Cannabidiol, better known as CBD, has become nearly ubiquitous in the wellness industry. The hemp-derived compound does not produce the overtly intoxicating effects associated with THC, but researchers are studying its potential therapeutic benefits. From older adults taking gummies to help them sleep to spa clients adding CBD oil to massages, the cannabinoid appears to be everywhere. But how many Americans actually take CBD?
According to new research published in the Journal of Cannabis Research, more than one-third of U.S. adults have tried CBD—and most of those users say they took it for therapeutic reasons.
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Researchers surveyed 1,523 adults ages 18 or older through Ipsos’ probability-based KnowledgePanel, which the company says represents about 97 percent of U.S. households. The survey asked about participants’ use and knowledge of CBD, as well as delta-8 THC, cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), and HHC.
Around 35 percent of respondents said they have used CBD at some point in their lives. The survey did not measure how often people used CBD, but it did ask why they used it.
Researchers asked participants whether they used the cannabinoids in question for medical or recreational purposes. Of those who have consumed CBD, more than 70 percent did so for therapeutic purposes. The most common reasons for taking CBD among those surveyed were anxiety and pain management.
The survey found that nearly 8 percent of Americans had tried delta-8 THC, while 4.5 percent had tried CBN, 1.5 percent had tried HHC, and 1.3 percent had tried CBG.
The study has limits. Because the study surveyed adults at a single point in time, it cannot show how use or motivations may change, and the findings may not apply to younger populations. Responses were self-reported, which can blur the line between medical and recreational use. The sample size also did not allow researchers to closely analyze frequent users, the authors noted.
No conflicts of interest were reported.
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Other polls have produced significantly different estimates of CBD use. For example, a 2024 Forbes Health survey of 2,000 American adults found that 60 percent of respondents had tried CBD. However, a 2020 poll was more in line with the latest numbers, suggesting up to one in three adults use the compound.
The difference may reflect methodology. Consumer polls often rely on broader definitions and online panels, while academic studies typically use nationally representative samples with stricter wording, approaches that can yield more conservative estimates.
CBD use is becoming more common, but many products on the market may soon be removed from shelves due to a pending 2025 law. Lawmakers are continuing to debate how CBD products should be regulated, leaving uncertainty about what the market could look like in the coming years.
