Behaviors Related to Medical Cannabis Use in Older Adults: A Qualitative Study

There is a growing interest in medical cannabis use among older adults. This qualitative study aims to explore behaviors related to medical cannabis use among older adults living in Southern California. Adults aged ≥65 years who reported medical cannabis use in the past 6 months completed a survey followed by a semi-structured, qualitative interview. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, coded using NVivo Software, and analyzed for emergent themes. Nineteen participants (52.6% women, mean age = 75 ± 6.5 years) completed the survey and interview. Participants described frequent and chronic use of cannabis, and self-experimentation with medical cannabis due to a lack of guidance on its use. They also used medical cannabis in place of or in conjunction with other medications and timed its use to reduce risks of drug interactions. Almost all expressed minimal concerns about cannabis use disorder, although nearly one-third (31.6%) screened positive for cannabis use disorder. Overall, there is inadequate knowledge of medical cannabis use among older adults, suggesting a need for improved access to reliable information and education on the topic. Understanding older adults' medical cannabis use behaviors will help clinicians provide appropriate counseling and monitoring for this population.