#CannabisTrends

Recent U.S. research shows a sharp rise in cannabis use among adults 65 and older. From 2021 to 2023, use grew by about 46%, with roughly one in seven seniors reporting cannabis use in the past month. This marks a dramatic shift from two decades ago and highlights new public health considerations as societies age, including Thailand, which is watching international trends closely.

Why this matters for Thai readers lies in Thailand’s evolving stance on medical cannabis. Since legalization steps began in 2018 and continued with decriminalization in 2022, access to cannabis products has increased. As Thailand’s elderly population grows, international experience offers lessons for health care, regulation, and social norms in the kingdom.

The latest findings from US-based research show that marijuana use among seniors has surged to unprecedented levels, sparking both celebration and concern within the medical community. According to multiple 2025 reports and studies, the rate of cannabis use among adults aged 65 and older rose by nearly 46% from 2021 to 2023, with approximately one in every seven seniors now reporting cannabis use in the past month. This dramatic shift, up from just 1 in 100 twenty years ago, reflects not only changing generational attitudes towards cannabis but also signals new public health challenges and opportunities for societies embracing an aging population—Thailand included (Axios, FOX News, WGAU Radio).