There are now more internet searches for information about cannabidiol (CBD) than for any other alternative therapy, according to a new analysis.
Acnepain, menstrual problems and opioids addiction — the range of conditions that cannabidiol (CBD) can seemingly treat seems endless. But does the compound really work? The answer remains unclear.
Nonetheless, CBD is going through tough times, says a research letter that
Analysis of online searches by people in the United States reveals that millions of people are as interested in CBD as, if not more than, any other health product or topic.
Dr. Davey Smith, head of infectious diseases and global public health at the University of California (UC) San Diego, says: “At present, there are no known benefits to taking CBD in free sale. CBD is the snake oil of this generation, where millions of people are interested in the product without proof of any benefit.
CBD is not new, having been first extracted from the cannabis plant in 1940. However, it has recently become available in a range of products, from gummies to ice cream, in the form of CBD oil. massage and in the form of droplets.
It’s fair to say that public interest in CBD is high. Study co-author John W. Ayers notes that “3 years ago, virtually no one was researching CBD online, but today it is estimated that about 6 years ago, almost no one was researching CBD online. 4 million unique searches every month.”
The value of CBD as a health supplement remains undetermined, with few major health authorities commenting on its benefits or potential side effects.
The study authors believe this is because they may not understand how interested people are in the substance. The team hopes to address this problem with real-world data that will prompt experts to prioritize more research.
Health scientists from the University of San Diego analyzed the frequency of Google searches in the United States for “CBD” or “cannabidiol” from January 2004 to April 2019.
Then, using this data, they extrapolated search traffic back to December 2019.
“Rather than relying on self-reports where some might not be willing to openly discuss CBD, we have directly observed millions of instances of people searching for information or even purchasing CBD online.
Lead author of the study, Dr. Eric Leas
Over the past 3 years, the increase in research on CBD has been particularly pronounced. It increased by 125% in 2017, then by 160% in 2018. Experts expect it to increase again by 180% in 2019.
Researchers have noted increased interest in CBD across the United States. In some places, interest was particularly strong. For example, searches increased by 605% in Alabama.
The growing number of inquiries logged by the team in other states – Vermont, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Colorado, New Hampshire and Oregon – demonstrate that CBD is a topic of national interest.
Interest in CBD may be due in part to the increasing destigmatization of marijuana.
Indeed, states where recreational marijuana use is legalized saw the highest number of searches for CBD. States allowing medical uses of cannabis followed, then states in which marijuana is illegal.
To verify the significance of their findings, the researchers also tracked research on other health-related topics, products and alternative therapies.
“When we tell our colleagues about our study,” says co-author and researcher Alicia Nobles, “we often play a game we call ‘CBD or,’ and almost every time, the experts are shocked to learn that CBD is more popular or almost. also popular.
Nobels cites an example: “For every two Internet searches for weight loss diets in the United States, we discovered that there was one for CBD! »
While the number of searches for CBD was roughly equal to that for yoga And Electronic cigarettesCBD queries have overwhelmed search numbers for other popular health topics, surpassing the number of searches for:
- veganism by 112%
- 113% marijuana
- exercise by 159%
- 163% vaccination
- 338% meditation
- 517% apple cider vinegar
- acupuncture by 749%.
This longitudinal cross-sectional study did not examine actual purchases of CBD products. However, the growing interest in CBD documented by the study suggests that the substance’s popularity is outpacing scientific research into the benefits and dangers of its use.
The study authors say that “investigation of CBD should become a public health priority to catch up with public interest.”
They conclude their document by proposing an action plan in four phases:
- “Studies should focus on the epidemiology of CBD use, characterizing who uses CBD products and for what purposes. »
- Researchers should evaluate the effects and potential drug interactions of CBD.
- There is a need to develop product safety standards because mislabeling of CBD products is common and adulterated products have led to mass poisonings.
- “Marketing practices around CBD should be standardized, as marketing that misleads the public could erode trust in evidence-based medicine. »
