Figures from Statistics Canada showed that baby boomers, or those who are over the age of 55, are the primary consumers of marijuana.
In a reported titled: “Experimental Estimates of Cannabis Consumption in Canada,” about five million Canadians consumed marijuana in 2015. Fewer than 6 percent were in the 15-17 age range, two-thirds were over 25 years, and the majority remainder were older Canadians.
This comes as a huge contrast to the 1960s, where about 18 percent of consumers were teenagers. The mid-1960s witnessed what was known as the Hippie and Civil Rights movements. Many hippies used cannabis, considering it pleasurable and benign.
Irrespective of history, however, this doesn’t come as surprise as marijuana is known for its pain-relief quality especially for people who start experiencing aging at its zenith.
Marijuana storefront operators concur that their regular clients are over age 55.
The 83-year-old Jeff Simpson told Vancouver Business that he began using marijuana in his late 50s when he was diagnosed with a form of rheumatoid arthritis in his spine.
The conventional medicine Simpson received came with a host of side effects.
“The drugs that my doctor had always prescribed for me were really pretty awful,” he said, explaining why he chose medical marijuana.