New Marijuana Survey Shows Boomers Embracing Cannabis
October 29, 2018
COLUMBUS, OH–Lisa Cini’s new survey regarding marijuana and cannabidiol (CBD) use by baby boomers and older revealed that 83% of the 11,000+ respondents are using some form of cannabis, either for medical, recreational purposes or both. Almost 50% partake both for recreational and medical reasons, 66% partake daily, and 5% use rarely. Only 12% have never used marijuana. The numbers reveal that marijuana and/or CBD use is an important component of many seniors’ lives.
“The results frankly shocked me, and I believe they will generate some much-needed dialogue about aging, senior living, and what it means to have the freedom to be our best selves as we age,” said Cini, senior living expert and author of multiple books focused on seniors aging on their own terms. “74.1 million baby boomers in the U.S. today, don’t just want freedom as they age; they consider it oxygen for their soul. We can’t avoid factoring in that recreational drugs were part of how the boomer generation grew up, and when it comes to marijuana, quite a few have either never stopped partaking or have resumed doing so when no longer having to maintain a career or raise children.”
In recent years, laws legalizing medical use have been enacted in 31 states, and recreational use in nine states plus D.C. These changes have brought a major new multi-billion-dollar industry into being. So, what does all this mean for those who, like Cini, are dedicated to making lives better for seniors? There’s a great deal more to marijuana than just getting high, especially for seniors battling health and comfort challenges.
The survey, conducted between July and August of 2018, spread like wildfire among over 15,000 boomers, with more than 67% completing the survey, translating into more than 11,000+ legitimate and complete responses.
80% of survey respondents were baby boomers, 17% were borderline boomers aged 50-53, and 3% were over 72 years of age. A big shocker for Cini was that 37% of the respondents live in a state where marijuana is not legal for any purpose, which she believes adds validity to the survey because it negates the issue of seniors enjoying marijuana only because it’s legal in their state. It also means that these seniors are thwarting the law and making the effort to get their cannabis somehow.
“Marijuana use is a reality that we can’t just ignore,” adds Cini. “It’s time to get over our fear of discussing it because it’s part of the daily lives of so many. Do we now need to think about senior-friendly tools for using marijuana? Are there implications for designing seniors’ living spaces? What about marijuana-using seniors who live with family members who don’t use, including grandchildren? Let’s address these questions in honest, open forums.”
Cini is an award-winning senior living designer, President/CEO, Mosaic Design Studio and author of The Future is Here: Senior Living Re-imagined, Hive, which describes her family’s four generations living under the same roof in her own home, and soon to be released, BOOM: The Baby Boomers Guide to Leveraging Technology, so that you can Preserve Your Independent Lifestyle & Thrive. Lisa’s web site BestLivingTech.com offers tech products that help seniors Embrace Aging and live independently.
Cini will be speaking at HealthTAC 2019, giving both a keynote presentation and speaking on a panel discussion regarding culture and operational issues that communities face and how they solve those problems. HealthTAC 2019 produced by Senior Living News will be held at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, Nassau, Bahamas, April 7-9.