CBD User Demographics

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a popular health and wellness supplement. The hemp-derived compound can be found in almost anything, fueled by increasing popularity and celebrity endorsements by the likes of Martha Stewart, among others. The most popular products include CBD-infused lotions, CBD oil tinctures, even candied CBD gummies!

But who is actually using CBD? And what exactly can we learn from examining CBD user demographics?

Earlier this year, a company named SingleCare released the results of a 2,000-person survey. In this survey, SingleCare examined if individuals had a history of CBD use, how they felt about CBD use, and how much they knew about CBD in general.

But First—Why CBD User Demographics Matter!

For any health-related compound, it's vital to understand who is using it and for what reasons. This allows medical experts to push science and health standards in the right direction. Plus, as the medical industry continues to adopt new technologies, demographics will play a larger and more important role.

Patient demographics may include, but are not limited to:

• Age
• Gender
• Ethnicity
• Medical history (drug allergies, surgeries, medical conditions, current and past medications, etc.)
• Employment
• Education
• Location

But CBD is slightly different. Yes, a variety of people use CBD for medicinal reasons. But to date, there is only ONE prescription medication containing CBD: Epidiolex, used to treat rare and severe childhood seizure disorders. We don't yet have the medical resources to conduct complete CBD user demographic analyses.

However, earlier this year, a company named SingleCare released the results of a 2,000-person survey. This survey examined if individuals had a history of CBD use, how they felt about CBD use, and how much they knew about CBD, in general.

SingleCare CBD Demographics Survey Results

According to the survey, about 33% of Americans have used CBD oil or another CBD product at least once. Of those who have tried CBD oil, about 68% of people found it to be effective. About 64% of people surveyed indicated using the cannabinoid for pain relief or for problems related to inflammation. Another 36% used CBD in addition to a medical prescription.

We know this is only a 2,000-person study, but what if we projected these same results onto the entire population of the United States? In 2020, the most recent year with available data, the U.S. population trended upwards to 329.5 million people, meaning:

• About 109 million Americans have tried CBD
• Of those 109 million people, about 74 million people found CBD to be effective.
• About 70 million people use CBD for pain or inflammation, specifically.

While this information might be considered intriguing, it does little to tell us who is using hemp derivatives like CBD in the first place. However, SingleCare's survey doesn't stop at basic questions about CBD use.

CBD Age Demographics

The SingleCare survey separates participants into various age groups.

• Age 18-24: highest number of people who have tried CBD at least once, regardless if use was continued.
• Age 25-34: more consistent CBD use than the 18-24 group but also the highest number of people who tried CBD yet thought it was ineffective for their needs.
• Age 35-44: highest number of regular CBD users with consistent use.
• Age 45-54: about the same number of regular CBD users as the 35-44 group but with more people who thought CBD was ineffective for their needs.
• Age 55-64: about the same number of regular CBD users as the 18-24 group but with slightly more people who have never tried CBD in the first place.
• Age 65+: highest number of people who have never tried CBD, regardless if they had considered the compound before or not; this group also has very few active users.

Reasons For CBD Use

We mentioned earlier that 64% of study participants used CBD for pain or inflammation, specifically. What else are people using CBD for, according to the poll?

• 49% use CBD for anxiety and stress
• 42% use CBD for sleep-related reasons
• 27% use CBD for arthritis
• 26% use CBD for depression
• 21% use CBD for migraines or headaches

Misinformation CBD Statistics

The SingleCare study also asked participants basic misinformation-related questions about CBD products, in general:

• 26% of participants thought CBD was the same thing as marijuana (NOTE: CBD is a hemp derivative under the cannabis family; marijuana, another member of the cannabis family, contains higher concentrations of THC, not CBD)
• 57% of participants indicated they thought CBD appeared on a drug test (NOTE: some Full Spectrum CBD products contain 0.3% THC, the amount naturally found in the hemp plant; this is not enough to trigger a failed drug test)

COVID-19 CBD Statistics

SingleCare's survey also addressed how people changed their CBD regimen during the COVID-19 pandemic:

• Roughly 45% of current American CBD users (49 million people) increased their use during the pandemic.
• About 26% of current American CBD users (28 million people) indicated they were "stocking up" on CBD products due to shipment limitations during the pandemic.

What Can We Do With CBD User Demographics?

As you can tell, CBD user demographics (gained from surveys, scientific research, population analyses, and more) tell us a variety of interesting things. Let's review what the recent SingleCare survey has taught us about CBD users:

• Younger people (age 18-34) are more likely to try CBD at least once
• Middle-aged people are more likely to use CBD consistently
• Those age 65+ are more likely to avoid CBD than try the hemp derivative
• There are three popular reasons for using CBD: 68% of CBD users do so for pain or inflammation, 49% for anxiety or stress, and 42% for sleep-related ailments

And what has the survey told us about CBD, in general (not pertaining to users specifically)?

• One-third of Americans have tried CBD (109 million people)
• 36% of CBD users do so in addition to at least one medication
• The COVID-19 Pandemic affected buying trends among CBD users (increasing dose, stocking up, etc.)

Remember that this is just one survey, but it gives us a snapshot of where the CBD industry is heading. The hemp-derived compound has taken on more importance in American society, and as such, it's important to review who is using CBD so that we can connect the benefits of this compound to new, potential users!

Which of these CBD user demographics do you fit in? Let us know in the comments!