Canna ChronicleIf you were to take a guess as to what is it the fastest-growing demographic of U.S. pot users, you might say millennials, but you would be wrong. It is, to the surprise of many people, senior citizens.
Between 2013 and 2014, the number Americans over 55 who use marijuana has risen from 2.8 million to 4.3 million, according to a report by CBS news.
Among the 55 and older segment of the population, cannabis consumption is up 53 percent. This is most likely due to people seeking an alternative to prescription drugs that is safer and with fewer side effects.
Although seniors make up only 14 percent of the U.S. population, they use over 30 percent of the nation’s prescription drugs.
It’s ironic that while seniors could really benefit from cannabis use, they remain largely a demographic that is the most opposed to the reform of cannabis laws. It is very possible that because so many seniors vote, they have the power to end marijuana prohibition.
Read more here: blog.sfgate.com