Many consumers are finding a use for cannabis in the form of alternative medicine, learning more about cannabinoids and how to reap the benefits of specialized cannabis products. However, according to a new study by Invisibly, most people do not know the difference between cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
The study surveyed 1,087 people, and 58 percent of respondents didn’t know the difference between CBD- and THC-containing products. Of those surveyed, 62 percent of respondents said they had never tried a CBD product in any form, and 53 percent also would not consider using a CBD product for any reason.
CBD naturally occurs in cannabis. Compared to the cannabinoid THC, which creates the feeling of being “high” when consumed, CBD does not cause the stereotypical “high” associated with THC products, and it is often used to relieve pain, ease anxiety and alleviate cancer-related symptoms.
So, the results of the survey leave questions as to how many Americans truly understand the benefits of CBD and how it differs from consuming the psychoactive, mind-altering cannabinoid, THC.
Of respondents who said they had tried CBD, 64 percent said they understood the difference between that cannabinoid and THC, with 36 percent trying CBD without knowing the difference. Additionally, 14 percent of those who had tried CBD used ingestible CBD products; 11 percent used CBD in a topical form and 13 percent had tried it in both forms.
The survey showed 50 percent of respondents identified as female, 28 percent as male and 22 percent as nonbinary. The study confirmed, across the board, people are open to considering CBD products, though women primarily are the ones using them most often. The study also concluded the majority of people open to trying CBD who had not before were looking to alleviate stress and anxiety, or to soothe chronic physical pain.
The study also concluded that the majority of respondents not understanding the difference between CBD and THC would rationally lead to more people unwilling to try CBD, it points to the importance of mainstream education, so more folks are able to see the separate benefits of the individual cannabinoids and make better, informed decisions for themselves and their health.
