CBD still little known to the French, according to an exclusive survey – The HuffPost

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CANNABIS – While France continues to be the European champion in the consumption of cannabisthe government intends to ban the sale of hemp flowers and leaves loaded with CBD, a non-psychotropic molecule of cannabis. Latest twist, the state Council invalidated the government’s ban on January 24.

If the French CBD industry and consumers have declared victory after winning this battle, a Yougov poll for The HuffPost, carried out a few days later, shows that the notoriety of the molecule remains fairly confidential. Because if a large majority of French people have heard of it (78%), less than half (47%) say they know exactly what it is.

A tiny minority of French people have tested CBD

And 20% of French people surveyed have never heard of it, a figure that rises to 30% among those aged 55 and over, despite its growing popularity in the cosmetics industry and the promotion made around its relaxing and anti-inflammatory properties. .

Above all, the survey shows that very few adults have tested CBD. Of the respondents who said they knew what it was, only 16% said they had consumed it (including 5% who regularly consumed it). It is more men (19% have already taken it compared to 13% of women) who live outside Île-de-France (only 12% of Ile-de-France residents have consumed it).

The survey also reveals that CBD is consumed mainly in the form of infusion and herbal tea (32%), cigarettes (32%) and oil (32%). Next come vaping (18%), confectionery, including candy or even chewing gum (16%), cosmetics (9%), capsules (8%).

Chosen by 20% of consumers surveyed as an alternative to THC -a cannabis molecule with psychotropic effects-, CBD is however viewed with suspicion by the government and the Minister of the Interior, Gerald Darmaninwho aspire to restrict its spread by banning leaves and flowers.

Ban CBD? The great division of the French

This will to ban is approved by 37% of respondents and rejected by 38%, which shows a great division of the French. Illustration at LREM where 35% of supporters agree with the executive, but 37% disapprove.

Unsurprisingly, it is among those polled on the left that we find the most French people opposed to restrictions on the sale of CBD. A large majority of respondents close to the PS (52%) are against the will of the government and only 30% approve. For LFI, 44% are opposed to the restrictions (28% for).

On the right and on the far right, those polled approve of restrictions on the sale of CBD. They are 47% to agree among the LR (26% against) and 42% among the National Rally (32% against).

Among 18-34 year olds, 40% of respondents agree with the government’s position, while 39% are against it. A ratio that is reversed among 35-54 year olds, among whom the majority is against restrictions on the sale of CBD (40% against 35%). Among those aged 55 and over, 36% are for restrictions on the sale of CBD and 36% against. And finally, 36% of women surveyed and 38% of men agree with the government. They are respectively 36% and 40% to disapprove.

Survey carried out from January 31 to February 1, 2022 among 1,038 people representative of the national population aged 18 and over, according to the quota method. In partnership with:

See also on The HuffPost: A deputy brandishes a joint in the middle of the Assembly and it did not please Darmanin