Why more older adults are using marijuana

Whether they’re reuniting with a drug they used when they were younger or trying it for the first time, there is a growing trend of older adults using marijuana for medicinal purposes, including treating chronic pain, trouble sleeping or anxiety. NBC’s Joe Fryer reports for TODAY.

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#health #marijuana #chronicpain

50 Comments

  1. @williamcarter9380 on March 12, 2025 at 7:03 am

    Hi I’m 58 and was 100% disabled, got all the paperwork. Started using 7 years ago, lost 120 lbs and take no other meds. No pain management telling me to use opioids. Mmm nice huh? Peace!

  2. @DeborahRensen on March 12, 2025 at 7:03 am

    We have been using weed since we were young teenagers. Now we are older and still find relief in the weed. Weed is our medicine. Always have been all ways will be.

  3. @kittycat-f2j on March 12, 2025 at 7:05 am

    How many have ever died from cannabis??

  4. @typerightseesight on March 12, 2025 at 7:05 am

    You cant get those capsules anywhere anymore. especially recreationally.

  5. @Papito_ZA on March 12, 2025 at 7:09 am

    Smoke weed every day

  6. @kittycat-f2j on March 12, 2025 at 7:10 am

    Mj is decriminalized but illegal in NC

  7. @kittycat-f2j on March 12, 2025 at 7:16 am

    I just wish there was medical cannabis before recreational. I don’t know how it interacts with pharmaceuticals.

  8. @rickyhow4721 on March 12, 2025 at 7:18 am

    I’m 73 and grew up when you could enjoy life before the republicans used pot as a weapon against the American people with lies about pot when it was a godsend for peace unlike alcohol and cigarettes, let’s see how many people died from cigarettes and booze sorry to many to count but not one death from pot I rest my case.

  9. @lucasroe2878 on March 12, 2025 at 7:18 am

    The real criminals were the people who made it illegal in the first place.

  10. @lynnekincaid9087 on March 12, 2025 at 7:22 am

    Old stoners rule. We elders, with horrible pain for whatever reason, are better off using marijuana. I have been able to live more freely from pain through the use of medical marijuana. Review the use and benefits of this wonderful drug.

  11. @camndino on March 12, 2025 at 7:23 am

    I would assume because it helps them live a little better.

  12. @patbrennan6572 on March 12, 2025 at 7:25 am

    All states that it’s illegal are maga states, eleven of them. Still praying to Jesus I suppose .

  13. @Salty-Investor on March 12, 2025 at 7:25 am

    Honestly, it is really an easy answer. It makes you feel good, and that in itself is a blessing

  14. @KenSmith-bv4si on March 12, 2025 at 7:26 am

    I get high everyday before I go to yoga. I started smoking weed in 1973 but, gave it up for 35yrs so I could work, I had to take pee test so not smoking pot made more sense. I retied in 2015, I wake and bake every morning, zero health issues thanks to yoga and weed.

  15. @kittycat-f2j on March 12, 2025 at 7:26 am

    A far right NC congressperson is in favor of legalization, now that her husband needs it. They don’t care until something happens to *them*, personally.

  16. @atchafalaya2835 on March 12, 2025 at 7:27 am

    These are people who have always smoked weed.

  17. @terrapinflyer273 on March 12, 2025 at 7:27 am

    Sorry, but op ioids worked better for me. It’s absolutely disgraceful that the gov’t created a war on pain patients because of street drug statistics (lumped in with the minority of prescription casualties) and MANY had to suffer immensely because of it. If they made it through being cut off abruptly from their prescription pain therapy, with no guidance or help in any way to suffer through withdrawal symptoms – which often include significantly increased pain levels, restless leg syndrome to the point that it can look like seizures, which can dramatically increase pain levels as well and even alter the muscoloskeletal structure in negative ways. Among other symptoms obviously. Just tossed into the street like junkies, which they weren’t!

    Richard Lawhern will tell you, the 2016 prescribing guidelines were pushed through mostly by people who have insufficient knowledge of healthcare and medicine and only did so because they had ulterior motives.

  18. @SurfBandFan on March 12, 2025 at 7:28 am

    DUH! Why are more marijuana users getting older?

  19. @fishercat503 on March 12, 2025 at 7:31 am

    I doubt medical pot users are dying from overdoses or committing burglaries to cop a bag of weed.

  20. @jacobharris954 on March 12, 2025 at 7:31 am

    It just plant if you have set on fire there is some side effects

  21. @LagrimadeInvierno on March 12, 2025 at 7:33 am

    Im a person with Panic Disorder and Im considering weed as pain relief

  22. @azimovwatts6425 on March 12, 2025 at 7:34 am

    "not enough research" … and why is that

  23. @woodbox50 on March 12, 2025 at 7:35 am

    it’s a plant, called Cannabis.

  24. @w3vjp568 on March 12, 2025 at 7:36 am

    The absurd continued acceptance of alcohol-induced stupidity in our society, while cannabis remains demonized, is beyond comprehension. Does anyone remember the last time a wedding reception turned into a bloody brawl with fights and chairs being thrown and arrests being made, because the guests smoked too much weed?

  25. @johnpauledstrom4491 on March 12, 2025 at 7:37 am

    That wasnt smart too say! Id rather a marijuana epidemic over an opioid epidemic any day!

  26. @larrydowling5213 on March 12, 2025 at 7:38 am

    Thc over alcohol any day 🤙🇺🇲🇺🇦💙

  27. @paulmusso19 on March 12, 2025 at 7:40 am

    Because poor medical care from Drs. Who cannot profit from it…thanks SCAM INSURANCE COMPANIES…

  28. @stoneybakermd1936 on March 12, 2025 at 7:41 am

    cannabis has ALWAYS BEEN MEDICINE. AND always will

  29. @kimwilliamson7880 on March 12, 2025 at 7:42 am

    This looks like synthetic THC which doesn’t create intoxication and is being used off label for young people too.

  30. @davidpaylor5666 on March 12, 2025 at 7:43 am

    Actually I cannot think of anything better than replacing the opioid epidemic with a cannabis epidemic (which has already happened, btw).

    I hate the condescension of this, just which generation first popularised weed in the West? Would that be the generation who are now drawing pensions and being described as seniors?

  31. @brianwells9351 on March 12, 2025 at 7:44 am

    BECAUSE THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY IN INCAPABLE OF TREATING PATIENTS

  32. @tessmith7340 on March 12, 2025 at 7:45 am

    Because they were potheads in their youth?

  33. @bradhunt9518 on March 12, 2025 at 7:45 am

    Its better than booze.

  34. @cpt.ahab_it7044 on March 12, 2025 at 7:45 am

    With Kamala we can get legal weed for the whole country.

  35. @adamfrbs9259 on March 12, 2025 at 7:48 am

    Spoiler alert, they’ve been using it all along, and dealing it, for many many decades. Sh*tty people get old too, they just become sh>tty old people. The American way is, if you don’t have your hand in the cookie jar from dealing, you are the cookie jar. And the effed up cycle continues to the next generation, again and again and again.

  36. @paulbush2249 on March 12, 2025 at 7:48 am

    "Doesn’t get high" I stopped there

  37. @JS-fq9bn on March 12, 2025 at 7:49 am

    At least no one overdoses and dies while using cannabis unlike opiates. “Cannabis epidemic” is he kidding.

  38. @MMMlewis5592-q1b on March 12, 2025 at 7:50 am

    Nothing wrong with weed idk why anyone thinks it’s a big deal I mean look at how bad alcohol and cigarettes are and they’ve always been legal

  39. @Ginger-g7i on March 12, 2025 at 7:52 am

    Im 65 and don’t use prescription pain killers. I have arthritis in my spin. I have been smoking weed for 50 years. Made it through cancer too. I highly recommend the intake of weed in any form.

  40. @ronaldrey8474 on March 12, 2025 at 7:54 am

    More corrupt fake news ! This isn’t new , and your just now asking ?
    Hilarious

  41. @chasmenear7130 on March 12, 2025 at 7:54 am

    ‘Shocking’ answer…. Because they were doing cannabis DECADES ago, and know that (regardless of stupid so called ‘studies’) it is harmless, and effective.

  42. @vedacarmony5754 on March 12, 2025 at 7:56 am

    It’s called CANNABIS. Fyi.

  43. @poorsgrayofficial599 on March 12, 2025 at 7:56 am

    Can’t wait to see all this pathetic hypocritical old people that is against weed now depending on it to leave normally

  44. @Meitsme1966-w2t on March 12, 2025 at 7:56 am

    Duhhhhh… Seniors today were the hippies of the sixties.

  45. @JNO_JNO on March 12, 2025 at 7:57 am

    Because getting old sucks 😂

  46. @StarSeedPharaoh on March 12, 2025 at 7:57 am

    They not moving fast enough tbh

  47. @RichRich1955 on March 12, 2025 at 7:57 am

    I have neck problems from injuries. A dr suggested strengthening the neck. I eventually started doing that and my neck is far, far better.

  48. @TheMatschmen on March 12, 2025 at 8:00 am

    "we dont wanna replace an opioid epidemic with a marijuanna epidemic"… um are we sure that we dont wanna do thqt?

  49. @raylamp4505 on March 12, 2025 at 8:01 am

    Been smoking since 11 years old, now 61 and my brain is fine. Weed helps with the body aches. I prefer a blunt, only a puff or two is needed, blunt lasts all day. Grape swisher. Lol.

  50. @ronmcc100 on March 12, 2025 at 8:02 am

    A number of these people were originally given Opioids, then they took them away because of a trumped up crisis. They try to get relief with cannabis, but it’s a joke! my wife has been working with doctors for decades! Everyone is effected differently, there is NO standardization of quality, and if you FIND something that actually seems to help, you may never see it again and if you do, it may not have the same effect. I’ve listened to hundreds of people tell me of the relief they’ve gotten with it, but everything is anecdotal. We’ve purchased and read scholarly texts, info designed for physicians and caregivers (my wife is a former nurse who graduated top of her class) and there is just no solid evidence that this stuff works. In short, if it works for you, I’m happy for you and would encourage you to continue your regimen, with God’s blessings! But as for me, this is nothing but snake oil!

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