# CBD Use Among Older Adults: Patterns and Clinical Insights > **Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD (ABFM Board Certified, MA Lic. #240562, NPI: 1962722637) > **Publisher:** CED Clinic (https://cedclinic.com) > **Canonical URL:** https://cedclinic.com/cbd-use-older-adults-patterns/ > **Published:** 2026-04-02T23:14:49-04:00 | **Last Modified / Clinically Audited:** 2026-09-28T10:31:32-04:00 > **Clinical Summary:** Explore CBD use older adults patterns from a national survey revealing prevalence, cannabis overlap, and clinical considerations for seniors. --- CED Clinical Relevance #88 High practical relevance This paper does not test efficacy, but it speaks directly to a fast-growing real-world pattern clinicians are already seeing in older patients. Clinical Insight | CED Clinic This is a prevalence and correlates paper, not a treatment trial. Its value is that it shows who is using CBD in later life and what patterns travel with that use, while reminding clinicians not to mistake correlation for benefit, safety, or causality. Older Adults CBD Epidemiology Cannabis Co-Use Mental Health Clinical Counseling Audience Clinicians, informed patients, caregivers, and health journalists Primary Topic CBD use among older adults Source [More access here](https://cedclinic.com/) Table of Contents - [CBD Use Among Older Adults: What This National Survey Really Shows](#CBD_Use_Among_Older_Adults_What_This_National_Survey_Really_Shows) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#Frequently_Asked_Questions)[1. Was this a study of CBD treatment effectiveness?](#1_Was_this_a_study_of_CBD_treatment_effectiveness) - [2. How common was CBD use in this sample?](#2_How_common_was_CBD_use_in_this_sample) - [3. Was CBD use more common than cannabis use in older seniors?](#3_Was_CBD_use_more_common_than_cannabis_use_in_older_seniors) - [4. Did the study prove that CBD helps older adults?](#4_Did_the_study_prove_that_CBD_helps_older_adults) - [5. What was the strongest association in the paper?](#5_What_was_the_strongest_association_in_the_paper) - [6. Did the paper identify what kind of CBD products people used?](#6_Did_the_paper_identify_what_kind_of_CBD_products_people_used) - [7. Why is self-report a problem in CBD research?](#7_Why_is_self-report_a_problem_in_CBD_research) - [8. What should clinicians do with this information?](#8_What_should_clinicians_do_with_this_information) - [9. Does the paper suggest a substitution effect away from opioids or other medications?](#9_Does_the_paper_suggest_a_substitution_effect_away_from_opioids_or_other_medications) - [10. What is the main takeaway for readers?](#10_What_is_the_main_takeaway_for_readers) - [Related](#Related) ## CBD Use Among Older Adults: What This National Survey Really Shows CBD use among older adults is no longer a niche phenomenon. This large national survey does not tell us whether CBD is working, but it does tell us who is using it, how often that use overlaps with cannabis, and why clinicians should be asking much more specific questions when older patients say they take “CBD.” What This Study Teaches Us This paper is a cross-sectional epidemiologic analysis of the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, focused specifically on adults age 50 and older. Its main contribution is not proving benefit or harm, but showing that past-year CBD use is common in later life, especially notable in adults 65 and older, where reported CBD use exceeded reported [cannabis use](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-cardiovascular-health-insights-2024/). It also shows that CBD use strongly clusters with both medical and nonmedical [cannabis use](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-cardiovascular-health-insights-2024/), and that different health and substance-use correlates appear in the 50 to 64 and 65-plus groups. The biggest limitation is built into the design: self-reported associations cannot tell us why people used CBD, what products they actually took, how much they took, or whether CBD caused any of the patterns seen. Why This Matters For clinicians, this paper matters because older adults are often assumed to be either cautious nonusers or simple “medical” users. This dataset suggests the real-world picture is more layered. A meaningful share of older adults report CBD use, many also report cannabis use, and some of that use sits alongside mental health burden, chronic illness, or other substance-use problems. That makes routine medication reconciliation and cannabinoid history-taking more important than many standard visits currently reflect. Why This Matters For lay readers, the study is useful because it pushes back on two familiar distortions. One is the idea that CBD is so benign and wellness-adjacent that it barely deserves medical discussion. The other is the opposite assumption, that any CBD use in older adults automatically signals misuse or danger. The paper supports neither simplification. It shows common use, meaningful overlap with cannabis, and enough complexity to justify careful, individualized conversation. Why This Matters At a public-health level, this study also highlights a surveillance problem. Consumers may think they are taking one thing while actually taking variable or mislabeled hemp-derived products, and large surveys still do not capture dosage, frequency, product chemistry, or motivation with enough precision. In other words, older adult CBD use is becoming more visible faster than the evidence base or product oversight is catching up. Study Snapshot Study Type Cross-sectional observational analysis of a nationally representative U.S. survey Population Community-dwelling U.S. adults age 50 and older, analyzed as ages 50 to 64 and ages 65 and older Exposure or Intervention Self-reported past-year CBD or hemp product use Comparator Older adults without past-year CBD use, with additional comparison across no cannabis use, [medical cannabis](https://cedclinic.com/therapeutic-benefits-of-thc/) use, and nonmedical cannabis use Primary Outcomes Prevalence of past-year CBD use and adjusted associations between CBD use and cannabis use, chronic illness count, mental illness, and other substance-use problems Sample Size or Scope 10,560 survey respondents age 50 and older, representing nearly 119 million U.S. adults Journal Clinical Gerontologist Year 2025 DOI 10.1080/07317115.2024.2429595 Funding or Conflicts Supported by National Institute on Aging grant P30AG066614; authors reported no conflict of interest Clinical Bottom Line CBD use among older adults is common and often travels with cannabis use, but this paper does not show that CBD is treating disease, reducing medication burden, or causing the health patterns linked with it. It supports better screening and better counseling, not bigger claims. What This Paper Looked At The authors used 2022 NSDUH data to examine self-reported past-year CBD use in U.S. adults age 50 and older. They split the sample into ages 50 to 64 and ages 65 and older, then modeled how CBD use related to [medical cannabis](https://cedclinic.com/therapeutic-benefits-of-thc/) use, nonmedical cannabis use, chronic illness count, mental illness, nicotine dependence, [alcohol use disorder](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-infused-drinks-may-help-people-cut-their-alcohol-intake-in-half/), psychotherapeutic medication misuse, illicit drug use, and several sociodemographic variables. Importantly, this was not a study of prescribed CBD, verified product chemistry, clinical response, or longitudinal outcomes. It was a study of reported use patterns and reported health associations. What the Paper Found Past-year CBD use was reported by 18.3% of adults age 50 to 64 and 14.3% of adults age 65 and older. In the older group, CBD use was more common than cannabis use, which was reported by 8.0%. In adjusted models, both medical and nonmedical cannabis use were strongly associated with CBD use in both age groups, with incidence rate ratios above 4 in each group. In adults 50 to 64, CBD use was also associated with more chronic illnesses, mild and moderate to severe mental illness, and illicit drug use. In adults 65 and older, CBD use was significantly associated with disordered psychotherapeutic drug use, while physical health burden was not a significant correlate after adjustment. The paper also found lower reported CBD use among several minoritized groups relative to non-Hispanic white respondents. How Strong Is This Evidence? This is useful but mid-tier observational evidence for prevalence and pattern recognition. Because the sample is nationally representative and large, the paper is stronger than a small convenience survey for describing how common reported CBD use is in older adults. But because it is cross-sectional and self-reported, it sits far below randomized trials for questions of efficacy or safety, and below longitudinal cohorts for questions about directionality over time. Where This Paper Deserves Skepticism Several caution points matter here. First, the survey cannot tell us why respondents used CBD, whether they used it for pain, sleep, anxiety, wellness, or something else. Second, it does not provide dose, frequency, route, product type, or laboratory confirmation of what was actually consumed. Third, the survey category bundled “CBD or hemp products,” which means some respondents may have been using products containing other cannabinoids, including intoxicating hemp-derived compounds. Fourth, all exposure and health data were self-reported, so recall error, misunderstanding of product content, and social desirability bias are real concerns. Fifth, cross-sectional associations can run in multiple directions. People with more illness may seek CBD, rather than CBD being related to illness in any causal sense. Finally, because CBD use among older adults appears here as a broad consumer behavior rather than a verified pharmacologic intervention, the findings are better understood as a map of use patterns than as a map of clinical effects. What This Paper Does Not Show It does not show that CBD improves pain, sleep, anxiety, mood, or any chronic disease in older adults. It does not show that CBD caused the higher rates of certain mental health or substance-use problems seen in some groups. It does not show that over-the-counter [CBD products](https://cedclinic.com/fda-warning-on-cbd-products/) were accurately labeled, contaminant-free, or chemically uniform. And it does not tell us whether CBD reduced the use of opioids, benzodiazepines, alcohol, or other drugs in this sample. How This Fits With the Broader Clinical Conversation This paper lands in an increasingly familiar clinical territory. Public interest in CBD has outpaced both product regulation and high-quality outcome data. That mismatch creates a strange environment where older patients may be using CBD regularly, sometimes alongside cannabis and other medications, while clinicians still have limited trial-quality evidence to guide them. The study also helps separate two issues that are often collapsed into one. One issue is whether CBD is effective for particular conditions. The other is whether CBD use among older adults is common enough, complex enough, and clinically relevant enough to deserve structured questioning during care. This paper makes the second point more convincingly than the first. Midway through that broader conversation, the phrase CBD use among older adults stops being a niche search term and starts looking like a standard geriatric intake topic. Dr. Caplan’s Take *What I appreciate about this paper is that it stays mostly in its lane. It is not pretending to solve the efficacy question. It is showing us that a large number of older adults are already in the marketplace, already making decisions, and often doing so in ways that overlap with cannabis use and other health complexity. That alone is clinically important.* *Where I would urge restraint is in how people narrate the associations. A reader could easily overread this into either reassurance or alarm. Neither is justified. The better lesson is practical: ask what product the patient is actually using, why they chose it, what else they take, what they think it is doing, and whether the label can be trusted at all.* What a Careful Reader Should Take Away This is a good descriptive paper about a real and growing phenomenon. It tells us that reported CBD use is common in adults over 50, especially striking in those over 65, and that it frequently overlaps with cannabis use and certain markers of health complexity. It does not settle debates about benefit, substitution, or safety. Its best use is to sharpen clinical curiosity, improve patient interviewing, and keep interpretation disciplined. 💬 Join the Conversation Have a question about how this applies to your situation? [Ask Dr. Caplan →](https://benjamincaplan.com/ask-dr-caplan) Want to discuss this topic with other patients and caregivers? [Join the forum discussion →](https://cedclinic.com/interact/discussion-forums/) Have thoughts on this? Share it: [𝕏 Share on X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=CBD%20Use%20Among%20Older%20Adults%3A%20What%20This%20National%20Survey%20Really%20Shows&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcedclinic.com%2Fcbd-use-among-older-adults%2F) [in Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcedclinic.com%2Fcbd-use-among-older-adults%2F) [🦅 Share on BlueSky](https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=CBD%20Use%20Among%20Older%20Adults%3A%20What%20This%20National%20Survey%20Really%20Shows%20https%3A%2F%2Fcedclinic.com%2Fcbd-use-among-older-adults%2F) [📷 Follow on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/drbenjamincaplan/) [📝 Read more on Substack](https://substack.com/@doctorapproved) [🔔 Subscribe via RSS](https://cedclinic.com/category/cannabis-news/feed/) 📰 Source: [More access here](https://cedclinic.com/) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### 1. Was this a study of CBD treatment effectiveness? No. It was a survey-based observational study looking at who reported using CBD and what characteristics were associated with that use. ### 2. How common was CBD use in this sample? Past-year CBD use was reported by 18.3% of adults age 50 to 64 and 14.3% of adults age 65 and older. ### 3. Was CBD use more common than cannabis use in older seniors? Yes, in adults 65 and older, reported CBD use was more common than reported cannabis use in this dataset. ### 4. Did the study prove that CBD helps older adults? No. The design cannot tell us whether CBD was effective, ineffective, or harmful for the reasons respondents may have been using it. ### 5. What was the strongest association in the paper? The most consistent finding was the strong positive association between CBD use and both medical and nonmedical cannabis use in both age groups. ### 6. Did the paper identify what kind of CBD products people used? No. It did not capture detailed [product formulation](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-commercialization-challenges-march-16-2026/), dosage, route, frequency, or verified cannabinoid content. ### 7. Why is self-report a problem in CBD research? Many consumers do not know exactly what is in the products they buy, so respondents may misclassify CBD, hemp, THC-containing hemp products, or mixed cannabinoid products. ### 8. What should clinicians do with this information? Ask older patients specifically about CBD and hemp products, not just “cannabis,” and clarify product type, reason for use, co-use with THC, and possible medication interactions. ### 9. Does the paper suggest a substitution effect away from opioids or other medications? Not directly. The authors discuss that possibility, but this dataset does not demonstrate medication substitution. ### 10. What is the main takeaway for readers? CBD use in later life is common enough to matter clinically, but the evidence here describes patterns of use, not proof of therapeutic value. {“@context”:”https://schema.org”,”@type”:”Article”,”headline”:”CBD Use Among Older Adults: What This National Survey Really Shows”,”about”:”CBD use among older adults”,”url”:”https://cedclinic.com/cbd-use-among-older-adults/”,”description”:”CBD use among older adults is rising, and this national survey shows who is using CBD, how it overlaps with cannabis use, and what careful readers should and should not conclude from the data.”} [https://cedclinic.com/contact/](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) Physician-Led, Whole-Person Care A doctor who takes the time to truly understand you. Personal care that starts with listening and is guided by experience and ingenuity. Health, Longevity, Wellness One-on-One Cannabis Guidance Metabolic Balance [Leave a Message](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) [Metabolic Care](https://cedclinic.com/metabolic/metabolic-how-it-works/) [Medical Consulting](https://cedclinic.com/book/) [Cannabis Care](https://cedclinic.com/book/) [https://cedclinic.com/contact/](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) RELATED READING AT CED CLINIC Continue exploring the evidence [Study Suggests Older Adults Prefer CBD or CBD/THC Combinations for Medicinal Cannabis](https://cedclinic.com/study-suggests-older-adults-prefer-cbd-or-cbd-thc-combinations-for-medicinal-cannabis/) This study explores preferences among older adults for CBD and CBD/THC combinations, providing insight into medicinal cannabis use in seniors. [Read Study](https://cedclinic.com/study-suggests-older-adults-prefer-cbd-or-cbd-thc-combinations-for-medicinal-cannabis/) [Does Cannabis Use by Older Adults Accelerate Mental Decline? | Trending – Labroots](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-use-older-adults-mental-decline-evidence/) An analysis of cannabis use and its potential impact on mental decline in older adults, offering a nuanced view of cognitive health. [Explore Analysis](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-use-older-adults-mental-decline-evidence/) [Medical Cannabis and Palliative Care: What This End-of-Life Study Actually Shows](https://cedclinic.com/medical-cannabis-palliative-care-utilization-study/) This article reviews the role of medical cannabis in palliative care, highlighting findings relevant to older adult patients. [Learn More](https://cedclinic.com/medical-cannabis-palliative-care-utilization-study/) ### Related --- ### Verification & Medical Governance - **Lead Clinical Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD - **Credentials:** Board Certified in Family Medicine (ABFM), Former CMO Canna Care Docs (250,000+ patients supervised), Founder & CMO CED Clinic & CED Foundation, Author of *The Doctor-Approved Cannabis Handbook* (Penguin Random House). - **Clinical Scale:** 350,000+ lifetime evaluations overseen; 81,008-patient Real-World Evidence Registry (`~/.ced_rwe_vault.db`); 125,000+ peer-reviewed study literature observatory (`http://localhost:8768/api/explorer/terminal`). - **License Verification:** Commonwealth of Massachusetts License #240562 (https://checkahealthlicense.mass.gov/). - **NPI Registry:** 1962722637 (https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/provider-view/1962722637). - **Ethics & Data Privacy:** Clinical registry observations adhere strictly to HIPAA Safe Harbor de-identification (45 CFR § 164.514(b)) and criteria for secondary research exemption under 45 CFR § 46.104(d)(4).