CLEVELAND, Ohio — Marijuana use has increased dramatically among seniors 65 and older in the United States, as more older adults use cannabis to treat diabetes, high blood pressure and other chronic illnesses, according to a recent study led by the University of California-San Diego.

However, cannabis can complicate the management of chronic diseases and be potentially harmful if patients are not educated on its use and potential risks, researchers said.

About 7% of seniors in the study, which appeared in JAMA Internal Medicine, said they were current weed users in 2023, up from just under 5% in 2021, researchers said.

“If we look even further back to 2006 and 2007, less than 1% of older adults used cannabis in the past year,” lead researcher Dr. Benjamin Han, associate chief of research in geriatrics, gerontology and palliative care at the University of California-San Diego, said in a news release. “Now, we’re seeing that 7% have used it in the past month alone.”

Study results also showed that weed use increased more among those living in states where medical marijuana is legal. Most Americans live in a state where marijuana has been legalized for medical use, recreational use, or both. Ohioans voted to make it legal for adults to purchase cannabis from licensed dispensaries in 2023, and had previously legalized medical marijuana.

“It shouldn’t be surprising that use is becoming increasingly more common among people who live in states that allow medical cannabis, which could be due to increased availability or social acceptability,” senior researcher Joseph Palamar, an associate professor of population health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York City, said in a news release.

The JAMA study used data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2021 through 2023. Seniors were asked about past-month cannabis use, which researchers considered current use.

“This is the first time we were able to examine current use of cannabis in this age group,” Han said. “Before, we were only able to look at past-year use because the numbers for current use were too small.”

Tips on cannabis use for older adults

Here are tips from AARP aimed at helping people over 65 use cannabis safely:

Discuss cannabis use with your physicians.

Know that prescription and over-the-counter medication, and alcohol can cause unexpected effects when they interact.

Older adults who use cannabis may have worse balance and slower gait speed.

Be aware that cannabis is stronger today than it was decades ago.

Avoid driving while under the influence of cannabis. Even if a person has not used cannabis in weeks, they may test positive for it if tested during a traffic stop.