SAN DIEGO – Wholistic Research and Education Foundation (Wholistic), a federally approved public non-profit (501c3) dedicated to cannabis research, education and advocacy, is sponsoring a first-of-its-kind exploratory survey on CBD and cannabis efficacy in reducing anxiety, to be conducted by University of California, Irvine (UCI), in partnership with UC Institute for Prediction Technology (UCIPT). The Cannabinoid Anxiety Relief Education Study (C.A.R.E.S.) will reach millions of CBD and cannabis users across the U.S. to assess the potential role of cannabinoids in reducing anxiety and other co-morbid conditions, such as insomnia and depression. This large-scale research study is especially relevant given high COVID-19 driven anxiety levels nationwide and the many state and local governments which have deemed cannabis businesses “essential” and thus accessible during this time.
“We’re in the midst of a massive uncontrolled human experiment, with tens of millions of Americans turning to CBD and cannabis for anxiety relief. Given the lack of rigorous, controlled clinical trials on CBD or cannabis efficacy for these widespread conditions, it’s critical to collect real-world data (RWD) at scale, across diverse demographics, to learn directly from the experiences of actual users. C.A.R.E.S. will do just that, while also establishing the foundational groundwork that will inspire and guide others to follow suit,” said Pelin Thorogood, Co-Founder and President of Wholistic. “We’re deeply appreciative of our generous donors and survey-distribution partners for enabling this first-of-its kind study with UCI and UCIPT and look forward to sharing what we expect will be invaluable findings on the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids for anxiety and insomnia.”
With the goal of understanding current attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors regarding CBD and cannabis use for anxiety, insomnia, and depression, C.A.R.E.S. will collect and analyze data on types of cannabis and CBD products currently used, as well details on dose, frequency, timing of use, and delivery methods associated with therapeutic benefit. Further adding to this broad-based usage data, C.A.R.E.S will collect demographic, geographic and other data points, such as medication, dietary supplement, and alcohol use, yielding valuable insights on potential health benefits of CBD and cannabis during this unprecedented time.
Dr. Sean Young, Executive Director of the UCIPT and the principal investigator (PI) for the study stated, “one of the unique elements of this nationwide study is the use of widely accepted indices to assess the severity of anxiety and insomnia levels for each of the participants in correlation to their stated cannabinoid use. The large and diverse participant population will enable us to analyze differences in CBD and cannabis use patterns in relation to anxiety levels, demographics, prescription medication and supplement usage to assess how each of these factors may impact perceived health benefits for various segments.” Dr. Young, an Associate Professor in the UCI Departments of Emergency Medicine and Informatics, has previously worked for NASA and Cisco, and served as an advisor to numerous companies.
The insights from this nationwide survey of tens of thousands of users will be shared broadly with the public, medical professionals and the FDA.
Survey Distribution
The UCI IRB-approved survey will be distributed to millions of CBD and cannabis users via email lists and online forums of numerous Wholistic partners, including PINCHme.com, ProjectCBD.org, CBDOilReview.org, BuyCBDProducts.com, Trailblazers Presents, Aeon Botanika, OpenNest Labs, Clean Label Project and Vertosa, who will all be promoting study participation.
“A 2019 Gallup poll found that 14% of Americans use CBD products, citing relief from anxiety (20%) and insomnia (11%) as two of the top reasons for use, trailing only pain relief. In recent months, PINCHme.com has seen tremendous demand for CBD product trials and has distributed over 110,000 CBD product samples to its online community of +6MM subscribers in 1H 2020 alone. PINCHme.com is excited to join forces with Wholistic, UCI, UCIPT and other distribution partners to contribute to the most comprehensive research study ever to explore CBD usage patterns for anxiety and insomnia with their growing panel of CBD users and consumers interested in trying CBD products,” said Jeremy Reid, CEO of PINCHme.com.
“As brand and community builders in the cannabis and hemp marketplace, we’re seeing a surge in consumer interest, accelerated by epidemic proportions of anxiety driven by COVID-19. Yet, there is virtually no data on type of formulations, dose, frequency, timing of use, and delivery methods most associated with therapeutic benefit, which are essential to increase trust and credibility in the cannabis and CBD industry,” added Michael Kamins, Co-Founder and Partner of OpenNest Labs, and organizer of Trailblazers, the premier community of cannabis business and cultural leaders. “We’re delighted to support Wholistic to enable much-needed clinical evidence from multidisciplinary trials, augmented by Real-World Data collection efforts such as C.A.R.E.S., to formulate the best possible products, as well as educate consumers and policymakers with objective health outcome data.”
For more information on C.A.R.E.S. or if you’re interested in participating in this study, please follow the Study Registration link check for eligibility.
About the University of California, Irvine:
Founded in 1965, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 36,000 students and offers 222 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $5 billion annually to the local economy. For more on UCI, visit www.uci.edu.
About UCIPT
The UC Institute for Prediction Technology (UCIPT) is a multidisciplinary, multicampus collaborative accelerating innovations that leverage social technologies to predict human behaviors and outcomes. UCIPT was founded in 2015 after winning the University of California President’s Research Catalyst Award. There are currently faculty leaders at four campuses: UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Santa Cruz, and UC Irvine. UCI is the hosting institution. Learn more at www.predictiontechnology.ucla.edu
About Wholistic Research and Education Foundation
Wholistic Research and Education Foundation is a public non-profit (501c3) dedicated to cannabis & CBD research, education and advocacy. Promoting a multi-disciplinary approach, Wholistic research initiatives explore underlying mechanisms of action that may explain how various cannabinoids deliver their diverse health benefits and their personalized effects. Our collective endeavors are intended not only fill in the gaps in current research but also to help educate health care professionals and the general public with relevant scientific findings on cannabis safety and efficacy. Learn more at https://wholistic.org/.
