Cannabis and the Older Adult

Additional fee session

Sponsored by the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use Among Older Adults Special Interest Group and the Achieving Health Equity Among Diverse Older Adults (AHEAD) Special Interest Group

Moderator: Alison A. Moore, MD, MPH

This is an interactive, interprofessional pre-conference session aiming to provide health professionals with the knowledge and skills to be able to discuss cannabis with their older adult patients and/or care partners, as well as assess for risky use and apply harm reduction strategies. Learning Objectives: (1) list different formulations of cannabis, including their pharmacology, and appreciate the history of cannabis use and how its legal status affects the availability of research data and use stigma; (2) provide education to patients and caregivers regarding the use of cannabis, including its potential benefits and harms based on the literature available; (3) screen for and diagnose risky cannabis use, cannabis use disorder, and list the next steps in management; and (4) organize a cannabis-related clinical assessment they can apply to their clinical practice.

The History of Cannabis Use and Its Epidemiology of Use Among Older Adults
Benjamin H. Han, MD, MPH

Pharmacology and Formulations of Cannabis
Kimberly J. Beiting, MD

Evidence Behind the Benefits of Cannabis
Vassiliki Pravodelov, MD, FACP

Harms of Cannabis
Deepika E. Slawek, MD, MPH, MS

Cannabis Use Disorder: Diagnosis, Next Steps in Management, Treatment, and Harm Reduction
Andrea J. Landi, MD, MPH

Cannabis for Medical Use Part 1: Outpatient Clinical Assessments
Justina Groeger, MD, MPH

Cannabis for Medical Use Part 2: Special Geriatric Considerations
Zachary J. Palace, MD, CMD, FACP

Cannabis for Medical Use Part 3: Management of Common Clinical Scenarios
Justina Groeger, MD, MPH & Alison A. Moore, MD, MPH