Stanford: Modern Cannabis Increases Heart Fall Risks
SkimNews Take
The rising potency of modern cannabis strains means prior experience with the substance may not accurately inform older adults' risk assessment, potentially leading to unintended overconsumption and adverse effects.
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- Stanford Medicine warns that regular cannabis use can increase older adults' risk of heart problems, falls, memory issues, dangerous drug interactions, and addiction.
- National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports cannabis use among adults 65+ rose from under 5% in 2021 to 7% in 2023.
- Eloise Theisen, a geriatric nurse practitioner at Stanford, notes many seniors use cannabis without medical guidance, prompting risk assessment.
- Smita Das, MD, PhD, says there is no broad medical agreement that cannabis effectively treats chronic pain, insomnia, or anxiety in older adults.
- Medical marijuana is legal in 40 states and D.C., while recreational cannabis is legal in 24 states and D.C., yet modern products are far more potent than those from decades ago.
Why it matters: With 7% of adults 65+ now using cannabis, seniors face higher heart events, falls and addiction, which will raise Medicare expenses and strain clinicians treating age‑related complications.
