A new study published in 2026 in Frontiers in Public Health shows how common it has become to use CBD alongside conventional medicines, and how cannabidiol is being integrated into everyday health.
Researchers analysed responses from 1,523 US adults, drawn from a larger panel of 2,880 respondents in a nationally representative survey. Use of CBD is now widespread and often linked to specific health concerns.
More than a third have tried CBD
According to the study, 35.2% of US adults said they had used CBD at some point, equivalent to roughly 90 million people. A further 21.8% reported using CBD in the past year.
Many use CBD alongside medication
Among people who had ever used CBD: 32% used it together with or instead of a medicine, 24.2% as a complement to a medicine, and 11% as a replacement for one. Combining CBD with existing treatments was more common than fully replacing them.
The most common reasons reported
The researchers identified three leading categories among users: muscle and joint pain (such as back or joint pain); mental concerns such as stress, anxiety or sleep problems; and general pain or inflammation. Common medicines combined or replaced included ibuprofen and paracetamol-based painkillers.
What the results mean
The authors argue the findings show how important more research and clearer guidance on dosing, product quality and combining CBD with other treatments will be. As more people use CBD day to day, understanding both possibilities and limitations matters more.
Source: Frontiers in Public Health, 2026
This article references published research for journalistic purposes. It is not medical advice and no health claims about any product follow from it. See Ownership and transparency for svenskahampa’s relationship with Helsama.