Survey Reveals Who Uses CBD for Self-Medication in Germany and Why
A German survey of 702 regular CBD users found 38% use it primarily for self-medication, most commonly for sleep (52%), chronic pain (47%), depression (46%), and anxiety (44%), with older and unemployed individuals most likely to self-medicate.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
37.9% used CBD for self-medication. Top motives: sleep (52.3%), chronic pain (47.4%), depression (45.5%), anxiety (44.4%). Age 50+ aOR 2.81. Unemployed/retired aOR 3.55. Twice-daily aOR 3.05. Smoking CBD was negatively associated with self-medication.
Key Numbers
702 participants; 78.8% male; mean age 34.9; 37.9% self-medicating; sleep 52.3%; age 50+ aOR 2.81; unemployed aOR 3.55.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional online survey (Jan-Mar 2023) in Germany. 702 complete cases. Monthly CBD use required. Logistic regression with adjusted odds ratios.
Why This Research Matters
CBD is marketed with health claims despite limited clinical evidence. Understanding who self-medicates and why reveals unmet medical needs and potential risks of unsupervised use.
The Bigger Picture
The profile of CBD self-medicators (older, unemployed, chronic conditions) suggests a population potentially substituting CBD for conventional treatments.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Convenience sampling. Predominantly male (78.8%). Self-reported. German market may differ.
Questions This Raises
- ?Are CBD self-medicators getting adequate treatment?
- ?Would clinical trials support CBD for the reported uses?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 52% of CBD self-medicators cited sleep problems
- Evidence Grade:
- Large survey with detailed analysis, but convenience sampling limits generalizability.
- Study Age:
- 2025 publication of 2023 survey data from Germany.
- Original Title:
- Beyond the hype - who uses cannabidiol for self-medication - and why: a cross-sectional study in Germany.
- Published In:
- Journal of cannabis research, 7(1), 77 (2025)
- Authors:
- Krowartz, Eva-Maria(4), Riemerschmid, Carlotta, Klug, Stefanie J, Tanaka, Luana F, Eva-Hoch
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06865
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What do people use CBD for?
Sleep (52%), chronic pain (47%), depression (46%), and anxiety (44%) were the top self-medication motives.
Who self-medicates with CBD?
Older adults (50+), unemployed/retired, and twice-daily users were significantly more likely to self-medicate.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06865APA
Krowartz, Eva-Maria; Riemerschmid, Carlotta; Klug, Stefanie J; Tanaka, Luana F; Eva-Hoch. (2025). Beyond the hype - who uses cannabidiol for self-medication - and why: a cross-sectional study in Germany.. Journal of cannabis research, 7(1), 77. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-025-00341-4
MLA
Krowartz, Eva-Maria, et al. "Beyond the hype - who uses cannabidiol for self-medication - and why: a cross-sectional study in Germany.." Journal of cannabis research, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-025-00341-4
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Beyond the hype - who uses cannabidiol for self-medication -..." RTHC-06865. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/krowartz-2025-beyond-the-hype-who
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.