Should CBD Oil Require a Prescription?

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few years, you’ve heard about CBD oil.

All the talk about where it comes from, what it can do, and if it’s even legal.

Maybe you know a little. Maybe a lot.

With its rise in popularity, many Americans are speaking up about access to CBD oil. But do they want MORE or LESS access? Should CBD oil require a prescription?

What Most Americans Think About Access to CBD

Unsurprisingly, most Americans are NOT looking for restricted access to CBD.

A recent Gallup poll shows that 61% of American adults feel that access to CBD oil should be over-the-counter.

This is compared to the 33% who believe a prescription should be needed. Only 2% said it shouldn’t be available at all. 

Why the deep divide? Maybe it has something to do with how much people actually know about CBD oil.

Knowledge is Good

According to the poll, the more a person knows about CBD, the more confident they are in its benefits.  

Respondents were asked, “From what you know about CBD oils, do you think they offer a lot of health benefits, some health benefits, only a few health benefits or no health benefits?” The answer seemed to coincide with level of knowledge.

For those who said CBD has a lot of benefits:

  • 64% said they were very familiar with CBD
  • 27% said they were somewhat familiar 
  • 21% said they were not too familiar

The less knowledge a person had, the higher the likelihood of responding few to no benefits. 

Should CBD Oil Require a Prescription?

Right now, many pharmacies across the U.S. sell CBD oil. On the shelf. No prescription required. And we think that’s a very good thing.

After all, the World Health Organization has reported no negative side effects of CBD and no potential for abuse.

If this poll is an indicator of what’s to come, as the popularity of CBD grows, so too will the level of knowledge. And, one can’t help but think that the desire for greater access will grow too.