CBD has gained popularity for self-medicating various conditions as more and more states have legalized cannabis for medical purposes. This comes while it remains relatively unknown how exactly CBD use varies across different populations- especially according to cannabis use status.
In the current study, Ji-Yeun Park, Associate Professor of Public Health at Biola University, California, investigated CBD use patterns in the US. To do so, she analyzed data from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which includes data about drug use and mental health in the US. Altogether, 10.5% of people in the US reported using CBD in the last 30 days.
After analyzing the data, Park found that CBD use was significantly higher among cannabis users. Whereas 40.7% of current users reported CBD use- alongside 32.2% of past-year users and 19.1% of ever-users- the same was true for just 5.09% of never-users.
After adjusting for various factors, including sex, age, race/ethnicity, and self-rated health status, Park found that current cannabis users were 13.29 times more likely to use CBD than those who do not currently use the substance.
She additionally found that females, adults, White people, and individuals with fair or poor health status had a higher likelihood of CBD use than their counterparts. In particular, those who rated their health status as poor or fair were 1.32 times more likely to use CBD than those who rated their health as excellent.
“Given the widespread use of CBD products and evolving landscape surrounding marijuana legalization, addressing co-use of CBD and marijuana should be a public health priority. It is important to implement public health education targeting the public about safe use, effectiveness, and efficacy of CBD products and potential drug interaction effects when used in conjunction with marijuana,” concluded Park in her study.
Sources: Preventative Medicine Reports