Study Shows Nearly Half of CBD Users Stop Taking Traditional Meds

A new survey, the largest to date, on cannabidiol (CBD) suggests that a growing number of patients are finding more relief from CBD than from traditional pharmaceuticals and they’re acting on this good news—especially the women.

Conducted by the Brightfield Group and HelloMD and covering 2,400 of HelloMD’s community of 150,000 members, the survey found that 55 percent of CBD users were women, while men preferred THC-dominant products.

The most common reasons people used CBD, according to Dr. Perry Solomon, the chief medical officer of HelloMD, were to treat insomnia, depression, anxiety and joint pain.

“We are seeing an exponential rise in the interest of CBD products from our patient community—particularly among women,” said Solomon. “While we still have much to learn about CBD, we cannot ignore this one fact; the majority of those using CBD products today receive great benefit. This has the potential for far-reaching consequences.”

Fully 42 percent of CBD users in the study said they had stopped using traditional medications like Tylenol, ibuprofen and stronger prescription (and addictive) pain relievers, after successfully switching to CBD, reported Forbes.

Eighty percent said that they found the products to be “very or extremely effective,” with only three percent saying they had felt little to no effect.

“This study is exciting because it shows there is potentially a huge barely-tapped market for CBD products that could improve the lives of many people,” said Bethany Gomez, director of research for Brightfield Group. “With further research and public education, CBD could be an effective alternative treatment for many people, particularly at a time when our nation is in the midst of an opioid crisis.”

Amen to that.