Salt Lake City — Older adults in and around Salt Lake are increasingly reaching for cannabis edibles to take the edge off chronic pain, get some sleep, and steady their mood, according to new research. Many were on the verge of buying edibles for the very first time and were more likely to lean on friends or relatives for tips than to ask a doctor.
The study was first described in a newsroom post from the University of Utah Health, which highlighted interviews with older shoppers about why they were turning to edible cannabis. Researchers said the project charted how older adults choose between CBD, THC, and combination products, and where they go for information about dosing and safety.
The full research paper, published May 8 in JAMA Network Open, reported interviews with 169 adults ages 60 and older in Colorado who were about to purchase edible cannabis for the first time. Most of those participants opted for combination THC–CBD products, with a clear majority choosing mixed formulations rather than CBD-dominant or THC-dominant edibles. Although the work was qualitative, the authors found consistent patterns in why older adults were trying edibles and which products they picked…