In a hypothetical legalization scenario in Spain, 65% of young adults would try medicinal cannabis, with people already using both CBD and THC products showing the highest demand for both medicinal and recreational cannabis.
Policy makers considering cannabis legalization, public health planners, cannabis market researchers, and prevention program designers.
What the researchers found
People using CBD+THC products showed significantly higher medicinal and recreational cannabis demand than those using THC or CBD alone (all p<0.001), and 65.2% of participants would try medicinal cannabis if legalized vs. 62.1% for recreational.
Why it matters
As Spain and other countries consider legalization, understanding that existing CBD/THC product users form a ready consumer base helps predict market dynamics and target prevention efforts.
The numbers in context
N=1,492 aged 16-30; 65.2% would try medicinal cannabis; 62.1% would try recreational; CBD+THC users had higher demand than both THC-only and CBD-only (all p<0.001); men reported higher demand than women (all p<0.023)
How the study worked
Cross-sectional study of 1,492 Spanish participants aged 16-30 using two Marijuana Purchase Tasks to estimate demand for medicinal and recreational cannabis, with bivariate analyses and split-plot ANOVAs across CBD, THC, and CBD+THC user groups.
What this study cannot tell us
Hypothetical scenario may not reflect actual behavior; Spanish sample may not generalize; young adult sample; cross-sectional design; self-reported cannabis use categories; no measure of actual purchasing behavior.
How to read the evidence
Well-designed cross-sectional study with validated behavioral economic measures, but hypothetical scenario and young Spanish sample limit real-world applicability.
When this study was published
Published 2026; reflects pre-legalization attitudes in Spain.
The bigger picture
The growing over-the-counter CBD market may serve as a gateway to broader cannabis use if legalization occurs, suggesting prevention programs should proactively target existing CBD consumers.
Questions still open
- Would actual purchasing behavior match hypothetical demand? How would pricing affect uptake? Do these patterns hold in countries that have already legalized?
Common questions
Would more people use cannabis if it were legalized?
Does using CBD products predict future cannabis use?
Read the original research
Behavioural Economic Demand for Medicinal and Recreational Cannabis Among People Who Use Over-The-Counter CBD Products, THC Only and CBD + THC.
Drug and alcohol review, 45(1), e70073
Citation
González-Roz, Alba; García-Pérez, Ángel; Cuesta-López, Ignacio; Alemán-Moussa, Layla; Secades-Villa, Roberto. (2026). Behavioural Economic Demand for Medicinal and Recreational Cannabis Among People Who Use Over-The-Counter CBD Products, THC Only and CBD + THC.. Drug and alcohol review, 45(1), e70073. https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.70073