Program Area: Interdisciplinary

Policy Series: The Cannabis and Older Persons Study: Expanding Our Minds Through Interdisciplinary Research

Chair(s)

• 

  Brian Kaskie, PhD

  Professor of Health Policy
  Health Policy
  University of Iowa
  Iowa City, Iowa, United States

Discussant(s)

• BH

  Benjamin Han, MD, MPH

  Associate Professor
  Medicine
  UC San Diego
  La Jolla, California, United States

Individual Symposium Abstract First Author(s)

• JB

  Julie Bobitt, PhD

  Assistant Professor
  Department of Medicine Center for Dissemination and Implementation Science
  University of Illinois at Chicago
  Chicago, Illinois, United States
• DB

  Divya Bhagianadh, PhD (she/her/hers)

  Postdoctoral Associate
  Health Management and Policy
  Rutgers School of Social Work
  New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States
• TR

  Thorsten Rudroff, PhD

  Associate Professort
  Health and Human Physiology
  University of Iowa
  Iowa City, Iowa, United States
• 

  Jacobo` Mintzer, MD (he/him/his)

  Professor
  Medicine
  Medical University of South Carolina
  Charleston, South Carolina, United States

The Cannabis and Older Persons Study has examined the increasing use of cannabis among Americans over 60 years old since 2016. This year’s symposium presents varied methodological approaches researchers have used to better understand the harms and benefits associated with cannabis use among older Americans. Divya Bhagianadh examines the association between cannabis legalization policies across the United States and corresponding use of end of life programs and services. Julie Bobitt analyzes interviews provided by older adults in Illinois and defines how attitudes held by medical doctors and other clinical care providers are critical to shaping cannabis use among older adults. Brian Kaskie considers the role of cannabis policy clusters. Jacobo Mintzer reviews findings from a controlled trial providing two cannabinoids to treat agitation among persons with Alzheimers in hospice. Thorsten Rudroff examines cannabis use among a sample of older persons at risk for falls. These studies reflect how cannabis use among older persons continues to grow and diversify, and how researchers have use different approaches to advance scientific understanding of determinants and outcomes, both desirable and undesirable, associated with cannabis use among older adults. This symposium offers policy makers and health care leaders a balanced perspective. On one side, we discuss how prevention and treatment efforts for substance use disorder, including cannabis use disorder, must increase proportionally to the increasing number of older cannabis users. On the other side, we consider how more than 5 million older Americans, especially those with pain, find some benefit in using cannabis.

Presentations:

• 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM ET

  Older Adults' Perceptions of Cannabis and Opioids Use
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Julie Bobitt, PhD – University of Illinois at Chicago
• 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM ET

  Medical Marijuana Laws and Out of Pocket Expenses at End of Life
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Divya Bhagianadh, PhD (she/her/hers) – Rutgers School of Social Work
• 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM ET

  Cannabis Use and Risk of Falling in Older Adults
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Thorsten Rudroff, PhD – University of Iowa
• 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM ET

  Potential Benefits of THC and CBD in the Treatment of Hospice-Eligible Demented and Agitated Patients
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Jacobo` Mintzer, MD (he/him/his) – Medical University of South Carolina