the ages of 55 and 65 used cannabis within the previous 12 months. That’s the highest percentage ever reported by the survey. Four percent of older respondents also said that they have consumed products derived from hemp.
Fifteen percent of older adults say that they consumed a cannabis product within the past 30 days.
The survey’s findings are consistent with those from AARP and others reporting rising rates of cannabis use among older adults and seniors.
Commenting on the findings, NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano said: “It is not surprising that a growing percentage of adults consider cannabis to be a viable option in their later years. Many older adults struggle with pain, anxiety, sleep disturbances and other conditions that can be effectively mitigated by cannabis. Many older adults are also aware of the litany of serious adverse side-effects associated with available prescription drugs, like opioids or sleep aids, and they perceive medical cannabis to be a viable and potentially safer alternative.”
Separate survey data published in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health determined that most older adults hold positive perceptions about cannabis, and many studies show that marijuana products are typically associated with quality of life improvements and reduced prescription drug use among seniors.
Among middle-aged adults (those between the ages of 35 and 50), about 30 percent of respondents acknowledged having used cannabis during the past year, according to the report. That percentage has held steady for the past several years. By contrast, the percentage of adults who identify as current alcohol consumers continues to fall to historic lows.
Full text of the report, “National Data on Substance Use Among Adults Ages 19 to 65, 1976-2025,’ is available online. Additional information is available from the NORML Fact Sheet, ‘Cannabis Use by Older Populations.’