Research study · Addiction · 2026
The prevalence of cannabidiol (CBD) use in North America and Europe: A meta‐analysis
Verified on PubMed Systematic review or meta-analysis
A 2026 meta-analysis in Addiction tested cannabidiol in substance-related disorders. The number of people using these products is clearly higher in North America than in Europe. This study shows how common CBD use is, and that it differs between North America and Europe, but it does not show whether CBD helps or harms anyone.
In plain language
Study overview
Researchers pooled results from 43 earlier surveys covering almost 390,000 people, mostly in the United States and Europe. They looked at how many people had ever used, or recently used, a product made from the non-intoxicating part of cannabis, called cannabidiol (CBD), and compared North America with Europe.
Findings
The number of people using these products is clearly higher in North America than in Europe. Across every time period studied, more people in North America reported using CBD, and the gap was widest for daily use.
The deeper readScientific analysis
Background and aims: The global cannabidiol (CBD) market has expanded in recent years. Several studies suggest CBD use, whether for medical or recreational purposes, is on the rise; however, no systematic assessments of its prevalence have been conducted so far. This meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of CBD use in North America and Europe independently. Methods: Searches were conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO and Web of Science on 25 March 2025. A total of 43 studies (48 distinct samples; n = 388 447; 57.52% female) from North America (k = 30; n = 353 088) and Europe (k = 13; n = 35 359) were included. Prevalence was estimated at five time periods (lifetime, past 12 months, past 30 days, past 7 days and daily use) separately for each continental region. Differences by sex, year of data collection and sample type (clinical versus community) were examined. Publication bias was estimated using several indicators, and methodological quality was appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist. Results: Preliminary analyses showed evidence of differences in prevalence between North America and Europe across all time periods (P-value range: <0.001–0.057), so pooled estimates were calculated for each region separately. In Europe, pooled lifetime prevalence of CBD use was 12.8% (95% CI = 0.06–0.25), 17.6% in the past 12 months (95% CI = 0.11–0.28), 7.2% in the past month (95% CI = 0.02–0.21), 4.3% in the past week (95% CI = 0.01–0.13) and 2.1% daily (95% CI = 0.01–0.08). In North America, lifetime pooled estimates were 28.9% (95% CI = 0.2–0.39), 19.5% in the past 12 months (95% CI = 0.11–0.32), 12% in the past month (95% CI = 0.07–0.2), 10.5% in the past week (95% CI = 0.01–0.47) and 6.4% daily (95% CI = 0.03–0.13). Of the moderators tested, sample type statistically significantly influenced the meta-analyses. In Europe, clinical samples (25.6%) reported higher past-year prevalence than community samples (11.6%), whereas in North America community samples (26.1%) reported higher past-year use than clinical samples (4.1%). Conclusions: Cannabidiol use appears to be more prevalent in North America compared with Europe.
The paper
Citation
Weidberg S, Iza-Fernández C, Alemán-Moussa L, Krotter A, González-Roz A The prevalence of cannabidiol (CBD) use in North America and Europe: A meta‐analysis. Addiction (2026). PubMed 41724499 · DOI
Limitations the authors noted
Very high heterogeneity across studies (I² > 98%) limits confidence in pooled estimates. Only about 26% of included studies used representative sample weights; roughly one-third were rated moderate or high risk of bias. Prescribed versus over-the-counter CBD use could not be differentiated (only 7 of 43 studies reported this). North American studies, mostly from the United States, were overrepresented (about 70%), limiting generalizability to other regions. Age group, national legal context and co-use of other substances, including THC, were not examined as moderators. The cross-sectional design and self-reported prevalence data cannot establish causes or health effects of CBD use.
In practice
Why this matters
This study shows how common CBD use is, and that it differs between North America and Europe, but it does not show whether CBD helps or harms anyone. The results are an estimate built from surveys of very different quality, and many of the studies were conducted in the United States. Clinicians can take from it that CBD use is widespread and worth asking about, while the studies leave open what products people are actually taking and what effects they have.
Browse related research
Condition: Substance-related disorders Topic: CBD
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Reviewed by Dr. Caplan on October 16, 2026.
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