It is difficult to determine the largest CBD study to date as there have been many studies conducted on cannabidiol (CBD), a compound found in cannabis and hemp plants. New studies are always in the works. Researchers are probably working on one right now, as you read this.

That said, “Cannabidiol in Humans—The Quest for Therapeutic Targets” looked at 34 previously performed studies. Sixteen were experimental studies conducted in healthy subjects, and 18 were conducted in clinical populations.

Of the 18 clinical studies, the trials included patients with multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia and bipolar mania, social anxiety disorder, neuropathic and cancer pain, cancer anorexia, Huntington’s disease, insomnia, and epilepsy.

So what did this large-scale systemic review of the data tell us? And are other any other large-scale clinical trials on CBD?

 

What is CBD?

Before we get any further, you may want a quick primer on CBD.

CBD stands for cannabidiol, which is a chemical compound found in cannabis and hemp plants. It is one of many compounds called phytocannabinoids that are present in the cannabis plant. Our bodies have natural (or endogenous) cannabinoids, which are like the plant versions. 

Because of this, scientists believe CBD has health benefits, and research confirms this depending on the ailment. However, researchers always welcome more data so we can understand how CBD works. It is important to note that CBD is not psychoactive in the same way other cannabinoids are, meaning it won’t produce the “high” associated with marijuana.

CBD is known to help with a variety of conditions. These include: 

 

• Reducing anxiety and improving symptoms of depression
• Reducing inflammation and pain
• Reducing the frequency and severity of seizures in people with epilepsy
• Improving sleep
• Reducing symptoms of drug addiction and withdrawal
• Reducing the risk of developing diabetes

 

What is the largest CBD study to date?

Some claim to have the largest CBD study to date. For example, a partnership between HelloMD and the Brightfield Group resulted in a CBD usage study that is the largest of its kind.

But others will question the validity of this study. All they did was survey 2,400 CBD users on their usage. Not surprising then that they found CBD was effective for treating insomnia, depression, anxiety, and joint pain.

While we agree CBD is great for these things, there is clearly a bias that skews the results. Imagine asking 2,400 alcoholics whether getting drunk improves their lives. You may find a majority of them suggest that it does.

So obviously, we need a study that is more strict with its approach.

What about “Cannabidiol in Humans—The Quest for Therapeutic Targets,” the paper mentioned at the beginning of this post? This systemic review is a comprehensive collection of the largest CBD studies to date.

They found high doses of CBD reduce anxiety and increase mental sedation. They also found high doses of CBD were good for insomnia and epilepsy.

At least one study on rats found CBD decreased their fight-or-flight responses. Additionally, animal studies showed CBD could slow down and even block collagen-induced arthritis. Overall, the researchers found CBD beneficial for reducing pain resulting from inflammation.

This review of the literature also confirmed CBD’s ability to attenuate THC’s effects.

 

 

The largest CBD study to date

The following study from Radicle Science may be the largest CBD study to date. It certainly was the most rigorous in its approach. Nearly 3,000 participants took part in this first large-scale, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial on phytocannabinoids.

This study looked at CBD products in particular. They found participants showed improvements in well-being, quality of life, longer-term pain, feelings of anxiety, and sleep quality.

 

The results speak for themselves:

 

• 63% experienced a clinically meaningful improvement in anxiety
• 61% experienced a clinically significant improvement in sleep quality
• 47% experienced a clinically significant improvement in pain
• 61% reported an effect within one to four hours of taking their product 

 

This randomized control trial (RCT) used 13 U.S.-based brands to measure CBD’s therapeutic effect. Researchers completed the study in record time. From when they launched it in August to the study’s conclusion in November of 2021.

Radicle Science recruited and screened nearly 3,000 participants across the U.S. in less than four days. They collected data directly from participants as they went about their daily lives in their real-world environment.

The researchers didn’t use a physical location or any physical infrastructure.

Despite their novel approach to data collection, this study was still able to root out potential bias. Rooting out bias is essential because RCTs are the gold standard for evaluating the effectiveness of medical treatments. They minimize bias and control for other variables that might affect the outcome.

RCTs are a better way of investigating CBD’s benefits. The problem with survey studies, for example, are numerous. Results can be skewed by how researchers word the questions, and participants may not always provide accurate responses.

 

The Future of Large CBD studies

The future of CBD research is promising. The last ten years have seen an explosion of interest in studying CBD’s benefits. However, there are also a number of challenges that researchers are facing in conducting studies on CBD.

One challenge is the legal status of CBD, which varies from country to country. CBD’s legality can make the phytocannabinoid challenging to obtain for research purposes. Fortunately, you can purchase it relatively quickly and even online if you are in a legal area. 

Another challenge is the different rules and regulations of CBD products. This can make it difficult to ensure that the products researchers use in these studies are consistent and high-quality. 

Fortunately, if you’re doing your own research, Green Cuisine offers the highest quality CBD available. We source our CBD from organic hemp flowers grown in the sub-alpine regions of Slovenia. Our CO2 extraction process keeps solvents and other residues from showing up in the final product.

So whether you’re interested in balms, drops, hash, herbs, powder, drinks, vapes, herbals, or even CBD for your pet, Green Cuisine has got you covered.

Despite the challenges CBD researchers face, as we continue to study the benefits of CBD, we will likely see more large CBD studies in the coming years. And they’re all likely to come to the same conclusion: CBD is incredibly beneficial!