Nearly half of college students have tried CBD, says a study of University of Georgia students

Credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

A recent study from the University of Georgia asked students about their use of CBD, a non-impairing compound found in cannabis.

In a recent survey of four thousand undergraduate students at the University of Georgia, 48% reported that they had tried CBD at least once, and 29% use it once a month or more.

Students tend to obtain edibles, such as gummies or oils, from a trusted consumer brand or from a friend.

Most commonly, they use CBD to reduce anxiety and improve sleep. But the study’s author, doctoral student Jennie Pless, said there’s also a social aspect to CBD use.

"Some of the more interesting things that we found is that students also reported using it just because their friends do," Pless said. "They reported using because it's legal, because it is new and exciting, and also because it is legal and easy to access."

To her knowledge, this study is the largest survey conducted on CBD use by students.