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.
“They really wanted a better quality of life,” said Rebecca Delaney, PhD, one of the study’s authors, summing up why many older adults were willing to experiment. Delaney and her co-authors told University of Utah Health that pain relief, sleep, and mental health benefits were the main motivations, and that actual conversations with clinicians were uncommon.
What It Means For Utah Residents
The interviews in the JAMA paper took place in Colorado, where recreational cannabis is legal, so the scene there looks different from Utah’s medical-only system. In Utah, the medical cannabis program limits who can recommend products and which forms are allowed, and the state manages approvals and provider registration through its program rules, according to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. That regulatory setup means some types of edibles and some of the Colorado-style retail experiences are not available to Utahns unless they qualify for and obtain medical certification.
Safety And Medical Advice
Clinicians and other experts point out that edibles take longer to kick in and their effects stick around longer than smoked cannabis, which can increase the chances of accidental overconsumption and risky interactions with common medications used by older adults. Health commentators recommend a cautious dosing strategy, often boiled down to “start low and go slow,” and urge older patients to talk with a qualified provider before adding cannabis to their routine. Local seniors who are curious about edibles are encouraged to weigh possible benefits and risks with their clinicians and to consult expert rundowns of clinical warnings, per ScienceDaily.
Utah media have already picked up on the findings, with ABC4 Utah highlighting the study’s central takeaways. The researchers note that their results point to a growing need for better patient-facing materials and clearer clinician guidance as cannabis use rises among older adults, a point spelled out in the discussion section of JAMA Network Open.
