Papa and Nana may be lighting up, and they aren’t the only ones.

Record numbers of older adults are getting high on marijuana. A recent New York University analysis of survey results found that in 2023, 7% of adults 65 and older reported using marijuana in the past month.

That number is up almost 46% from 2021, when just 4.8% reported using cannabis.

Back in 2006 and 2007, only about 1% of older adults reported using the drug in the past month.

The trend is hardly surprising: Most Americans now live in a state that has legalized marijuana use for medical or recreational use. Or both.

It’s important because many adults with chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer and high blood pressure, reported using marijuana, which can complicate the management of those diseases.

The study relied upon answers from more than 15,000 people who took part in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

The NYU researchers noted sharper increases in marijuana use by white, married, college-degree holders and those with an income of at least $75,000 a year.

Older women also saw a steep increase in use, although older men remain more likely to use the drug.

The researchers made no judgment about whether older adults’ increasing marijuana use is good or bad. But they noted that the physiological changes accompanying aging can include more sensitivity to psychoactive substances, so using the drug can be dangerous if the user isn’t aware of the risks.

Also important to know: Marijuana can also interact with prescription medicines in a way that may cause unwanted side effects or make them less effective.