Given how widely available cannabidiol is now in the USA, it comes as no surprise its use among college students is quite prevalent.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid pursued for managing or treating a number of conditions, such as anxiety.
CBD became federally “legal” in the U.S. with the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp — defined as cannabis with <0.3% THC — and its derivatives such as CBD; removing them from the Controlled Substances Act. Prior to 2018 CBD was largely illegal under federal law, but some states started allowing it through their medical cannabis programs.
University of Georgia (UGA) researchers set about determining the prevalence of CBD use among college students; including frequency, intention, method of consumption, and relationship to general and social anxiety. Data for the cross-sectional study was gathered from 4,183 undergraduate students through an online survey at one large university in the south-eastern USA.
According to the team, this was largest study carried out to date examining CBD use among college students.
The findings:
48.51% of students reported using CBD at least once, with 29.41% using it once a month or more. Among the most common uses were anxiety reduction and to improve sleep; which were also predictive of higher CBD use. Additional reasons for use included forming social connections, and because it is “new and exciting”.
Commenting on the results, Jennie Pless, lead author of the study and a doctoral student in the UGA School of Social Work said:
“We have students who are taking on a whole new world and living on their own for the first time with other life responsibilities. They have a lot going on and are not sleeping well, so they’re trying to find ways to navigate all of that. CBD is one of them.”
It should be noted that while a bunch of studies have suggested CBD is effective in helping with sleep and anxiety, there is still no general scientific consensus and its efficacy can vary wildly person to person.
The UGA study has been published in the Journal of Substance Abuse.
Some US university policies still prohibit all forms of cannabis, including cannabidiol (CBD) products, on campus property and at university-sponsored events as their continued federal funding must comply with the federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA). Possession of a medical cannabis permit does not necessarily allow for its use, depending on the institution. This approach needs to be brought up to date given CBD’s federal status and the fact the majority of US states have medical programs in place.
