Data was collected from a San Francisco dispensary on 217 patients that were placed into three age groups: younger (18-30), middle (30-50) and older (51-72). The age groups were compared on several measures of cannabis (marijuana) use, motives and medical conditions.
This study found that all 3 age groups had similar frequency of use in the past 30 days, however the quantity of cannabis use and the rates of problematic cannabis use were higher in the youngest group.
Middle age users were more likely to use marijuana for insomnia, while older users were more likely to use it for chronic medical problems such as cancer, glaucoma and HIV/AIDS. Younger users reported using more likely out of boredom than the other groups.
Apparently the lessons of safe and wise consumption, like many lessons in life, are better expressed in the middle and older populations. Perhaps this should be strongly considered by younger users learning the proper roles of self medicating.
