Study Shows CBD Use Is Widespread Among U.S. Adults
Summarize
Using national survey data, University of California, San Diego researchers investigated how many Americans have used CBD (cannabidiol) and whether it is used to substitute or supplement traditional medications. The researchers published their findings in Frontiers in Public Health, which indicate CBD use is both widespread and often connected to efforts to manage health conditions.
Approximately 35% of U.S. adults reported having used CBD at some point. Among those users, nearly one in three (32 percent) say they use CBD either as a replacement for or in combination with at least one medication. More commonly, CBD was used alongside other treatments rather than as a substitute for a treatment.
The most frequent reasons individuals took CBD when addressing a health issue were joint discomfort, psychiatric conditions and general health complaints. The medications most often replaced or supplemented with CBD included common over-the-counter relievers. Only 2.4% reported CBD-related adverse side effects.
The researchers emphasized that the high rate of CBD use with other medications raises important safety considerations concerning issues like CBD-drug interactions. However, they also noted that many conventional medications are known to present significant risks to users. These risks include addiction and serious side effects.
Knowing this, CBD may offer a lower-risk alternative to the powerful medications. The researchers wrote, “To the extent that CBD, which has very few side effects and likely very low risk of dependence at low to moderate doses, helps a consumer feel more at ease and decrease or discontinue a medication with more side effects or risk for forming dependence, this might be viewed as a benefit.”
Despite its popularity, regulatory and clinical guidance around CBD remains limited. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved only one CBD-based medication. The lack of approval does not mean CBD lacks therapeutic potential. Rather, it shows the historical challenge of conducting rigorous cannabis research under federal restrictions.
The good news is that recent federal actions aim to address this gap. Policy efforts have focused on expanding research into cannabis and CBD, acknowledging the disconnect between widespread public use and limited clinical evidence. These initiatives are intended to improve understanding of CBD’s safety, efficacy, dosing and interactions with other medications.
The study’s findings align with a growing body of research suggesting that cannabis, CBD in particular, may serve as an alternative to opioids and other drugs. Multiple studies have linked cannabis legalization to reduced opioid prescribing, lower rates of opioid use, and even declines in overdose deaths. Some research also indicates that cannabis use may help patients reduce or stop opioid use altogether.
This study (and others) continues to show Americans are shifting how they manage health conditions and discomfort. It also suggests they are intentionally integrating it into their health management plans, probably to reduce their dependence on drugs with severe side effects. Even though CBD research continues to show CBD is a promising therapeutic, the frustrating lack of government guidance is still missing.
Share this post
0