Study: Many Consumers Report Substituting CBD for Traditional Medications
La Jolla, CA: A significant percentage of US adults who have consumed CBD products acknowledge either substituting it for traditional medications or using it adjunctively, according to data published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health.
Researchers affiliated with the University of California at San Diego assessed responses from a nationally representative sample of adults.
They reported that 35 percent of adults have used CBD products, a finding that is consistent with previously published data. Among consumers, 11 percent said they used CBD in place of other medications. Twenty-four percent said that they used CBD in combination with other medications.
Respondents were most likely to have used CBD in place of or in concert with pain medications (including ibuprofen and gabapentin) or anxiolytics.
“These findings highlight that millions of US adults use CBD as a substitute and adjunct for a wide range of health conditions,” the study’s authors concluded. “Clinical care should emphasize open, nonjudgmental communication so that patients feel comfortable disclosing CBD use, alongside a pragmatic, harm-reduction approach focused on safety. This includes reviewing concomitant medications, discussing uncertainty in dose and product composition (including possible THC exposure), monitoring for adverse effects in higher-risk situations (e.g., individuals using higher doses), and helping patients identify more reliable products and appropriate follow-up when symptoms emerge.”
In December, the Trump administration announced that Medicare recipients would be able to begin seeking financial reimbursement for certain CBD products later this year.
Full text of the study, “Self-reported use of cannabidiol as a substitute or adjunct for approved medications,” appears in Frontiers in Public Health.
Analysis: Many Unregulated Hemp-Derived Intoxicants Contain THC, Synthetic Cannabinoids
Milwaukee, WI: Many commercially marketed hemp products contain THC levels exceeding federal limits as well as synthetically produced novel cannabinoids, according to an analysis published in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Reporters purchased 30 unregulated hemp products from area retailers and had them independently tested for purity and potency.
Consistent with the results of prior analyses of commercially available intoxicating hemp products, most products contained THC percentages exceeding legal limits (above 0.03 percent). Half of the products tested positive for the presence of lab-produced cannabinoids, including HHC (hexahydrocannabinol) and THCP (tetrahydrocannabiphorol). Over one-third of the products contained mold and pesticides, while one product tested positive for the presence of the chemical solvent methylene chloride, which is commonly used in paint stripper. At least one product contained a forged COA (certificate of analysis).
In November, federal lawmakers approved legislation recriminalizing the sale of certain hemp-derived intoxicating products. Specifically, the bill redefines federally legal hemp products as only those containing no more than either 0.3 percent or 0.4 milligrams of THC or other cannabinoids that produce similar effects, including THCA. In addition, it criminalizes “any intermediate hemp-derived cannabinoid products which are marketed or sold as a final product or directly to an end consumer for personal or household use” as well as products that are produced following chemical synthesis, such as those high in delta-8 THC content.
In 2021, NORML issued a report on delta-8-THC and other novel synthetically derived cannabinoids, cautioning consumers to avoid these unregulated products because they are often mislabeled and may contain impurities. NORML has urged the FDA to establish regulatory guidelines governing the production, testing, labeling, and marketing of hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoid products, but has argued against recriminalizing them.
The full report is available from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
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