Age as a Predictor of Cannabis Use

This chapter examines current trends in cannabis use across age groups, and the factors associated with use among age group cohorts. Data across European and North American countries consistently show highest past year prevalence of use among persons aged 24 and younger. However, current use as measured by cannabis use in the past 30 days, reveals unique and different age group prevalence across countries (eg, past month use among 25-34 year olds in Belgium exceeds use among people aged 24 or younger). Moreover, among older adults (45-65) in the United States, their past year and past month use are the highest prevalence rates worldwide for this age cohort. Use among older adults reflects aging cohorts where cannabis use is socially normative, and increasing medicinal use of cannabis in the United States. Thus, indicating that using age as a predictor of cannabis use requires (1) time specific qualification for cannabis use (ever used, past year, past month), and (2) cultural context by country.