Who is Using CBD and How? CBD Use in America by the Numbers
What types of products do American CBD users prefer? Are they upping their CBD use due to COVID-19? Answers to these questions and more from a recent survey of US adults.
Cannabidiol (CBD)—the non-psychoactive, naturally-occurring compound found in the cannabis plant—is one of the fastest-growing alternative health trends in the US. Patients can purchase CBD gummies, tinctures, vapes, and even CBD supplements for their pets at any local store or online.
Despite it's rising popularity, it can be hard to get a general consensus on what Americans think about CBD use. To find out what Americans believe about CBD use, how they use it, why they use it, and how the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting use, SingleCare conducted an online survey of 2000 US adults aged ≥18 years. Age and gender were census-balanced to match the US population.
Scroll through the slides below to get more details on the key findings.
CBD use up due to COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has people looking to stockpile medications, including CBD with 26% of respondents who use CBD said they were stocking up on products in anticipation of COVID-19-related shortages. CBD sales also rose 230% prior to shelter-in-place orders, according to Market Watch. Approximately 45% of respondents who use CBD also reported they have increased their usage to treat COVID-19 symptoms, alleviate stress stemming from the pandemic, or help them sleep.
CBD Misconceptions. Overall, 26% of respondents reported that they think CBD is the same as marijuana; 57% believe that CBD will show up on a drug test; and 47% think the government regulates CBD.
Older users more likely to continue vs young users. One-third of respondents said they currently use or have used CBD products. CBD use is most common among respondents aged 18-24 and 25-34 years. Among respondents who have used CBD products, those aged 35-44 years are most likely to continue using them while younger respondents often use them for a short period of time and then stop. Also, 70% of respondents aged 55-64 years and 80% of those aged ≥65 years said they have never used a CBD product.
Why do CBD users take it? Across all age groups, 64% of respondents who use CBD reported they do so for pain; 49% said anxiety and stress; 42% said sleep and insomnia; 27% said arthritis; 26% said depression; 21% said migraines and headaches; and 12% said recreational use.
Which CBD products are CBD users most interested in? Among respondents who have used CBD, 29% were interested in CBD lotions and balms; 28% were interested in gummies, 26% were interested in oils/tinctures/drops; 18% were interested in capsules/tablets; 18% were interested in oil sprays; 17% were interested in CBD-infused food (eg, CBD chocolate); 13% were interested in vaping products; 12% were interested in soap; and 11% were interested in CBD-infused, non-alcoholic drinks.
CBD Used as a Supplement to Medications. CBD is becoming a popular supplement to medications with 36% of respondents who said they use CBD in addition to a prescription, 32% who said they use CBD in addition to other natural remedies, and 19% who said they use CBD instead of other natural remedies.
