Older Americans are turning to medical marijuana.

A survey of 1,250 Medicare recipients over sixty-five found that one in five respondents are using medicinal cannabis to treat one or more health conditions, with sixty-six percent believing the cost should be covered by Medicare.

The top three conditions Medicare recipients are treating with medical marijuana are anxiety, pain, and depression. Other conditions include glaucoma, HIV/Aids, Alzheimer’s disease, and Chron’s disease.

Of the third who believed the cost shouldn’t be covered by Medicare, thirty-eight percent said they feared the involvement of insurance and pharmaceutical companies would drive up the cost while thirty-one percent believed the long-term impacts of cannabis are still unknown.

Currently, thirty-eight US states have legalized medical marijuana with eighteen allowing cannabis to be used recreationally.

Democratic politicians have largely been the driving force behind legalization efforts, and the survey found that Medicare recipients who identify as Democrats are more likely than Republicans to currently use medical marijuana.

Reference

“1 in 5 Medicare recipients use medical marijuana” Medicare Plans (2022)