When you think about marijuana, chances are you envision teenagers and dole-bludgers passing around a bong or scoring weed from dealers on the street. While that may be true, there appears to be a growing trend of older members of the community indulging in cannabis.
Recent data out of America found that Baby Boomers are actually the fastest-growing consumer demographic for the drug. Marijuana has been legalised for both medical and recreational use in nine states across America, meaning people over the age of 21 don’t need a doctor’s certificate to obtain the drug. In a further 29 states, use of marijuana for medical purposes is legal.
Website Marijuana.com cites a 2018 BDS Analytics study which claims older people are more interested in the drug than any other age group. In fact, 12 per cent of people over the age of 50 admit to using marijuana in some form in the past six months. These people live in locations where use of the drug is completely legal.
While younger people may use the drug for the purpose of getting high, it seems as though Baby Boomers are using it for the benefit of their health. A further 19 per cent of older people said they use the drug to relieve pain, while an additional 16 per cent said they use the drug to relax.
Unlike generations who have come before them, Baby Boomers have had a big exposure to marijuana throughout their lives, which is part of the reason they’re more open to the idea of using the drug either recreationally or for medical purpose. The study found older people weren’t as likely to smoke the drug, opting for edibles or topicals including creams and ointments.
It’s also a growing trend in Australia, where seniors are also turning to marijuana for the benefit of their health. A team of over-60s known as the Canna Nannas travel the country and educate other Baby Boomers in the community about the benefits of cooking with the drug.
Last month, the group of women appeared on A Current Affair where they explained how their health greatly improved by using the drug. The women are fighting for marijuana to be made legal for cooking purposes in Australia and say it is “an essential food”. They regularly host events at community halls across the country, preaching this message.
The women provide Baby Boomers with informational pamphlets, cooking utensils, merchandise and even gardening tools. They discuss cannabis medicine and how it works, while showing people how to blend the drug into everyday foods and drinks such as smoothies.
Use of marijuana isn’t as prominent in Australia as it is in America and the only legal way to use the drug is to be prescribed by a registered medical practitioner. The drug has been hailed for its ability to help ease pain caused by a number of medical conditions. When it comes to multiple sclerosis, it is thought using cannabis can help manage pain, progression of disability, bladder function, sleep patterns and quality of life. For epilepsy sufferers, the drug is thought to reduce seizures, while it’s thought to prevent nausea and vomiting in patients receiving treatment for cancer.