by Nicole Swenarton,Rutgers University

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Fewer than 1 in 5 adults older than 65 report discussing their cannabis use with clinicians, according to Rutgers Health researchers. Theirstudy, published in theAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine,explored the prevalence of conversations between patients and clinicians about cannabis use and its potential harms.

Research shows an increase in the number ofolder adultswho use cannabis, with 10.5% of adults older than 65 reporting using cannabis in the past year, according to reports from the2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

"Cannabis use is on the rise; therefore it's crucial for physicians to facilitate important conversations about the potential consequences of cannabis, especially for older adults and those with chronic diseases," said Pia Mauro, a core member of the Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science at the Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research and lead author of the study.

Using nationally representative data derived from more than 14,000 older adults, Rutgers Health researchers analyzed reports of cannabis and other drug use, whether patients were screened for drug use and whether they had conversations with their clinicians about their drug use.

In the study, 1 in 3 older adults reported being screened for cannabis or drug use by a clinician in the past year. Fewer than 1 in 5 older adults who used cannabis recreationally or medicinally reported discussing their use with a clinician.

Rutgers researchers warn that older adults need to understand cannabis use risks because aging and higher rates of chronic conditions make them more susceptible to harmful effects. But past research has reported that some clinicians feelconfusion or discomfortdiscussing cannabis use with patients, and some desire more education on the medical use of cannabis.

"Screenings for cannabis use, which are available to clinicians and easy to implement, should be part of routine medical care for all older adults," said Mauro, who is also an associate professor of epidemiology at the Rutgers School of Public Health. "Physicians can usesingle-item screening questionsto facilitate conversations about cannabis use during a routine visit."

The data showed even lower rates of cannabis use screenings and discussions reported by older women and older Hispanic or Latine populations. Researchers said these findings could be attributed to less frequent use of cannabis by women and systemic barriers facing marginalized populations.

In addition to further research on gender and racial gaps, researchers recommend conducting studies that incorporate restricted data with geographic information, which would allow findings to be analyzed within the context of varying state-level recreational cannabis laws.

Publication details Pia M. Mauro et al, Cannabis or Drug Screening and Discussions With Clinicians Among Older Adults Who Use Cannabis in the U.S., 2021–2023, American Journal of Preventive Medicine (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2026.108304 Journal information: American Journal of Preventive Medicine