More women using cannabis to help with menopause
New research from The Menopause Society Conference highlights growing use of weed among mid-life women
Can cannabis help menopause symptoms? Maybe. But there’s still a lot to find out about potential benefits vs. risks, according to a new study presented during the 2023 Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society in Philadelphia.
Adults 50 and older represent the fastest growing group of cannabis users. And about 2 in every 5 women in mid-life say they’re using it — some every day — to manage an array of menopause symptoms.
With rapidly expanding legalization and normalization, recreational and medical cannabis use is increasing across all age groups. Past research largely focused on usage habits by men and younger adults. Researchers from the University of California, San Franciso wanted to take a look at the frequency, forms, and motives of cannabis use by primarily postmenopausal women.
They found that cannabis use is relatively common in this age group. Over 40% of those surveyed reported ever using cannabis for recreational or therapeutic purposes, most often to treat chronic pain (28%), anxiety (24%), sleep problems (22%), and stress (22%). Women who reported using cannabis specifically for menopause symptoms (6%) primarily said it was for helping with menopause-related mood and…
