Even if you haven’t tried CBD oil, chances are you’ve heard of it. According to a Gallup poll, 65% of all American adults are at least somewhat familiar with CBD or CBD products—whether oils, lotions, capsules, gummies, or other forms. In addition, about a third (33%) of all American adults have tried CBD at least once.
WHY DO PEOPLE USE CBD?
CBD is used for a variety of reasons. According to a 2020 survey by SingleCare, the top issues consumers use CBD to combat are:
- Pain
- Anxiety/stress
- Sleep problems or insomnia
- Arthritis
- Depression
- Migraines or headaches
Some less common but still popular reasons people use CBD include pet care, mental health conditions like PTSD or ADHD, digestion issues, acne/skin care, and other general health benefits.
WHO USES CBD?
The U.S. has a total adult population of over 258 million (2020 census). If 33% of all American adults have tried CBD at least once, that’s a whopping 85 million people. But who are these people and why are they using CBD?
YOUNG PEOPLE
Young people aged 18 -24 are the most likely group to have tried CBD, and the 35-44 age group is the most likely to currently use CBD. While pain management is the top overall reason people use CBD, these younger age groups are actually most likely to use CBD for a different problem: anxiety.
Unfortunately, that’s not surprising given that studies have shown anxiety is increasing among adults under 50—but most markedly for those aged 18-25 or 26-34.
AGES 65+
Of all age groups, the 65+ age group is least likely to have tried CBD, but of those who have, most use it for chronic pain and arthritis. This makes sense given that chronic pain and arthritis tend to present later in life, leaving older generations seeking solutions that can supplement or replace prescription medications or other natural remedies.
WOMEN
Women have been found to be more likely to use CBD products than men overall. According to a study from Brightfield Group, 55% of CBD users were female vs 44% who were male. Interestingly, the same study also found significant differences in male vs. female usage of CBD products depending on whether the products were hemp- or THC-derived. For hemp-derived products (like those we offer at Rational Hemp) 59% of users were female. In contrast, products containing more THC were more likely to be used by men–52% of users were male vs 48% who were female. All Rational Hemp products are below the federal regulatory limit of 0.3% THC.
PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM PAIN, INFLAMMATION, SLEEP ISSUES, OR ANXIETY
Among people who use CBD, 64% use it for pain management, including joint pain and inflammation. The proportion of people using CBD for pain increases with age, as mentioned above.
Meanwhile, the second most common reason for using CBD is for stress or anxiety. In younger people, CBD is more likely to be used for anxiety than for pain. Yet it should be noted that this use is popular across the board, and not just in young people–about 49% of all CBD users say that they use CBD products to help manage anxiety.
About 42% of people who use CBD say they do so to help combat sleep issues or insomnia.
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO PROMOTE FASTER MUSCLE RECOVERY FROM SPORTS OR EXERCISE
Some people use CBD to help with joint and muscle tightness resulting from intense workouts, as well as to aid in post-workout muscle recovery. Preliminary studies suggest that the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD may assist in recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) and soreness, but further human studies are needed.
IS CBD RIGHT FOR YOU?
There are many aspects of health and wellbeing, both mental and physical—and integrating CBD into your daily wellness routine may reap many benefits, whether or not you have a specific “reason” to try it.
Rational Hemp’s Full-Spectrum Hemp Extract is undiluted, all natural, and priced rationally—because wellness shouldn’t come at a premium. Enjoy our sitewide sale of 30% off all products to give it a try yourself.
Rational Hemp is regulatory-compliant and contains trace levels of THC under 0.3%. While we know of no instance where a drug test came back positive after using our Hemp Extract, we cannot guarantee this result. Speak to a physician before using CBD if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking prescription medications.
