Early Retirement Blog

Boomers Getting High in Retirement

The number of people aged 50 and older reporting marijuana use in the prior year went up from 1.9 per cent to 2.9 per cent from 2002 to 2008, according to surveys from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Full article here.

The rise was most dramatic among 55-to 59-year-olds, whose reported marijuana use more than tripled from 1.6 per cent in 2002 to 5.1 per cent.

It makes sense.   Boomers who grew up in the 60′s and 70′s, and used marijuana when they were in their teens and twenties, only to stop using marijuana when they began pursuing careers and having children, are re-discovering marijuana now that they have retired and the kids have left home.

Marijuana has lost the negative stigma it once had, with legalization winning referendums in many states, and pot clubs sprouting in the suburbs.   Seniors are also turning to marijuana to help alleviate the aches and pains associated with aging.

My guess is that it won’t be long before many retired boomers, with lot’s of time on their hands, turn to marijuana cultivation for personal use and to supplement their retirement income.  Giving “Green Retirement” a whole new meaning   Are you getting high in retirement?

Visit the Green Retirement website where you can learn how to retire early by going green, try our free retirement calculators, and our free retirement planning. But please be advised that you should not operate our calculators while high