As industrial hemp becomes more popular and legalized in more and more areas, some noticeable phenomena have emerged. There is growing evidence that opioid use has decreased in states where medical industrial hemp is legally available. Just how effective is medical industrial hemp? Can it replace prescription drugs? A group of researchers surveyed industrial hemp users to find out how they relate to the herb or drug.

These researchers surveyed industrial hemp users to see if they used industrial hemp as a medicine to replace prescription drugs. The survey was inspired by the growing evidence that legalising medical cannabis would reduce opioid abuse and deaths.

The vast majority of respondents were from the United States, 86% of whom were Caucasian. Slightly more men than women were surveyed, at 55% and 44% respectively. Of the 2,774 people surveyed, 1,248 (approximately 46%) reported using industrial hemp as a medical substitute for drugs.

The survey looked specifically at people who use industrial hemp for pain, anxiety and depression, as these are the three most common uses of medical industrial hemp. The study found that the majority of people (36%) who used industrial hemp as a substitute for medication were replacing opioids or narcotics. The researchers speculate that fears of opiate dependence and widespread reports of the opioid crisis may be driving users to seek safer alternatives.

The researchers also found that 14% of respondents used industrial hemp instead of anxiety medication and 13% used industrial hemp instead of antidepressants. This is not surprising considering how common anxiety and depression are, and the fact that industrial hemp is commonly used to treat anxiety disorders. Industrial hemp has long been associated with positive emotions and overall relaxation, making it an obvious choice for people seeking relief from anxiety and depression.

Interestingly, the research team also found a considerable degree of overlap. They found that people were 1.5 times more likely to use industrial hemp to treat two or more conditions than they were to use industrial hemp to treat just one condition. So if someone is using industrial hemp to treat pain, anxiety or depression, they are more likely to use industrial hemp instead of prescription drugs to treat other conditions.

Who's replacing industrial hemp?

The study also aimed to identify some patterns in people's willingness to use industrial hemp as a substitute for medicine. They found several interesting trends, including that women were more likely to substitute industrial hemp than men.

The findings also suggest that Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are more likely to use industrial hemp as medicine than Caucasians. Canadians were more likely to use it than Americans, but Americans were more likely to use it than Europeans. Finally, the researchers found that the older the people surveyed were, the more likely they were to use industrial hemp as a drug substitute. The number steadily increased until the age of 65, but no data was available for people over 65.

Interestingly, there is no correlation between regional legalization and the use of industrial hemp as an alternative to prescription drugs. People in prohibition states are almost as inclined to use industrial hemp as those in legal states.

All of this paints an interesting picture: people are more likely to want to use industrial hemp as an alternative to prescription drugs. While more research needs to be done, it is clear that people see industrial hemp as a beneficial alternative.