The number of elderly dope smokers in addiction treatment has doubled in a decade.
A record number of over-60s are now on NHS programmes designed to wean them off cannabis.
Last year 1,094 of them received taxpayer-funded help to deal with their spliff problem.
That compares with 450 in 2013 and the number has risen every year since.
Separate NHS figures show the number of over-60s admitted to hospital for mental problems linked to cannabis use has trebled in three years.
Many could have been taking the drug since the 1960s or 70s but have only now sought help.
Smoking or eating it can trigger psychosis, depression and anxiety, with super-strong “skunk” the dominant variant for over 20 years.
Rolling Stones hellraiser Keith Richards, 78, has spoken about being unable to kick weed – despite quitting heroin and cocaine.
He admitted in 2015: “I smoke regularly, an early morning joint. Strictly Californian.”
Last year 280 over-60s came to the NHS for help with cannabis problems, compared to 88 with cocaine issues and 48 hooked on speed.
Nuno Albuquerque, of the UK Addiction Treatment Group, said: “This generation are more likely to want to break free from the slavery of substances like cannabis.
“In this day and age, there are other, natural, therapies that can help a person remain relaxed, such as mindfulness, meditation – practices that wouldn’t have been mainstream when these individuals started to use cannabis back in the 60s and 70s.”
