Study Finds Over One-Third of Adults Have Tried CBD
Summarize
A research project published in the Journal of Cannabis Research surveyed 1,523 adults over the age of 18 on whether they used CBD, delta-8 THC, CBN, and CBG, and the reason they chose to use any of these products. The results found that 35.2% had used CBD at least once in their lifetime. Also, 71.9% used CBD for medical purposes as opposed to recreation, which was true for CBN and CBG. THC was used mostly for recreation.
The survey instrument used was the Ipsos’ probability-based KnowledgePanel. The survey did not ask how often the participants used CBD, but only whether they had used it at some point since turning 18. The age breakdown of those who have ever used CBD is as follows.
- 18-29 – 37.3%
- 30-44 – 39.9%
- 45-59 – 33.7%
- 60+ – 31.2%
The study participants were asked about the reason for using a particular cannabinoid. The following numbers indicate the percentage of people who were motivated for medical reasons when choosing a cannabinoid.
- CBD – 48%
- Delta-8 THC – 20.7%
- CBN – 44.9%
- CBG – 42.9%
The researchers noted in their conclusions,
“Most adults reported using CBD, CBN, CBG for medical reasons, but delta-8 THC for recreation. Participants reported a range of medical reasons for using the different cannabinoids assessed. These differences underscore the complexity of the derived cannabinoid product landscape and the diverse motivations driving their use.”
This study has some limitations. One is that it surveyed adults at a single point in time, so it does not address changes in cannabinoid use over time. Also, people were self-reporting and had the freedom to self-determine if their use of CBD and other cannabinoids was for medical or recreational reasons. The researchers did not identify what should be considered medical or recreational reasons. Finally, these results differ from those of other polls, which may be due to differences in methodology.
When natural products are unregulated, people must decide for themselves whether they have value. The fact that the federal government has passed a law that could lead to many products being removed from store shelves by January 1, 2027, has only added to the confusion in the marketplace.
The law could be changed sometime this year before it takes effect. It probably will be changed once lawmakers understand how they are harming thousands of small businesses that have invested significant amounts of money in hemp farms and CBD product research and development, manufacturing, and retailing.
Share this post
0