Baby Boomer Bong Rips: Pot Use Soars Among Older Americans

By Steve Elliott

 

It was inevitable: When the Baby Boomers hit middle age, they brought along their buds and bongs. Americans over age 50 are using marijuana in record numbers, according to new survey data.


And those numbers are going to go even, well, "higher," the government admits.

"High rates of lifetime drug use among the baby boom generation (persons born between 1946 and 1964), combined with the large size of the cohort, suggest that the number of older adults using drugs will increase in the next two decades," the study says.

Marijuana use was more common than the "non-medical" use of prescription-type drugs both for adults 50-54 (6.1 vs. 3.4 percent) and those aged 55-59 (4.1 vs. 3.2 percent). This shouldn't come as a great surprise; after all, it stands to reason that folks this age, with a wealth of life experiences on which to base decisions, would make safer choices.

ds_06142_08_zen_v6.jpg
Photo: The Daily Show

​Marijuana use, in fact, was more common than non-medical use of prescription drugs among all males over 50 (4.2 percent vs. 2.3 percent).  Among females, the rates of marijuana use and non-medical use of prescription drugs were very similar (1.7 and 1.9 percent).

But conventional wisdom still holds sway on the oldsters over 65, who prefer popping their pills. Non-medical use of prescription drugs was more common than marijuana use among those over 65 (0.8 percent vs. 0.4 percent).

Among men 50 to 54, nearly one in 10 admitted to having smoked marijuana within the past year. Among males 50 to 60, more than four percent said they'd used cannabis.

a-wise-old-woman.jpg
Photo: ravedrama.wordpress.com
​Among females 50 to 54, four percent admitted having used pot in the previous year.

"While the federal government refuses to acknowledge that marijuana has a legitimate role as a medicine, in particular one that can offset many of the symptoms and conditions associated with aging, it is nevertheless apparent that a growing percentage of the public -- and older Americans, especially -- are becoming increasingly aware of this plant's safety and efficacy," said Paul Armentano, deputy directory of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).

The new numbers come from survey data compiled by the United States Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Association (SAMHSA) in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (The NSDUH Report).
 

Views: 55

Reply to This

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

Doc Vega posted a blog post

Something is Making Fishermen Disappear It’s not Alligators or Sharks

 The setting is a section of the Ohio River where many locals enjoy fishing, swimming, and boating.…See More
5 hours ago
Sandy posted photos
5 hours ago
Роман is now a member of 12160 Social Network
9 hours ago
Doc Vega posted a blog post

Always Wondering

The face of reality pressed against your window paneIs it engineered or is it real rain?So, you…See More
yesterday
tjdavis favorited Burbia's video
Friday
tjdavis posted a photo
Friday
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's photo
Thursday
cheeki kea posted a photo
Thursday
rlionhearted_3 posted a photo
Thursday
Sandy posted photos
Thursday
james will posted a blog post

how to doanload mp3 online?

An MP3 downloader is a useful online tool that allows users to convert and download their favorite…See More
Wednesday
Doc Vega commented on rlionhearted_3's photo
Thumbnail

Another incredibly Stupid!! What, no mirrors?

"Personally , I go for the more classic forms of cosmetic surgery! "
Tuesday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Tuesday
Less Prone favorited tjdavis's video
Tuesday
Less Prone commented on rlionhearted_3's photo
Thumbnail

Another incredibly Stupid!! What, no mirrors?

"When the problem is inside, it causes transformations like this. I like the original better. Maybe…"
Tuesday
Less Prone favorited james will's blog post YouTube Downloader Tools You Never Knew Existed
Tuesday
james will posted a blog post

YouTube Downloader Tools You Never Knew Existed

A YouTube downloader is an online tool or software that helps convert YouTube videos into…See More
Tuesday
tjdavis posted a video

Experimenter - Official Trailer

Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/experimenterfilmYale University, 1961. Stanley Milgram (Peter Sarsgaard) designs a psychology experiment that stil...
Tuesday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

How Did the Soviets First Discover the SR-71 Blackbird?

Although President Lydon Johnson announced the development of the Lockheed SR-71 in 1964 which…See More
Feb 1
Doc Vega commented on Burbia's blog post Disgraced Former CNN Anchor Don Lemon Arrested
"Personally, I don't consider Don Lemon or people like him to be journalists at all. They are…"
Feb 1

© 2026   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted