SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - A 2025 federal health study found seniors are one of the fastest-growing groups stepping into cannabis dispensaries. They aren’t just looking for a high, Western Mass News went to find out why the 60-plus crowd is showing up — and staying.

Walk into Primus Cannabis on any given day, and you might be surprised who’s browsing the shelves. The customers span every age — but one group is coming back more than any other.

“I feel like we get kind of two types of elderly customers. The first one has been smoking cannabis or partaking in cannabis forever, and they have a lot of knowledge regarding it. The other section has not delved into cannabis at all, and they’re oftentimes looking for help with sleep or anxiety or something like that,” said Zachary Fisher, the General Manager of Primus Cannabis.

Fisher said those newcomers often come in with a specific goal — and specific questions, “I find that type of senior shopper is oftentimes interested in the other cannabinoids like CBD. You know, you have just different things to help — like CBS helps them sleep. There is just really a lot of different things they can look into that there might not be that much education about.”

While the younger crowd might be drawn in by the trendiest new vapes or edibles, fisher said seniors are often the most prepared customers, “The senior discount is our number one most used discount. We offer 10% for seniors, just as an incentive to come in and things like that. And a bit of a thank you, you know?” Fisher said.

As more seniors talk to their friends and neighbors about what’s working for them — Fisher said the old fear of being judged is fading fast, “I think a lot of that has drastically reduced. If somebody’s friend tried a sleep gummy and they’re going to go try it — where’d you get that, what different types do you have? It’s just becoming more accepted and readily available.”For a generation that once kept quiet about what they used — walking through that door may be the biggest step of all.

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