New survey results about a well-known compound in cannabis are providing doctors with some exciting information.
Conducted by HelloMD, an online community of doctors and cannabis patients, and Brightfield Group, the survey asked 2,400 of HelloMD’s 150,000 members about their use of products containing cannabidiol (CBD).
CBD is a compound in cannabis that isn’t psychoactive, meaning it won’t provide users with the same ‘high’ or euphoria that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) does.
Research has shown CBD to possess analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-anxiety properties, and it has been found to be an effective treatment for a number of conditions including Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and PTSD, among others.
Participants in the survey revealed that they used CBD primarily to treat insomnia, depression, anxiety, and joint pain.
While most men preferred to use THC-dominant products, survey results showed that women made up 55 percent of CBD users.
What really caught the attention of survey administrators was this: Nearly half (42 percent) of CBD users reported that, not only did they stop using prescription drugs like Vicodin or Percocet after they began using CBD; they also avoided over-the-counter pain relievers like Tylenol and Advil.
When asked how effective patients found CBD to be in treating their condition, 80 percent responded with ‘very or extremely effective’, while just three percent found it to be ineffective or slightly effective.
A common complaint from patients was that CBD products derived from marijuana were far more expensive than products derived from hemp. Conversely, patients using hemp-derived products said it was less effective than marijuana-derived products.
As such, 90 percent of patients said they would only buy CBD products derived from marijuana.
The most popular method of consumption was vaporization, followed by smoking and then edibles. Patients also reported that they spent anywhere from $20 to $80 per monthon CBD products.
While HelloMD is based in the United States, this data could be useful to both Canadian physicians and patients who are interested in using cannabis as a way to treat certain conditions, but without the psychoactivity that comes with THC.
However, it should be noted that research has shown that CBD and THC are more effective when used in conjunction with one another.
